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Tennessee football: 10 years Vols beat Alabama but not Kentucky

ByCaleb Calhoun|
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/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

10. 1984

Tennessee: 28 Alabama: 27

In 1982, Tennessee football ended Bear Bryant’s dominance over them, which changed after 1960. By 1984, Johnny Majors was bringing the Vols into the modern era, and they were on a two-game winning streak over the Tide.

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With new quarterback Tony Robinson, UT started off 2-0 but fell to 2-2-1 with an upset tie to the Army Black Knights and losses to the Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators. Under second-year coach Ray Perkins, Alabama started off 2-4 but had just upset the No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions.

Bama seemed in line for another upset. Up 27-20 late, however, Robinson led a touchdown drive. Majors decided to go for the win as well, and the Vols converted the two-point conversion to hold on for an epic 28-27 win.

Kentucky: 17 Tennessee: 12

The Alabama win sparked a four-game winning streak for Rocky Top, getting them to 6-2-1. As they Kentucky Wildcats came to town, the Vols were in great position for a nine-win season and their first top 25 finish in the Majors era.

However, this was a solid Kentucky team that would go 9-3 and finished ranked No. 19 nationally. Part of that was upsetting this UT team 17-12, which was a devastating loss for Majors, Robinson and everybody involved.

Result of the season

After the Kentucky loss, the Vols rebounded to beat the Vanderbilt Commodores but blew a 21-0 lead in the Sun Bowl to the Maryland Terrapins, losing 28-27. That blown lead, the Army upset tie and the Kentucky loss kept them from a 10-win season.

That set the stage for a legendary 1985 season, though, in which Tennessee football won the SEC and finished in the top five. Also, UT didn’t lose to Kentucky again until 2011, at one point owning the longest winning streak over a team in the nation.

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