Looking back at Tennessee's one-game history with Ohio State
Ohio State football dates back to 1890. A year later, on November 21, 1891, Tennessee football played Sewanee in Chattanooga in the first game in program history. And in the 133 years since then, the Vols and Buckeyes have met just once on the football field.
Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14. Citrus Bowl. January 1, 1996. Orlando, Fla.
Approximately 10,582 days later, the two teams will meet again. This time it’s Tennessee (10-2), the No. 9 seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, going to No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) in the first round in the expanded bracket.
The two teams meet on Saturday, December 21 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC and ESPN.
‘The bottom line was the heart and spirit of our guys’
In 1996, Ohio State had started 11-0, lost in the final week of the regular season to rival Michigan after dreaming of the Rose Bowl, and had to settle for a Citrus Bowl date with Tennessee.
This season the Buckeyes were off to a 10-1 start, with the lone loss coming on the road at No. 1 Oregon, and again were stunned by Michigan in a 13-10 loss at home last week.
Ohio State was destined for the Big 10 championship game and a rematch with Oregon. Now the Buckeyes have to play their way out of the first round against Tennessee.
“Getting this first win,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said during his press conference on Sunday, “will be critical in building momentum as you head into the teeth of the playoffs”
On New Year’s Day 1996, Tennessee was the teeth and ate up the momentum at every turn.
Jay Graham ran for a 69-yard touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter, Joey Kent caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning in the third quarter and Jeff Hall kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter to win 20-14 on a cold, rain-soaked day in Orlando.
The Vols also stuffed Ohio State on a goal-line stand in the first quarter and recovered a crucial Eddie George fumble in the fourth.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Bill Belichick
UNC hiring legendary coach
- 2New
Brian Hartline
OSU coach interviews at WVU
- 3
Campbell extension
ISU coach inks deal
- 4
NCAA Tournament
March Madness looking to expand
- 5Trending
Flag planting felony
Ohio politicians get involved
“The bottom line today,” Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said at the time, “was the heart and spirit of our guys.”
Tennessee ‘got the job done’ against Ohio State, Eddie George in 1996
Manning 20 of 35 passes for 182 yards and the touchdown to Kent and Graham was named the game’s MVP, rushing 26 times for 154 yards and the game-changing touchdown with just 23 seconds before halftime.
“It was a draw play, which we sometimes call in the two-minute drill,” Manning said at the time. “It turned out to be the best two-minute drill we’ve ever had.”
Graham outran George, who finished with 101 yards and at touchdown on 25 carries, on his way to the Heisman Trophy.
“They played in the same conditions, “George of the rainy day in Orlando. “They got the job done.”
The game dropped former Ohio State coach John Cooper to 1-6 in bowl games and still looking for a Rose Bowl berth. Even worse, he was 2-10-1 against Michigan.
“I’m disappointed,” Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying said after the game. “Our ultimate goal was to win the Rose Bowl, and we didn’t get there. Then we come down here and don’t do what we needed to do.”
