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
3 of 6
Next
Florida Gators running back Malik Davis (20) bounces through the defense on his way to score a touchdown during the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 25, 2021.Flgai 092521 Ufvs Tennesseefb 50
Florida Gators running back Malik Davis (20) bounces through the defense on his way to score a touchdown during the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 25, 2021.Flgai 092521 Ufvs Tennesseefb 50 /

839. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. 14. Game 4. 38. 840. Gainesville, Fla.. Saturday, Sept. 25

Rank: 4

Although the Florida Gators’ streak is no longer than Georgia’s streak over Tennessee football right now, their overall dominance is clear, as they have won 16 of 17 in the series while UGA has won just 12 of 17 in the same timeframe. Also, Florida was significantly worse than Alabama or Georgia this year.

Those two things alone make this more heartbreaking, but then there’s the game itself. UT was a few miscues from winning this game. Florida built a 10-7 lead in the first, but UT went up 14-10 after a 75-yard pass from Hendon Hooker to JaVonta Payton.

The Vols then got the ball with the lead and had the chance to do something. That’s when the miscues hit. Cooper Mays killed that drive with an ill-timed low snap. The Chase Mcgrath missed a potentially game-tying 47-yard field goal at the half after Josh Heupel botched clock management, so the Vols trailed 17-14.

In the second half, Tennessee football allowed Florida to score first and go up 24-14, but then they had a chance to cut it to three. On 4th and 5, Jimmy Calloway dropped a sure touchdown pass from Hooker. Florida scored again, and down 31-14, Mays killed another drive with a delay of game on a 4th and 2 where UT definitely would have gone for it. The Vols then lost 38-14.

Home/Vols Football