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Tennessee football vs. LSU: Wild endings, upsets, historically significant games – here are the top 15

By Caleb Calhoun

September 26, 2005; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers Gerald Riggs Jr. drives in for the game-winning overtime touchdown against Louisiana State Tigers linebacker Cameron Vaughn (46) at Tiger Stadium Stadium. The Volunteers defeated the Tigers 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports © 2005 John David Mercer
September 26, 2005; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers Gerald Riggs Jr. drives in for the game-winning overtime touchdown against Louisiana State Tigers linebacker Cameron Vaughn (46) at Tiger Stadium Stadium. The Volunteers defeated the Tigers 30-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports © 2005 John David Mercer /
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For a series that hasn’t ever been played annually, Tennessee football and the LSU Tigers have had tons of games that have rewritten the history books. Those rewrites are due to upsets, insane finishes and games that were just part of history in general. Both teams have an upset win that ruined the other team’s national championship run.

Even crazier, both teams have an upset win that secured an SEC Championship for the other, UT upsetting the Ole Miss Rebels in 1986 and LSU upsetting the Florida Gators in 1997. Peyton Manning is from Louisiana and the greatest Manning but obviously went to the Vols. Current LSU head coach Brian Kelly was a candidate for the UT job back in 2008.

Multiple goal-line plays at the end of games decided these outcomes. In particular, things have gotten crazy this century. As we get set to look at the most notable games in the series over half have come since 2000, including the first seven of the century. Here are the top 15 memorable matchups between Tennessee football and LSU all time.

The Tennessee football Volunteers and Louisiana State is a series of games with wild endings, major upsets and historical significance.

Nov 4, 2006; Knoxville, TN, USA; Louisiana State Tigers quarterback (2) JaMarcus Russell runs against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Nov 4, 2006; Knoxville, TN, USA; Louisiana State Tigers quarterback (2) JaMarcus Russell runs against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons /

817. 24. 839. Final. 28

Nov. 4, 2006

The fact that this game No. 15 on the list shows you just how crazy the series has been. Rocky Top was 7-1 and in the top 10, and LSU was 6-2 and in the top 15 entering this game. Erik Ainge was out due to an injury the week before, so UT turned to Jonathan Crompton. A series of LSU mistakes helped the Vols build a 17-7 lead.

Combine that with two bombs to Robert Meachem, and the Vols led 24-21 late. Then Jamarcus Russell led a 15-play 80-yard drive, including a 4th and 7 conversion, to win the game. With nine seconds left and on 3rd and goal at the four-yard line, Russell threw a touchdown pass to Early Doucet for the win.

That win propelled LSU to a strong 11-2 finish and top two ranking. It also was the drive that made Russell the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, a huge mistake. Tennessee football lost the next week to the Arkansas Razorbacks and finished 9-4.

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