Tennessee is No. 1 again.
The Volunteers are No. 1 in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings. Tennessee also is ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the Coaches Poll, but a victory against No. 3 Georgia on Saturday would end the debate for another week.
At that point, Tennessee would be No. 1 for the first time since the inaugural season of the Bowl Championship Series in 1998.
The last time the Volunteers took the No. 1 spot in the regular season produced one of the most-memorable plays in program history the following week – and it keyed the Volunteers’ national championship run.
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Sporting News looks back at the last time the Vols were No. 1 in the polls in the regular season.
When was Tennessee’s last No. 1 ranking?
Rewind to Nov. 9, 1998. The Vengaboys released their hit single “We Like to Party.” “Metal Gear Solid” was the trending video game. Two days after Michigan State knocked off No. 1 Ohio State, the Volunteers were voted No. 1 in the AP Poll.
Who was on that Tennessee team?
Phillip Fulmer had guided the Volunteers to a 8-0 record at that point with a roster that included quarterback Tee Martin, who had the unenviable task of replacing Peyton Manning at quarterback. Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe was the hot assistant coach.
Travis Henry was the leading rusher, and Peerless Price was the star receiver. Chad Clifton and Cosey Coleman anchored the offensive line, and Al Wilson, Raynoch Thompson and Darwin Walker. Tennessee even had a star kicker in Jeff Hall, who kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime against Florida.
What was Tennessee’s signature victory in 1998?
The Tennessee-Florida rivalry was the gold standard in the SEC in the 1990s. The Gators won four straight SEC championships from 1993-96, and Steve Spurrier had led the Gators to five straight victories against the Vols from 1993-97.
Tennessee had won the SEC championship in 1997, but the Gators beat the Vols 33-20 that season, which prevented Manning from getting a shot at a national championship. That set the stage for the Sept. 19, 1998 matchup between No. 2 Florida and No. 6 Tennessee.
Tennessee forced five turnovers and finally broke through in a 20-17 overtime thriller, which was clinched when Cooper Collins missed a 32-yard field goal that would’ve forced a second overtime. Fans stormed Neyland Stadium.
It is considered one of the greatest victories in school history.
“Without that game we don’t win the national championship,” Tennessee safety Fred White told the Knoxville New Sentinel.
Doesn’t that sound like what happened after Tennessee’s 52-49 victory against No. 3 Alabama this season?
What happened after Tennessee was voted No. 1?
The Vols’ run at No. 1 almost ended after just one week. No. 10 Arkansas led Tennessee 24-22 with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter and the Vols had just one timeout left.
On second-and-12, Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner stumbled after taking the snap, then fumbled. Billy Ratliff recovered, and Henry’s 1-yard TD run with 28 seconds left sealed an improbable victory that was part of this charmed season.
Who did Tennessee beat in the BCS championship game?
Tennessee closed the season with a 23-16 victory against No. 2 Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, which served as the first Bowl Championship Series championship game. The Seminoles were without starting quarterback Chris Weinke, and backup quarterback Marcus Outzen had trouble against the Volunteers’ defense.
The signature play was Martin’s 79-yard TD pass to Price in the third quarter that put the Volunteers ahead 20-9. This marked the start of SEC dominance in the BCS era. SEC schools won nine of the 16 BCS championship games from 1998-2013.
What were Alabama and Georgia like in 1998?
No. 4 Tennessee beat No. 7 Georgia 22-3 in another top-10 showdown at Sanford Stadium on Oct. 10, 1998. That was part of a three-loss season for third-year coach Jim Donnan, who lasted two more seasons before the Mark Richt era started in Athens.
No. 3 Tennessee beat Alabama 35-18 at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 24, 1998. The Crimson Tide finished 7-5 in Mike DuBose second season. That was part of the Volunteers’ seven-game win streak against Alabama from 1995-2001.
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Will Tennessee party like it’s 1998?
Tennessee has the top offense in the country in 2022, and quarterback Hendon Hooker is a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. The Volunteers can take the top spot in the AP Poll with a victory against the Bulldogs.
The 1998 team finished with six victories against ranked teams. A victory Saturday would give this year’s team the same mark, and that is before potential matchups in the SEC championship game and the College Football Playoff.
This is the Vols’ best chance since 1998.
Will they take advantage of it?
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