All for Tennessee
Fansided

Ranking Tennessee football’s six losses of 2021 by heartbreak

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Theo Jackson (26) reacts after an overtime loss against the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Theo Jackson (26) reacts after an overtime loss against the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) and Tennessee defensive back Kenneth George Jr. (5) react after recovering a fumbled ball by Alabama during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) and Tennessee defensive back Kenneth George Jr. (5) react after recovering a fumbled ball by Alabama during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp /

Saturday, Oct. 23. 839. Bryant-Denny Stadium. 52. Tuscaloosa, Ala.. 829. 24. Game 8

Rank: 5

To be fair, Tennessee football was no more expected to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide than to beat Georgia. However, a few things make this game a bit more heartbreaking. For starters, Alabama’s winning streak in the series is now at 15 games, so while UGA’s five-game winning streak hurts, it doesn’t come close to this one.

Also, Georgia did win the national title, even if it was against Alabama. Most importantly, though, the Vols were in this game for a while and at least looked like they could have covered the spread. In fact, two touchdown drives by Hendon Hooker put them up 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. UT even forced a fumble and had the ball with a chance to go up two scores in the second.

That’s when Alabama got going. They forced back to back three-and-outs and scored back to back touchdowns. Trailing 21-14, though, the Vols didn’t quit. They blocked a punt in the third to set up a field goal, and down 31-17 in the fourth, they cut it to 31-24 with a 60-yard touchdown from Hooker to Cedric Tillman.

At 31-24, though, Alabama then went off. Their offense scored three straight touchdowns in the fourth and they forced an interception and a turnover on downs. What could have been a game turned into a blowout, and that’s what adds to the heartbreak here.

Home/Vols Football