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Tennessee football’s 10 wins vs. Georgia with both teams ranked

By Caleb Calhoun

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 1: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers rides the shoulders of Gavin Bryant #36 after making the game winning catch against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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10 Oct 1998: Running back Travis Stephens #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers in action during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, Geogia. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 22-3. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport
10 Oct 1998: Running back Travis Stephens #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers in action during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, Geogia. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 22-3. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport /

Final. 22. 839. 3. 814

Oct. 10, 1998; Sanford Stadium; Athens, Ga.

  • Tennessee: No. 4 AP; No. 5 Coaches
  • Georgia: No. 7 AP and Coaches

We mentioned this Thursday as one of the games Tennessee football faced the Georgia Bulldogs in which both teams were undefeated and how it was the turning point for the Vols’ 1998 national title season. Well, here’s another crazy fact. This was the first ever meeting between the two schools when both were in the top 10, and it’s one of only two ever, the other being in 1999.

UGA entered the game at 4-0, having escaped No. 6 ranked LSU Tigers the week before, and looked like it had finally taken that next step under Jim Donnan with freshman quarterback Quincy Carter. The Vols, meanwhile, survived an ugly 17-9 win over the Auburn Tigers, and despite wins over Syracuse and the Florida Gators, appeared in trouble.

Star running back Jamal Lewis suffered a season-ending injury the week before. He dominated the Dawgs in 1997, as we already mentioned, and Tee Martin had not yet played well against a Power Five school. That combination plus this game being in Athens led to UGA being favored.

After four total first-half field goals, the Vols jumped out to a 9-3 lead at halftime. However, there were reports that Martin, who was still trying to come out of the shadows of Peyton Manning, was almost benched by that point.

Well, he finally arrived in the second half, throwing two touchdown passes while Travis Henry and Travis Stephens emerged. That made the Vols a more complete team, which allowed them to continue their national championship run with an offense that was now dominant.

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