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Tennessee football’s five best seasons when losing to Kentucky

ByCaleb 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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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: Tennessee Volunteers fans celebrate the team making a first down against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: Tennessee Volunteers fans celebrate the team making a first down against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)

1. 1957: 8-3 (4-3); W Gator Bowl; No. 16 AP; No. 13 Coaches

Each of Tennessee football’s previous seasons on this list involved either the start of an era or the precedent to an era. This one, however, signified what would become the end of an era, which we’ll explain at the end.

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Anyway, after going 10-1 in 1956, winning the SEC and just missing out on the national championship, Bowden Wyatt entered his third year with a lot of momentum on Rocky Top. Heisman runner-up Johnny Majors was gone, but lots of other guys were still in the program, and it looked like UT could continue its success in the single-wing.

Well, a 7-0 upset loss to the Auburn Tigers to open things up put a damper on everything. UT rebounded, though, and went on a six-game winning streak, capped off by a win over the No. 18 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to get to No. 7 in the nation.

The next week, the Vols lost 14-7 to the No. 8 ranked Ole Miss Rebels. At 6-2 and No. 12, they traveled to Lexington to face a bad 2-7 Kentucky team. Somehow, the Wildcats completely owned them this game, winning 20-6. UT stayed in the top 20 and beat the Vanderbilt Commodores the next week, but this was still a horrendous loss.

What salvaged everything was the Vols beating the Texas A&M Aggies in the Gator Bowl 3-0. That was Bear Bryant’s last game with A&M. This would also be Tennessee football’s last bowl season in the single-wing. By the time they were a national power again, Doug Dickey installed the T.

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