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Tennessee football’s top 10 upset wins one week after bad loss

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee players Jalen Hurd, left, Alvin Kamara, and Joshua Dobbs celebrate following the Vols' 38-31 win over Georgia Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Neyland Stadium. Utvsugathroughtheyears28
Tennessee players Jalen Hurd, left, Alvin Kamara, and Joshua Dobbs celebrate following the Vols' 38-31 win over Georgia Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Neyland Stadium. Utvsugathroughtheyears28 /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 9: Erik Ainge #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 9, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee won 19-14. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 9: Erik Ainge #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 9, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee won 19-14. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

10. 2004: Upset No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs 19-14

Previous week: Lost to No. 8 ranked Auburn Tigers 34-10

In 2004, Tennessee football started things off 3-0 alternating two freshman quarterbacks, and that included a huge win over the Florida Gators. All the excitement was behind this team, and at No. 10, they were set to host the No. 8 Auburn Tigers, who were 4-0, in front of College GameDay.

Auburn had squeaked by the defending national champion LSU Tigers earlier in the year 10-9. What should have been a thrilling matchup, though, turned into a blowout win for a team that would finish the year undefeated. The Tigers won 34-10.

Although that’s not much of an upset with two top 10 teams, the dominance is what made it a bad loss. Georgia, meanwhile, then throttled LSU 45-16 to get to 4-0. Ranked No. 3 and on a four-game winning streak against the Vols, who fell to No. 17 the next week, the Dawgs were heavy favorites in this matchup.

However, before it began, UT All-American linebacker Kevin Burnett guaranteed the Vols would see Auburn again in the SEC title, implying they would win the SEC East over UGA. In his first road start, freshman Erik Ainge led the Vols on a game-opening touchdown drive. They built a 10-0 lead and a 19-7 lead in the second half.

Georgia came back and cut it to 19-14 before a final drive. They went down the field and had a chance for a game-winner with a second left, but the Vol defense got the stop. Rocky Top shocked the Bulldogs, and yes, that did result in them winning the East and seeing Auburn again that year.

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