Chase McGrath explains emotions after missed XP, how he approached game-winning FG

Tennessee kicker Chase McGrath lived out a kicker’s dream this weekend, as he made the 40-yard, game-winning, walk-off field goal with no time left in the game to elevate the Volunteers to a 52-49 upset victory over Alabama. But before McGrath was the hero of the game, he missed an extra point attempt in the third quarter that could have been costly for the Volunteers.

“Yeah, obviously you don’t want that to happen, that’s something that’s really not happened to me,” McGrath said. “But you just wipe it, onto the next kick, I knew there was gonna be another opportunity later on in the game, so just really tried to move on from that and focus up for the next opportunity.”

The Volunteer’s offense had McGrath’s back, converting a two-point conversation on their following touchdown drive that erased his mistake. And when his number was called at the end of the game with the score tied 49-49 with two seconds left in regulation, he had their back as well, as his short memory of his missed PAT lead to a memory that will last forever in Tennessee’s history.

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“Honestly it wasn’t my cleanest hit, but had full confidence in Matty (Matthew Salansky) my snapper, Paxton (Brooks) my holder, and that the line was gonna protect me so really just going out there and just focusing on doing your job and we were able to get it though and that was good,” McGrath said.

It was more than good in the eyes of Tennessee’s fans, who immediately burst onto the field in celebration following McGrath’s kick, breaking a 15-game losing streak against Alabama and moving up to a No. 3 ranking in the latest AP Poll, the highest they’ve ranked since 2005.

Josh Heupel discusses big moment for Chase McGrath after game-winner

Tennessee secured an upset victory over Alabama in dramatic fashion this weekend beating the Crimson Tide 52-29 thanks to a go-ahead, game-winning field goal made by kicker Chase McGrath. As soon as McGrath’s 40-yarder went through the uprights, Neyland Stadium turned into all out celebration, and head coach Josh Heupel talked about sharing that moment with his kicker.

“Great hug, super excited, got a chance to see his family too,” Heupel said. “What a great moment for him, as a specialist sometimes you don’t get a ton of opportunities and he got a chance to take advantage of it tonight, really special.”

McGrath started his career off at USC, walking onto the Trojans team in 2017 before earning his scholarship the following year after assuming the kickoff and placekicking duties as a freshman. He spent four seasons with USC before transferring to Tennessee in 2021, where he broke the PAT makes and attempts record with 66 each, along with making 12 of his 16 field goal attempts.

McGrath is fresh off of winning SEC Special Teams player of the Week honors for his performance the previous week against LSU, where he made four or his five field goal attempts and all four of his extra point attempts, accounting for 16 total points in their 40-13 victory over the Tigers.

But this weekend’s game-winner may top that performance, and will certainly be a moment that McGrath and the Tennessee fanbase won’t be forgetting any time soon.

“His journey how he got here, one of the first guys our staff recruited and overcoming obstacles, injuries, and has done a phenomenal job for us,” Heupel said.