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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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December 1, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisiana State Tigers wide receiver (8) Trindon Holliday fumbles the ball after being hit by Tennessee Volunteers linebacker (7) Jerod Mayo in the third quarter at the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome. The Tigers defeated the Volunteers 21 to 14. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports
December 1, 2007; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisiana State Tigers wide receiver (8) Trindon Holliday fumbles the ball after being hit by Tennessee Volunteers linebacker (7) Jerod Mayo in the third quarter at the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome. The Tigers defeated the Volunteers 21 to 14. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports /

839. 21. 817. Final. 14

SEC Championship game – Dec. 1, 2007

Championships are always a big storyline, and this one had a bigger storyline than most. Tennessee football had a unique opportunity to avenge an SEC Championship game loss to LSU, one we’ll get to later, with an upset win that would ruin their national championship aspirations.

The Vols, top 15 across the board, had a senior quarterback and won the SEC East with a 9-3 record thanks to three wins down the stretch due to the other team missing a field goal. LSU was 10-2 under Les Miles and N. 7 in the BCS with two overtime losses, but a series of upsets put reaching the BCS title game back in play.

With Matt Flynn injured, the Tigers went with Ryan Perrilloux in this game. A series of mistakes by LSU and a bend but don’t break defense by the Vols had Rocky Top holding onto a 14-13 lead with the ball in the fourth quarter. Then it was Tennessee football’s turn to make the mistakes.

Erik Ainge threw a pick-six on a curl route. After driving into LSU territory on the next drive, Ainge missed two throws, resulting in a turnover on downs. Then Ainge threw another interception in LSU territory on the next drive, which cost them the game.

LSU held on for the win, and while the 2000 game represented a changing of the guard, the 2007 game was the nail in the coffin for the Vols as a program. They haven’t gone back to Atlanta for the title game since then, falling apart the next year. LSU won the national title that year.

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