Top 10 Games - Rocky Top Report

The only criteria for this list of rankings was that Tennessee had to have won the game. On a side note, I was in attendance for 2 of these games, Florida (2016) and Georgia (2015).

1. #14 Tennessee vs. #19 Florida (2016): The end of the streak. The miraculous comeback. Checker Neyland. Smokey Grey Uniforms. The best day of my life. All of these can be used in describing September 24, 2016. This game was highlighted by the amazing sideline catch by Jauan Jennings, part of the Vols' 38-0 run, this is still so crazy to think about, after trailing 21-0 in the first half. I was on campus before sunrise and was there well past sunset, as I attended the ESPN College Gameday show and celebrated long after the game. A very vivid memory of mine is walking down Cumberland Avenue "The Strip" after the 38-28 victory and seeing Florida fans sit in a long line of cars at a red light while listening to Rocky Top blare from every parking lot nearby. This was a bad ending for a bad day for them. It was very pleasing to watch. I will remember this day for the rest of my life. It was glorious.

2. #11 Tennessee @ No. 25 Georgia (2016): If I had to choose any Tennessee football game in my lifetime that I didn't attend, but could if I had a second chance, this would definitely be the one. Late in the first half, Josh Smith's diving catch set up a Josh Dobbs touchdown run. Then, Kamara's amazing touchdown run and Jauan Jennings' crushing block on the first play of the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 3. With 3:43 left in the game, long snapper Riley Lovingood caught a Tennessee punt at the 6-yard line. This play allowed Corey Vereen to recover a fumble in the endzone just 2 plays later. It looked like Malik Foreman's interception had iced the game with 2:10 remaining, but Georgia scored again with second remaining. It took possibly the greatest play in the history of Tennessee football, a hail mary from Dobbs to Jauan Jennings, to win 34-31 and move to 5-0 on the season. This game was an emotional roller coaster, but the Vols found a way to come out on top.

3. Tennessee vs. No. 19 Georgia (2015): Tennessee trailed 24-3 with 3:27 left before halftime. It appeared as though this may be the halftime score, but Josh Smith hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass with 1:04 left in the first half. Then, the Bulldogs fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Alvin Kamara scored with 27 seconds left in the half. So, the Vols had all of the momentum and trailed just 24-17 at the half. Many great plays occurred from there, including Trevor Daniel's incredible punt to pin Georgia over 99 yards away from the endzone. Tennessee won 38-31 and I was very glad to be a part of this day in Neyland.

4. Tennessee @ South Carolina (2014): It was a back-and-forth game through the first 3 quarters, but when the Gamecocks took a 42-28 lead with 4:52 to go, hope was fading away for the Vols. With 2 minutes left to play, Tennessee still trailed by 14, until Josh Dobbs scored on a 3-yard run with 1:50 remaining. The Vols still had work to do and they tied the game when Jason Croom caught a pass in the endzone with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 42. Tennessee's defense stepped up in the overtime period and the unlikely comeback was complete. I was so thrilled at the conclusion of this 45-42 victory. I rarely count my Vols out, but I did not expect to see this comeback actually happen.

5. #17 Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech (2016): After giving Vol fans a scare against Appalachian State in week 1, I was hoping that Tennessee would come out and dominate on one of the biggest stages in college football history. Well, it didn't work out like I had planned, as the Hokies led 14-0 after 15 minutes. Don't worry, the Vols erupted with 24 points in the second quarter, and outscored Virginia Tech 45-10 after the first quarter, winning by a score of 45-24. It was fun to watch Tennessee dominate, while playing in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 156, 990. This Battle at Bristol was Tennessee's time to shine, and the team rebounded from a shaky first game.

6. Tennessee vs. #11 South Carolina (2013): At halftime, the Vols had jumped out to a 17-7 lead against the nation's 11th-ranked team. The Gamecocks scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, Marquez North pinned the ball against his shoulder to convert on a third-and-long situation. This set up Michael Palardy's game-winning 19-yard field goal make, as the Vols won 23-21 and a dog pile ensued on Palardy.

7. #25 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (2017): After battling the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense all night, and overcoming a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Tennessee won a tight contest, 42-41 in double overtime. Marquez Callaway made a name for himself in this game, catching 4 passes for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter. Paul Bain blocked a field goal attempt as regulation expired, and the Vols' defense prevailed with a goal line stop to win on Labor Day.

8. #23 Tennessee vs. #13 Northwestern (2016): Typically, when I was growing up, I was accustomed to Tennessee dominating in games against weak opponents, such as on homecoming. This however, was in the Outback Bowl against the 13th-ranked team in the nation. Tennessee won 45-6, with 21 of their points coming in the fourth quarter. Josh Dobbs scored as he tiptoed down the sidelines and Evan Berry scored on a 100-yard pick-6 with seconds remaining, to highlight their dominant showing.

9. Tennessee vs. Nebraska (2016): This was a historic game for Tennessee. Derek Barnett passed the all-time Tennessee great Reggie White for most sacks at Tennessee. White accumulated 32 in his 4-year collegiate career, while Barnett recorded 33 in just 3 years. As for the game itself, the Vols pulled away from the Cornhuskers to win 38-24 in the Music City Bowl. The final scoring play of the game came when Josh Malone hauled in a 59-yard bomb from Josh Dobbs.

10. Tennessee vs. #22 South Carolina (2009): When I first think of this game, I remember the black jerseys that Tennessee donned. While these jerseys looked awesome and it was perfect for their Halloween matchup, the Vols play on the field was impressive as well. In the first quarter, Jonathan Crompton found Austin Johnson for a 38-yard touchdown and Montario Hardesty ran in a 14-yard touchdown to give Tennessee a 14-point lead. The Vols led 21-3 at halftime, and continued their domination in route to a 31-13 home victory. I remember watching this game on a computer, and as an 8-year old, I was enthralled with these black jerseys.