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Ranking Tennessee football’s top 10 wins under Johnny Majors

By Caleb Calhoun

Johnny Majors, Head Coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers stands with his team during the NCAA Southeastern Conference college football game against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish on 9 November 1991 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 35 - 34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images)
Johnny Majors, Head Coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers stands with his team during the NCAA Southeastern Conference college football game against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish on 9 November 1991 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 35 - 34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images /

Honorable Mentions

1981 Garden State Bowl vs. Wisconsin: 28-21

After an 0-2 start, Johnny Majors’ seat was warm with only one bowl appearance in four years. However, his team rebounded to finish 7-4, and Tennessee football made its second bowl in Majors’ fifth year. Here, he secured his first bowl win, holding off the Wisconsin Badgers to get his team to 8-4, its best season since the Condredge Holloway years.

1983 Citrus Bowl vs. Maryland: 30-23 

Just two years after that Garden State Bowl win, the Vols were looking for their first nine-win season under Majors. They faced the No. 16 ranked Maryland Terrapins in the Citrus Bowl, and it was the final game for legends like Reggie White. UT trailed 20-16 entering the fourth, but Johnnie Jones scored two touchdowns to secure the win. The Vols finished 9-3 as a result.

1985 Alabama: 16-14

While the 1982 and 1983 wins over the Alabama Crimson Tide were more memorable, the Vols still had a crucial win in 1985. Tony Robinson got hurt in this game, and Alabama was ranked No. 15 and playing this game at home. Trailing 16-14, they had the ball and a chance to win late. However, a late Dale Jones interception, just like 1982, secured the UT win and SEC title quest.

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1989 UCLA: 24-6

Although the 1989 Auburn Tigers game is the one that established the Vols, the UCLA Bruins were ranked No. 6 when Rocky Top beat them on the road here. This was only their second game of the 1989 season, and at 1-0, they had to prove themselves after going 5-6 in 1988. They did it in epic fashion, dominating this game to reach the top 25, where they would stay for five straight years.

1990 Florida: 45-3

It was the game that started Tennessee football’s rivalry with the Florida Gators. This was Steve Spurrier’s first year on the job, and UF was good. However, after a 7-3 first half, a Dale Carter kickoff return broke open the second half, and the Vols beat No. 9 Florida 45-3. Since UF was on probation, however, this game was somewhat meaningless.

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