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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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8. Chuck Webb

1989 vs. Ole Miss Rebels

No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers win 33-21

35 carries for 294 yards; 2 touchdowns

We already talked about Chuck Webb’s historic day against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl. However, records have to be near the top of this list consistently, and what he did against the Ole Miss Rebels back in 1989 was incredible. This was a game, similar to what Carl Pickens did to the Kentucky Wildcats in 1990, that saved Tennessee football’s SEC Championship season.

For context, Webb had become the feature back three games earlier, after Reggie Cobb was dismissed just before the Vols’ outing at the Alabama Crimson Tide. UT also replaced Sterling Henton with Andy Kelly at quarterback that day, and all the changes resulted in them suffering a 47-30 loss in Birmingham.

After two more wins, they were 7-1 and in the top 10, and with a young quarterback and Cobb gone, Webb had to carry the team as a true freshman. This was his game to do that. Ole Miss, who was 6-3 and would finish 8-4, fought tooth and nail, taking a 7-0 lead early and then a 21-17 lead in the middle of the game.

The only player doing anything for the Vols was Chuck Webb, and he ended up setting the school record for rushing yards in a game in the process. Webb’s play allowed the Vols to finally pulle away to score the final 16 points, which gave them a 33-21 win and kept them in the SEC East. But it was way more difficult than it should have been.

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