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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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Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images /

7. Gene McEver

1929 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Tennessee Volunteers win 54-0

5 total touchdowns; 3 extra points

The player who brought Tennessee football into national prominence was Gene McEver. He was the Vols’ first All-American back in 1929 and the first standout player under Robert Neyland, who was in his first stint with the Vols and had begun a run of dominance over the Southern Conference. This was just the precursor of what he would do in his second and third stints.

That was all made possible, though, because of the efforts of McEever. Heading into this game, UT had just tied the Kentucky Wildcats the week before, costing itself the SoCon title. However, the Vols still had a chance to finish its third straight season without a loss. At 8-0-1, they would host the 6-4 South Carolina Gamecocks at Shields-Watkins Field.

McEver picked this day to have what remains the greatest scoring game in UT history. He had five touchdowns on the day and three extra points, leading to 33 points overall. When it comes to all the possible ways a player can get credit for scoring, that remains the most points ever scored in a regulation setting by a Vol.

Thanks to McEver’s play, UT won the game 54-0 to finish 9-0-1. Also, McEver managed to set a single-season school record for rushing touchdowns with 18, which still stands to this day, although Reggie Cobb got close in 1987 with 17. This incredible performance was undeniable, and it easily belongs in our top 10.

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