All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football’s top 25 single-game performances in history

By Caleb Calhoun

Peyton Manning #16, Quarterback for the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA Pac 10 college football game against the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins on 6th September 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 30 - 24. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning #16, Quarterback for the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA Pac 10 college football game against the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins on 6th September 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 30 - 24. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images
Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images /

13. Travis Stephens

2001 at No. 2 Florida Gators

No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers win 34-32

19 carries for 226 yards; 2 touchdowns

Speaking of great play against elite teams, nobody had that like Travis Stephens against the Florida Gators. The year before, Tennessee football had dominated the rushing battle against Florida and lost. Stephens had waited four years for his chance to be the full-time starter as a fifth-year senior, and as an undersized back, this was his standout game.

For context, the Vols faced Florida in Gainesville in December after the Sept. 11 attacks canceled the game that week. Both teams had one loss, and the winner would win the East and be in the driver’s seat to reach the national title. UT hadn’t beaten Florida in The Swamp since 1971, though, and Florida was an 18-point favorite.

Enter Stephens and an elite offensive line. Stephens had an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the Vols a 14-0 lead. In the second half, down 20-14, he had a 35-yard touchdown run to give them a 21-20 lead. Then, in the fourth quarter, with UT trailing 23-21, he had a deep run to set up the touchdown that gave the Vols the lead for good.

Finally, late in the game, the Vols were clinging to a 27-26 lead. Stephens then broke off a 68-yard run that set up their final touchdown, which allowed them to hold on for a 34-32 win. This game allowed Stephens to eventually set the single-season school rushing record for UT and be a runner-up for the Doak Walker Award. It also remains the Vols’ best win this century.

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