4. 2014 South Carolina
That Taxslayer Bowl victory wouldn’t have happened if not for this stunning, come-from-behind victory against South Carolina earlier in the season, however.
At one point in this game, the Vols trailed 42-28 to South Carolina with 4:52 left in the fourth quarter. Tennessee’s chances of winning were minuscule.
But their odds weren’t impossible.
Josh Dobbs erupted into the national spotlight in this game, helping lead Tennessee’s offense to score two quick touchdowns in just over four and a half minutes to draw even with 11 seconds to go in regulation. The two teams would end up going to overtime, and the Vols finished off the Gamecocks with an Aaron Medley field goal and a dominating defensive effort.
Without this win, the Vols would’ve fallen to 3-6 and needed to win out to make a bowl game. As it happened, the Vols lost to Missouri three weeks later. A loss to South Carolina would’ve meant that loss would’ve ended the Vols’ hopes of making a bowl in 2014.
As important as the Taxslayer Bowl victory was, it might not have even happened if not for this win over South Carolina. And it was the game that Josh Dobbs found himself as Tennessee’s quarterback.
