Greatest games of the college football playoff ERA

[hUTch2002]

This is definitely UT’s signature win of the era. Before then? UT vs Miami 85; UT vs Notre Dame at South Bend.

I submit UT Florida 98, although UT Arkansas 98 is something I doubt we will ever see again. 2 undefeated teams playing in November is rare enough. Add in an 18-point comeback, a play as crazy as any in college football history, what was at stake, and more and, to me, that was the best game I’ll ever see. It just so happened it wasn’t against a Florida or Bama and people expected that we would win so I’d bet most UT fans put the UF game that year as the better game if you asked them to rank the games. As someone who wasn’t a UT fan until I went to school there, what happened in that Arkansas game was more special and rare. Florida was absolutely one of the top UT games of all time though and Arkansas doesn’t get set up without the UF win.

 

[VOLdo Raine]

Nobody saw that ass whipping the Vols gave Miami coming. Miami was freaking loaded

There was so much hype around this game. I remember Miami showing up in New Orleans wearing camouflage because they were “going to war.” Then walking out of a dinner with the two teams. The Knoxville radio stations playing their version of “The battle of New Orleans.“ I always thought we could win (I ALWAYS think we can win), but you’re correct, I didn’t see us kicking their a$$ as much as we did.

 

[dduncan4163]

This was the first game my son ever sat down and watched in its entirety. He’s been hooked ever since.

Same with me and my youngest son. It was the game that made him love football. It was hands down one of the greatest games in CFB history. Even Bammers will admit that

 

[dduncan4163]

There was what seemed like a long time out as we were about to kick the winning field goal against Bama...Unfortunately, my two dogs had to go outside to take care of their business....I took them out hoping they would be quick, but they weren't...."Suddenly my neighborhood exploded" with people yelling and running around their houses screaming and celebrating...It was easy to tell the kick was good!!!

If you ever find yourself having a bad day pop on the end of that game. It'll get you to smiling and whistling Dixie Land Delight

 

[deezvols]

It was worth the pretty pennies I spent, as I’ll never see another game as good.

 

[dduncan4163]

I was overwhelmed and surprised when I felt the tears welling in my eyes. I immediately thought of my Mom, who had passed a couple of years earlier. Memories of celebrating wins with her and my family came flooding back to me. The national championship game was instantly recalled. I felt her presence. Suddenly, I felt the presence of generations of my family. I know they were looking down.

I know "it's just a game." But it's also more than that. I don't think it can be explained.

Thats amazing brother. I know exactly what you mean. It had me longing for people I've loved and lost as well. It's an indescribable feeling

 

[dduncan4163]

It was worth the pretty pennies I spent, as I’ll never see another game as good.

I agree, It was a once in a lifetime experience.

 

[deezvols]

I agree, It was a once in a lifetime experience.

I also watched us win a NC on my birthday, but just on TV . The atmosphere in Neyland that night will be hard to beat.

 

[dduncan4163]

I also watched us win a NC on my birthday, but just on TV . The atmosphere in Neyland that night will be hard to beat.

It really was. That entire 98 season was magic. beating Florida in OT and the Stumble Fumble was the single wildest play I've ever experienced. It was a team of Destiny

 

[KoachKrab127]

I truly never thought at anytime we were winning that game until the winning field goal was kicked! And even then it took a few seconds for it to sink in for me. Then I went completely nuts in my living room!

I felt the exact same way. Ever since the 2010 season, when we had two games taken away from us after I celebrated thinking we won, I have always been very skeptical about us actually winning a close game until a few minutes afrerwards.

I was at the watch party in Vol Village for the 2022 Bama game, and while everyone else was jumping up and down and cheering, I waited about 30 seconds, just to make sure there wasn’t a flag or some other nonsense. After that, I went nuts.

I still think the final FG kick was partially blocked. It looks like a Bama defender got a fingertip on the ball, and it was so wobbly.

 

[Vol8188]

I got to be there live. It was amazing. Bryce Young played out of his mind and still lost.

 

[utvols74]

Why do so many Vol fans sleep on that time we won a national championship?

The 22 Bama game was the best of the century for Tennessee though. It’s hard to write up a script for a more exciting game. Even people with no rooting interest thought it was incredible

I went to several of the games that year and had tickets to the NC game but couldn't go due to work. It was a great season - no doubt. "Why?" you ask?

Here's why....

The SEC was incredibly down that year - no Saban at Ala. No Meyers at UF. No one special at LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, South Carolina, or GA. UT beat UF on a missed chip-shot field goal by UF. UT beat Syracuse on a mysterious pass interference call on Cuse. UT (ranked #1 playing at home) beat Arky (ranked top 10) on the most unbelievable, lucky, play for UT in UT history. UT beat FSU who started a 3RD STRING QB due to injuries. UT "out-talented" nearly every team they played that year.

Glad UT won a NC no doubt. The only games which were nail biters were UF and Arky - both "W"s were gifts to UT from the football gods.

That's why.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I went to several of the games that year and had tickets to the NC game but couldn't go due to work. It was a great season - no doubt. "Why?" you ask?

Here's why....

The SEC was incredibly down that year - no Saban at Ala. No Meyers at UF. No one special at LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, South Carolina, or GA. UT beat UF on a missed chip-shot field goal by UF. UT beat Syracuse on a mysterious pass interference call on Cuse. UT (ranked #1 playing at home) beat Arky (ranked top 10) on the most unbelievable, lucky, play for UT in UT history. UT beat FSU who started a 3RD STRING QB due to injuries. UT "out-talented" nearly every team they played that year.

Glad UT won a NC no doubt. The only games which were nail biters were UF and Arky - both "W"s were gifts to UT from the football gods.

That's why.

Syracuse was a last second win, and Mississippi State was winning in the 4th quarter. Those were nailbiters. Beating Syracuse in the Carrier Dome with McNabb was one of the best nonconference wins any team had that year. We beat the top 2 picks in the following draft, we beat 2 of the 3 best teams that decade.

Our 1985 schedule was no harder than the 1998 schedule. That team failed to win 3 games and still seems to be more beloved than the only national champion we will ever see. It is strange.

 

[utvols74]

Syracuse was a last second win, and Mississippi State was winning in the 4th quarter. Those were nailbiters. Beating Syracuse in the Carrier Dome with McNabb was one of the best nonconference wins any team had that year. We beat the top 2 picks in the following draft, we beat 2 of the 3 best teams that decade.

Our 1985 schedule was no harder than the 1998 schedule. That team failed to win 3 games and still seems to be more beloved than the only national champion we will ever see. It is strange.

You didn't address the SEC level of play/quality. FSU's QB play, etc.

Nevertheless, you're making my point. Re-read what you just posted. Miss State? Really? Beating draft picks isn't legit. If you want to use that logic, UT beat Miami with V Test at QB - the #1 pick and first $1 million QB in the NFL.

Another reason for the 85 love affair is perspective. UT had some tough years in the mid-late 70s and early 80s. That 85 team was the "Sugar Vols" and also labeled "Team of Destiny" because of the lows suffered by the team for years before. No one - I mean no one - gave UT a chance against #2 Miami. 35-7 later - people were amazed.

The 98 team? You had a (should be) Heisman QB in 97, one game away (UF) from a NC in 97 - the late 90s in general were some of UT's best years. So, it gets washed in with the rest. UT should have played for a NC in 2000 but s..t the bed against LSU in the SECCG (I was at that game too).

 

[utvols74]

....to add to this a bit more. Miss State went 8-5 in 1998.....and represented the SEC west in the SECCG. They weren't even ranked! They had a 6-2 record in the SEC and tied Arky in the west. And....as you said,.....they led UT in the 4th quarter.

 

[MajinBooCarter]

All that just to sign with adidas and become worthless again

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

The game was almost a spiritual experience lol. All the pain, humiliation and misery since 2008 washed away with the foot of Chase McGrath! That was the day we got our beloved program back.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

You didn't address the SEC level of play/quality. FSU's QB play, etc.

Nevertheless, you're making my point. Re-read what you just posted. Miss State? Really? Beating draft picks isn't legit. If you want to use that logic, UT beat Miami with V Test at QB - the #1 pick and first $1 million QB in the NFL.

Another reason for the 85 love affair is perspective. UT had some tough years in the mid-late 70s and early 80s. That 85 team was the "Sugar Vols" and also labeled "Team of Destiny" because of the lows suffered by the team for years before. No one - I mean no one - gave UT a chance against #2 Miami. 35-7 later - people were amazed.

The 98 team? You had a (should be) Heisman QB in 97, one game away (UF) from a NC in 97 - the late 90s in general were some of UT's best years. So, it gets washed in with the rest. UT should have played for a NC in 2000 but s..t the bed against LSU in the SECCG (I was at that game too).

No one gave the 98 team a chance to go undefeated and win it all, yet they did. FSU didn’t have their QB, but we didn’t have our best offensive player or our OC. Outzen had previously beaten a Florida team that only lost to the two eventual teams in the championship game. The SEC had as many ranked teams at year’s end in 1998 as they did in 1985. Tennessee beat all the ranked SEC teams in 1998, they only beat one in 1985. Tennessee beat 3 teams that made it to a BCS game in 1998. In 1985, we barely beat a losing Wake Forest team, and we were 3-1-2 until November when we played horrible Rutgers, Memphis (who we struggled against), Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky teams. Even including Miami, we played 6 teams that had a winning record and only won 3 of them. We played 8 teams with winning records in 1998 and beat them all. We only won the SEC in 1985 because Florida was on probation.

I don’t blame people for loving the 85 team. It was like the 2022 team in that it felt like a breakout after a long period of suffering, beat Bama, won a major bowl against a big name program. But I don’t understand how some treat the only national champion they will ever see as an afterthought.

 

[Tin Man]

 

[Orangeslide]

There was what seemed like a long time out as we were about to kick the winning field goal against Bama...Unfortunately, my two dogs had to go outside to take care of their business....I took them out hoping they would be quick, but they weren't...."Suddenly my neighborhood exploded" with people yelling and running around their houses screaming and celebrating...It was easy to tell the kick was good!!!

It’s amazing that #47 for Bama missed the block of the kick. It was our night for sure. Amazing game! Memory for a lifetime!