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Tennessee football has played Alabama 10 other times with both teams in top 10

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 23, 1999; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jamal Lewis (31) leaping into the end zone against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 1999; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jamal Lewis (31) leaping into the end zone against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 20,1973, Birmingham, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Condredge Holloway (7) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Legion Field during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20,1973, Birmingham, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Condredge Holloway (7) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Legion Field during the 1973 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

839. 42. 829. Final. 21

Oct. 20, 1973

While 1989 marked the start of the best run of the modern era for Tennessee football, one that lasted until 2004, 1973 was part of the end of a pretty epic 10-year run by the Vols in the 1960s and 1970s with Doug Dickey and Bill Battle. During this time, an inevitable downward slide was being halted by Condredge Holloway at quarterback.

With Holloway at the helm, UT roared off to a 5-0 start this year to get to No. 10, highlighted by a 21-0 victory over the No. 11 ranked Auburn Tigers. Since they had lost three straight to Auburn since winning their 1969 SEC Championship, that seemed like the hump they had to get over.

Alabama, however, was in a second period of dominance under Bear Bryant thanks to his rollout of the wishbone at the start of the decade. They had won back to back SEC Championships but were looking for a fourth national title came into this game 5-0 and ranked No. 2.

Well, the Tide were too much in this game. They roared out to a 21-7 start, but Holloway’s play tied it up in the fourth. Then Alabama scored three unanswered touchdowns to pull out the win. This began a late slide by the Vols, as they finished 8-4, similar to 2016, but it propelled Alabama to the national championship.

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