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Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) moves past Mississippi Rebels linebacker DeMarquis Gates (3) during the fourth quarter of the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Ethan Wolf (82) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Ethan Wolf (82) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Tennessee Exorcises Florida Demons in 38-28 Win (Sept. 24)

Tennessee had lost 11 straight to Florida entering their late-September showdown in Knoxville. And in the first half, it appeared as though the Gators were on course to make it an even dozen in the winning streak. Storming to a 21-0 lead in the first 25 minutes, Jim McElwain’s team was making the Volunteers look foolish at every turn. Neyland Stadium had little to celebrate other than a 28-yard field goal that at least prevented a shutout. Down 21-3 at halftime, the hosts seemed outmatched by the visitors.

Then the second half happened. Tennessee came out of the locker room a changed team. All you need to do to notice the difference in fortunes is to look at the split in Joshua Dobbs’ stats between the first half and the second half:

  • 1ST HALF: 7-of-20 passing for 84 yards, 1 INT; 8 rushes for 39 yards (incl. 1 sack)
  • 2ND HALF: 9-of-12 passing for 235 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 9 rushes for 41 yards (incl. 1 fumble)

It wasn’t a perfect performance by the veteran Tennessee quarterback, but it was a turnaround that opened the door for a major comeback. Florida’s defense had no answer for the Vols in the second half, and the UT defense held firm on all but one drive in the second half to finish September undefeated.

While Tennessee didn’t manage to do enough to win the SEC East this year, this win vaulted the Vols to 11th in both major Top 25 polls. Butch Jones’ team ended the year on the outside looking in on the AP and Coaches rankings, but the College Football Playoff looked at wins like this earlier in the season and decided to push Tennessee onto their list.

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