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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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ATLANTA – DECEMBER 8: Quarterback Matt Mauck #18 of the LSU Tigers falls forward during the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 8, 2001 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. LSU defeated Tennessee 31-20. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATLANTA – DECEMBER 8: Quarterback Matt Mauck #18 of the LSU Tigers falls forward during the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against the Tennessee Volunteers on December 8, 2001 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. LSU defeated Tennessee 31-20. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

20. 839. 31. 817. Final

SEC Championship game – Dec. 8, 2001

LSU’s 2000 upset of Tennessee football represented a changing of the guard for the programs. Their 2007 win represented the end of a memorable Vols’ run dating back to 1981. However, the 2001 win is the one in which UT never recovered from, and it is when LSU officially moved past UT as an elite program.

We already mentioned how the Vols dominated the regular season game earlier in the year. Well, on Dec. 1, UT scored its greatest road win ever, beating No. 2 ranked Florida to win the East and Steve Spurrier 34-32 as 18-point underdogs. The win got them to 10-1 and No. 2 in the BCS. LSU, meanwhile, beat Auburn to win the West.

These were make-up games from the ones canceled directly after 9/11. LSU was 8-3 and in the top 25 but outside of the top 20, clearly the inferior team. The Vols just had to beat them, and not only would they win the SEC, but they’d go to the Rose Bowl and play Miami for the national championship. Well, they thought ahead to Miami.

UT built a 17-7 lead in the first half. Then Rohan Davey went down with an injury, as did LSU’s starting running back. It was over, right? Wrong. We mentioned John Chavis’ issues with in-game adjustments. LSU brought in Matt Mauck, and UT wasn’t ready for the change of pace.

Mauck, a freshman, ran all over the Vols in the second half. Meanwhile, the lack of focus on offense was a killer, as Travis Stephens and Donte Stallworth each had fumbles. Through all of this, LSU turned it around and won the game 31-20. It’s the worst loss in Tennessee football history, one the program has still not recovered from.

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