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Tennessee football’s five best seasons when losing to Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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In a 1984 photograph, actor David Keith, right, is pictured on the sidelines with University of Tennessee coach Johnny Majors. (KNS Archive)0930 Kclo 125 Keith 04
In a 1984 photograph, actor David Keith, right, is pictured on the sidelines with University of Tennessee coach Johnny Majors. (KNS Archive)0930 Kclo 125 Keith 04 /

833. 12. 839. Final. 17

5. 1984: 7-4-1 (3-3); Sun Bowl

Let’s go back to the last time Tennessee football lost to Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. In 1984, Johnny Majors was in his eighth year of a rebuild. He had broken in a new quarterback in Tony Robinson and worked with offensive coordinator Walt Harris to begin spreading the field, which earned the Vols the reputation as Wide Receiver U.

Majors’ best season to that point on Rocky Top was the year before, 1983, as the Vols went 9-3. A 2-0 start showed promise in 1984, but he then tied the Army Black Knights, a bad upset, before losing to the Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators. A win over the Alabama Crimson Tide of all teams got these guys on a roll, though, and they entered this game at 6-2-1.

UT would be 7-2 without the upset but still had a chance to enjoy its best season yet with Majors. Well, Jerry Claiborne was leading a very good Kentucky team into town. They were 7-3 with all of their losses to top 15 teams. UK set the tone early by forcing a fumble on the first play and scoring a touchdown on the ensuing drive. The Wildcats never looked back and won 17-12.

This would be the last time the Vols lost to Kentucky until 2011. They did beat the Vanderbilt Commodores the next week to finish the regular season 7-3-1 but blew a 21-0 halftime lead to the Maryland Terrapins in the Sun Bowl, losing 28-27. However, finishing 7-4-1 set the stage for the Vols’ return to national power in 1985, when they won the SEC.

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