All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Ranking all 15 Vols non-Saturday openers

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee won 42-41 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee won 42-41 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 15
Next
Aug 26, 1990; Anaheim, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Andy Kelly (8) in action against the Colorado Buffaloes during the 1990 Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium. The game ended in a 31-31 tie.Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 1990; Anaheim, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Andy Kelly (8) in action against the Colorado Buffaloes during the 1990 Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium. The game ended in a 31-31 tie.Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports /

7. 1990 (Pigskin Classic)

Final. 31. 857. 31. 839

Sunday, Aug. 26; Anaheim Stadium; Anaheim, Calif.

This is the only other game on the list Tennessee football didn’t win. You would think that would push it toward the bottom, but given the quality of their opponent, a tie was more valuable than a win in the other games. UT was entering the year as defending SEC co-champions and ranked No. 8. They had gone 11-1 and finished in the top five in 1989.

On the other side, the Colorado Buffaloes entered the season ranked No. 5. They went 11-0 in the 1989 regular season but didn’t win the national championship due to a bowl game loss. This was their chance to rebound, and the Vols were just supposed to be a test for them. Colorado would win the title, but not without tying UT.

Typical of Andy Kelly at this time, the Vols never went away. They trailed 31-17 with under six minutes to go. Kelly, who had over 362 yards on the day, threw a touchdown pass to Carl Pickens and then led a 74-yard drive that ended with a Chuck Webb touchdown run.

The Vols actually got the ball back in Colorado territory with a chance to win. To get closer into field goal range, they called a quick draw to Webb. However, Webb couldn’t get out of bounds, and the time ran out, so it was a tie. The tie made Tennessee football look better, and it launched a second straight SEC Championship season, as they went 9-2-2 and finished where they started, No. 8.

Home/Vols Football