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Tennessee football: Looking back on Vols’ five wins vs. ranked Kentucky team

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) fumbles a pass as Kentucky defensive back Tyrell Ajian (23) defends during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) fumbles a pass as Kentucky defensive back Tyrell Ajian (23) defends during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof
Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof /

Final. 28. 839. 0. 833

Nov. 24, 1951

This period was the apex of Tennessee football’s rivalry. The two greatest coaches in SEC history  before Nick Saban came along were going head to head in crucial matchups, as it was Robert Neyland vs. Bear Bryant. Much to the delight of Vol fans, Neyland never lost to Bryant, imparting in him a burning hatred of the Vols.

In 1951, the Vols ran the table. They entered the season on a nine-game winning streak and ranked No. 1 in the preseason. Coming into this one, they were 8-0, so the winning streak improved to 17 games. Beating the Ole Miss Rebels the week before moved them back up to No. 1 after they fell to as low as No. 3 in the middle of the season.

However, they had to beat Kentucky to maintain that No. 1 ranking and secure the national championship. The year before, they beat UK, and both had just one loss, but UK got the SEC title because they played one more game and had one more league win. They entered this one 7-3, so no SEC title was on the line, but they were No. 9 in the AP Poll and playing at home.

With that ranking and that hype, the Vols exacted revenge for not getting that SEC title. They flat-out dominated the Wildcats 28-0, which secured them a share of the SEC Championship with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, their first title since 1946. It also cemented their No. 1 ranking and earned them the national championship after beating the Vanderbilt Commodores a week later.

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