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Tennessee football: 10 years Vols beat Alabama but not Kentucky

By Caleb 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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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 18: Detail view of footballs lined up on the field before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won 31-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 18: Detail view of footballs lined up on the field before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won 31-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

8. 1958

Tennessee: 14 Alabama: 7

As the 1957 season was the last solid season before the Vols began a downward slide under Bowden Wyatt and the single-wing, the 1958 season marked that downward slide. It coincided with Bear Bryant leaving the Texas A&M Aggies for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

However, UT’s dominance over Bryant didn’t end yet. After losing to the No. 3 Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Vols beat the No. 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs, entering this game 1-2. Alabama was 1-1-1 and wasn’t ready for the Vols yet, so they lost 14-7.

Kentucky: 6 Tennessee: 2

Following Alabama’s win, UT Suffered a three-game losing streak to fall to 2-5 on the year. However, they then upset the No. 7 ranked Ole Miss Rebels, and as the Kentucky Wildcats came to town, they had a chance at a .500 season.

Well, that didn’t happen. UK was 4-4-1 and took advantage of one of the most inconsistent teams in UT history. In a hideous game, even by 1950s standards, the Wildcats squeaked out a 6-2 victory to finish 5-4-1, just like Alabama, while securing a losing record for Rocky Top.

Result of the season

Wyatt’s team rebounded to upset the No. 15 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 10-6, but they still finished 4-6 on the year. This is one of only two years Tennessee football beat Bear Bryant but lost to the Kentucky Wildcats. The other year was the previous year, when Bryant was with the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Vols beat Bryant and a separate Alabama team but lost to UK.

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