Worst Bowl loss

[Brave Volunteer]

I distinctly remember the Nebraska game. I remember thinking I've never seen a team handle a team as easily as Nebraska did Tennessee.

Nebraska treated us the way Dallas Carter treated Permean in the first half in the movie Friday Night Lights. They were on a completely different level in terms of size, strength, toughness, etc.

Another thing about that game that stood out to me was when they introduced the players on TV, the entire Nebraska O-line was made up of seniors or redshirt seniors.

 

[njvols]

We attended that Orange Bowl & witnessed Tennessee get manhandled by Tom Osborne's "Huskers". I've seen the Vols in person against some fine opponents, but that Nebraska team is the best I've seen in person.

Agree w/ this one. Nebraska is one team I wouldn't mind seeing be good again... you can say it's all past them, but clearly in this age, if you can match coaching w/ NIL, you have a chance. Would like to see them change up the mix w/ OSU/MICH/ORE in conference. Been to alot of games, but the Nebraska fans at the Music City Bowl when Dobbs was a senior, may have been the nicest opposing fans I've ever met...and they were getting thrashed.

 

[sambronkowitz]

Oh yeah, that 1998 Orange Bowl against the eventual co-National Champions, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was the WORST bowl game for us. From the start, they blew the damn doors off of us in that game. We didn't have a chance at all in that game. The Orange Bowl berth after winning the SEC Championship and getting blown out while Michigan won at least a share of the Championship the day before turned out to be a sh***y consolation prize.

 

[cgbtn]

The worst ever loss was the 1951 national championship team losing in the Sugar Bowl.

 

[sambronkowitz]

Probably the worst one of my lifetime. It wasn't just that we lost, it was how we lost.

Damn, I remember that one. That was terrible. But I remember that for another reason. My Grandmother on my Mother's side passed away. Out of all the grandparents I had, she was my favorite and most dear to me. We were at the funeral home while that game was going on. While spending time with and talking to cousins of ours where they had the food, my older brother and I checked our phones on the game. We shook our heads when we found out not only they lost that game, but how they lost it. I am not making this up, but later that night, one of my cousins, she got so upset and distraught, she tried to get in the casket with my grandmother. Several of us had to pull her away. Seriously. The next morning was our Grandmother's funeral.

I swear to God that I am also telling the truth that it turned out to be a spectacle of itself. My younger brother's now ex-wife came to the funeral wearing a very revealing dress, one of our cousins had his two little boys sporting mohawks, and one of my Aunts, she was stoned out of her gord on pain medication half-asleep and mumbling. Sitting next to my mother, we looked at each other, and I can tell that while it bothered me, it really upset her. Like I said, with her being the sweet and wonderful person she was, she didn't need to have those things going on at her funeral.

 

[Rickyvol77]

Well i started a thread with the best bowl win so it’s only right to flip the coin with the worst bowl loss. Mine is the 2002 Peach bowl and i was there guess that makes the experience even worse. We got drilled by Maryland 30-3 and didn’t even show up or look interested in being there at all. There was also some drama in the locker room with a player who was on his cell phone best i remember. We started the 2002 season ranked in the top 5 and were consensus preseason picks to win the SEC and compete for the national title. It ended on a thud in the Peach bowl loss finishing the season 8-5 and unranked. 2002 season was one of the most disappointing ones under Fulmer. My second one would be the 1998 Orange bowl lost 42-17 to Nebraska, going into the game if Washington St beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl then the orange bowl would’ve been the de facto national championship game. Unfortunately we got steam rolled and a less than 100 percent healthy Peyton had one of his worst games the outcome was never in doubt from the first quarter on.

Maryland bowl game, the team was just happy to have their injured horrible season over with and Maryland had probably their best team since the 1950s.

Peyton was hobbled badly, and once Jamal Lewis fumbled on that cheap shot, we were done for vs Nebraska who was using steroids

 

[Rickyvol77]

I was always a little disappointed with Casey Clausen’s bowl performances. He had the great game against Michigan. Then He got destroyed by Maryland in the peach bowl my freshman year and then again in the Peach bowl again the next year by Clemson.

Clausen wasn't the reason we lost either of those games....we were pissed as a team for being #6 in the country and falling to the SEC's 5th bowl game which was BS...

Then Clemson had a TD given to them where the WR ran BEHIND a player on the sideline and came back in, wasn't called.

Then as we scored a TD right before half, the same ref said it was incomplete and gave Clausen a flag for arguing it.

BS game..

Maryland just was a better less injured team who wanted it more

 

[Rickyvol77]

Oh yeah, that 1998 Orange Bowl against the eventual co-National Champions, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was the WORST bowl game for us. From the start, they blew the damn doors off of us in that game. We didn't have a chance at all in that game. The Orange Bowl berth after winning the SEC Championship and getting blown out while Michigan won at least a share of the Championship the day before turned out to be a sh***y consolation prize.

Not to mention the refs let the clock run out when overrated Michigan almost lost to Ryan Leaf, when there was 1 second left.

Watched that game with the UT team in the hotel ballroom before our game and they were disappointed.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Well i started a thread with the best bowl win so it’s only right to flip the coin with the worst bowl loss. Mine is the 2002 Peach bowl and i was there guess that makes the experience even worse. We got drilled by Maryland 30-3 and didn’t even show up or look interested in being there at all. There was also some drama in the locker room with a player who was on his cell phone best i remember. We started the 2002 season ranked in the top 5 and were consensus preseason picks to win the SEC and compete for the national title. It ended on a thud in the Peach bowl loss finishing the season 8-5 and unranked. 2002 season was one of the most disappointing ones under Fulmer. My second one would be the 1998 Orange bowl lost 42-17 to Nebraska, going into the game if Washington St beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl then the orange bowl would’ve been the de facto national championship game. Unfortunately we got steam rolled and a less than 100 percent healthy Peyton had one of his worst games the outcome was never in doubt from the first quarter on.

All of the bowl losses hurt my feelers tremendously. I hope this Helps OP.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

Maryland bowl game, the team was just happy to have their injured horrible season over with and Maryland had probably their best team since the 1950s.

Peyton was hobbled badly, and once Jamal Lewis fumbled on that cheap shot, we were done for vs Nebraska who was using steroids

Yea we had a ton of injuries that season i remember Kelly Washington and Casey both got hurt mid season going into the Bama and Georgia games. Peyton had a far worse lingering knee injury than people realize his mobility was compromised going into that game. Nebraska was the king of steroids during that era, everyone praised Tom Osborne and such as an upstanding coach and person but he was as dirty as they come.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

We attended that Orange Bowl & witnessed Tennessee get manhandled by Tom Osborne's "Huskers". I've seen the Vols in person against some fine opponents, but that Nebraska team is the best I've seen in person.

They won three out of four national titles from 1994-1997 to close out Osborne’s coaching career. I think their 95 national title team was better than the 97 one just cause they completely dominated every team they beat that year including an unbeaten Florida team 62-24 in the Fiesta bowl. The 97 team almost lost to Missouri, it took a miracle touchdown catch off a guys foot to win.

 

[KTrain]

The one where we lost to North Carolina when Dooley was coach.

Yep, we lost this one because UNC had a penalty on their missed FG and where allowed to re-kick with 1 second left although penalty was on them. UT took the loss and then the new rule 10 second runoff off came when penalty is on offense , the Vols loss.
Note also but not a bowl game, LSU got stopped by UT at end of game for a short windowed win but ref had thrown a flag 2 of UT players hadn't crossed the out of bounds line when LSU massed subbed but UT couldn't get subs out and penalty & played over and Vols went from thrill of victory to agony of loss. Another rule change ref will stand over a ball when O subs until D has had time to sub, Vols took 2 losses and are part of the rules changing for betterment of game history but those 2 Ls one at LSU & one in Music City Bowl show up as losses in history which tends to add to BVS.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

VA Tech. I gave up 3rd row tickets to Widespread Panic across the parking lot because there was no way I would miss EBs last game. Kiffin coached like he didn’t want to be there. It was horrible.

Yeah. He had the usc job on his mind then

 

[MHS Rebel]

The one where we lost to North Carolina when Dooley was coach.

Isn’t that the one where they got an extra play after time expired? There was a rule change after that Game. As I recall there were a couple of games that prompted rule changes after UT loses.

 

[MHS Rebel]

Yep, we lost this one because UNC had a penalty on their missed FG and where allowed to re-kick with 1 second left although penalty was on them. UT took the loss and then the new rule 10 second runoff off came when penalty is on offense , the Vols loss.
Note also but not a bowl game, LSU got stopped by UT at end of game for a short windowed win but ref had thrown a flag 2 of UT players hadn't crossed the out of bounds line when LSU massed subbed but UT couldn't get subs out and penalty & played over and Vols went from thrill of victory to agony of loss. Another rule change ref will stand over a ball when O subs until D has had time to sub, Vols took 2 losses and are part of the rules changing for betterment of game history but those 2 Ls one at LSU & one in Music City Bowl show up as losses in history which tends to add to BVS.

Oops, didn’t see your post

 

[feathersax]

Agree w/ this one. Nebraska is one team I wouldn't mind seeing be good again... you can say it's all past them, but clearly in this age, if you can match coaching w/ NIL, you have a chance. Would like to see them change up the mix w/ OSU/MICH/ORE in conference. Been to alot of games, but the Nebraska fans at the Music City Bowl when Dobbs was a senior, may have been the nicest opposing fans I've ever met...and they were getting thrashed.

They were also nice & respectful in Miami. Times have changed in CFB, not necessarily for the better.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Before my time, but didn't Johnny Majors fumble a punt return somewhere in Texas to cost us a bowl game?

In the mid-50's.

If true, that had to be a tough loss.

 

[IndianaVol]

Does last year's playoff game count as a bowl game?...didn't mind losing to the eventual National Champ, just not in that fashion.

Like a lot of others, in my tenure as a Vols fan, its that 98 loss to Nebraska. Win and it would have been a claim to a NC, plus to see Peyton end his UT career that was just hard to watch.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

They were also nice & respectful in Miami. Times have changed in CFB, not necessarily for the better.

Couldn’t agree more, I really miss the 80’s era and 90’ and early 2000’s of college football and it’s sadly never coming back.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

They won three out of four national titles from 1994-1997 to close out Osborne’s coaching career. I think their 95 national title team was better than the 97 one just cause they completely dominated every team they beat that year including an unbeaten Florida team 62-24 in the Fiesta bowl. The 97 team almost lost to Missouri, it took a miracle touchdown catch off a guys foot to win.

The only silver lining, comparatively speaking, was that we weren't slaughtered as badly as the Reptilian Horde. And they had the audacity to think that a 38-point loss, incurred while surrendering 62 points, should not result in a significant post-bowl slide in the polls.

As a current resident of Montana, I can say that those capstone teams of Osborne's career mauled opponents like a grizzly tearing a carcass apart. On the flip slide, those physical beatings prepared both Florida and Tennessee for national championship runs the following year. Indeed, Osborne predicted that Fulmer would eventually win one. Little did we know that it would happen twelve months later.

As for the Nebraska faithful, 'tis a rare breed indeed that would applaud a victorious opponent on their home field for the effort that they displayed. Then again, Nebraska rarely lost at Lincoln in those years, so they were not accustomed to it.

As a fanbase, we encountered a similar response when we first visited Norman. Oklahoma "striped" the stands in recognition of the presence of another traditional power. That treatment inspired checkerboarding Neyland.

 

[ru4real-really?]

Orange bowl vs Oklahoma sometime in the 60"s.
Tennessee was ranked#2 Oklahoma #3.

I was there and that was not a bad bowl loss! Sooners jumped out to a big first half lead but Vols stormed back in the second half and had a makable field goal for the win as time expired. The next poll just reversed us and them in the number 2 and 3 position in final poll. Both teams left the field knowing that the better team did not win the game! Dr. Linkenhouse said we were National Champions before that game and we have in on the wall in our stadium as one of our six titles!

 

[hound dog hillbil]

Might be the one o dec.30 2025

 

[Volosaurus rex]

I was there and that was not a bad bowl loss! Sooners jumped out to a big first half lead but Vols stormed back in the second half and had a makable field goal for the win as time expired. The next poll just reversed us and them in the number 2 and 3 position in final poll. Both teams left the field knowing that the better team did not win the game! Dr. Linkenhouse said we were National Champions before that game and we have in on the wall in our stadium as one of our six titles!

Agreed. Despite the surge and counter-attack of the two teams, the final results on the scoreboard reflect a battle between two quality, evenly-matched opponents. However, 1967 was, I believe, the final year in which National Champions were declared by the polls prior to bowl matchups. See 1967 NCAA University Division football rankings - Wikipedia.

 

[Big Orange Captain]

Might be the one o dec.30 2025

hope not but we better show up to play

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Definitely the back to back MD, Clemson losses to inferior ACC teams. No excuse for losing those two. Also the 3 PSU losses. Paterno outcoached Fulmer even in the last one when I think he was in a wheelchair.

Fulmer ticked me off after that game because he said something like "I'd like a chance to whip his butt again" and I was like you've had 2 and gotten spanked both times.