Ranking the 5 Best Moments from the Georgia-Tennessee Rivalry

It’s Tennessee week for the Bulldogs, and no matter what the record is for each team, this game is always closely contested.

And when they’re closely contested games, there are memorable moments. Both teams have had their share in the 43 times they have met.

But what moments stand out for fans? What are the ones that everyone talks about and will talk about for years to come?

Here are the five most memorable moments for the Georgia-Tennessee rivalry.

No. 5: Comeback by Peyton

In the 1995 game, the Bulldogs and Vols were tied at 27 with under two minutes left to play. The Bulldogs missed a field goal with a minute and a half remaining, and that gave Peyton Manning a chance to drive the Vols 40 yards.

The Vols kicked the game-winning field goal with 10 seconds remaining, and it was the fifth win in a row for the Vols against Georgia. Tennessee would finish with an 11-1 record and go on to beat Ohio State in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Bulldogs would finish 6-6, which included a loss to Virginia in the Peach Bowl.

No. 4: Vols Snap Bulldogs' 17-Game Home-Win Streak

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

One of the biggest wins at Sanford Stadium came in 2004. The Vols were ranked No. 17 while the Bulldogs came in at No. 3.

Led by Erik Ainge, who threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns, the Vols defeated the Bulldogs 19-14 and would go on to win the SEC East.

But the win also ended the Bulldogs' 17-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs would go on to lose to Auburn later in the season and would finish with a 10-2 record.

No. 3: Herschel Walker Runs over Bill Bates

Georgia’s road to the 1980 national title started with a road contest against Tennessee, and the Bulldogs came away with a 16-15 win.

But what made this game memorable is Herschel Walker scoring his first collegiate touchdown and running over Vols’ Bill Bates in the process. That play is so memorable that it’s still shown on the video board before every Bulldogs home game.

No. 2: Bulldogs Fans Rush the Field

RIC FELD/Associated Press

Georgia fans rarely rush the field after a big win. In fact, it has only happened once in the program’s history, and it was back in 2000 when Georgia defeated the Vols.

The reason that win made fans so emotional was the fact that the Bulldogs had not beaten Tennessee since 1988. Led by QB Quincy Carter, the Bulldogs won 21-10, and it was also head coach Jim Donnan’s 100th career win as a head coach. The Bulldogs would finish the year 8-4 while the Vols also finished the year with an 8-4 mark.

No. 1: Bulldogs Hit Vols with the Hobnail Boot

But it was one year later when the Bulldogs had the most memorable moment in the series.

It’s was Mark Richt’s first year as the head coach for the Bulldogs, and his team was going against the Vols, who were ranked No. 6.

Tennessee had the lead with 44 seconds left in the game after scoring on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Casey Clausen to Travis Stephens. But Bulldogs quarterback David Greene led his team down the field and threw a touchdown pass to Verron Haynes with only six seconds left to win the game.

The play was infamously called the “hobnail boot” by UGA announcer Larry Munson, and oddly enough it was the first time the Bulldogs had won at Neyland Stadium since 1980.  

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