Rapid Reaction: Tennessee pulls off thrilling comeback to beat Indiana in Gator Bowl
Tennessee managed an incredible fourth-quarter comeback to beat Indiana 23-22 to win the Gator Bowl.
The Volunteers led 6-3 at halftime but quickly found themselves trailing by double digits in the second half. The Hoosiers led 22-9 as last as the 3:51 mark in the fourth quarter. UT had not scored a touchdown all night, but the offense came alive at just the right time as two rushing touchdowns bookended a key onside kick recovery.
The Volunteers finished the 2019 campaign 8-5 on a six-game win streak.
After the UT defense picked off Indiana QB Peyton Ramsey, Jarrett Guarantano marched the UT offense down the field, ut the five-play, 51-yard drive ended with a turnover on downs as the Vols failed to score on fourth-and-goal.
Tennessee’s first points came on the following drive. The Vols again managed to threaten deep in Hoosier territory, but couldn’t score the touchdown, only a field goal courtesy of Brent Cimaglia. Jeremy Pruitt’s squad would manage to only score on field goals in the first half, taking a 6-3 lead into the locker room at the break despite out-gaining Indiana 202-69 in total yards.
The second half got off to a disastrous start for the Vols as a three-point lead became a 10-point deficit in the third quarter. The Hoosiers opened the half with a 12-play, 69-yard touchdown drive to put Indiana up 10-6 after the extra point.
On UT’s first series of the quarter, Jarrett Guarantano tossed a pick-six that extended Indiana’s lead to 16-6.
JAMAR JOHNSON HOUSE CALL📱
The Hoosiers (+3.5) D comes up big with a Pick-6 to extend their lead to 10🏈
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) January 3, 2020
After the interception, Guarantano was benched for freshman QB Brian Maurer. The Vols went on a 10-play, 49-yard drive on Maurer’s first possession, but still couldn’t manage a touchdown. Cimaglia’s first field goal cut it to 16-9. Guarantano returned with the Vols trailing 19-9 after another IU field goal.
Tennessee rallied in the fourth quarter. Quavaris Crouch came in to help the Vols punch it in over the goal line, capping off a 10-play, 82-yard drive, cutting Indiana’s lead to 22-15. The Vols went for one, with Cimaglia cutting it to 22-16.
Quavaris Crouch 1 yard TD run! #Vols pic.twitter.com/D2NKx317yC
— Boo Boo Shoester (@FTBeard11) January 3, 2020
UT then rolled the dice with an onside kick and recovered with 4:19 remaining in the game.
ONSIDE KICK, VOLS RECOVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ezp2fdkX3s
— Boo Boo Shoester (@FTBeard11) January 3, 2020
The Volunteers managed to score quickly, needing only three plays to go 54 yards. Eric Gray ran 16 yards for the game-tying score. Cimaglia’s extra point gave UT a 23-22 lead with 3:51 remaining.
TENNESSEE RETAKES THE LEAD!!!!! Eric Gray 16 yard TD run! #Vols pic.twitter.com/WtBmVUug7h
— Boo Boo Shoester (@FTBeard11) January 3, 2020
Indiana drove into Tennessee territory, but Justus Logan missed a 52-yard field goal attempt with 2:12 left. Indiana got one more possession, but turned the ball over on downs with 18 seconds remaining, allowing Tennessee to take a knee in the victory formation.
Way to go Vols! I was getting worried there for a bit. I’m glad you pulled it off. Now all we need is for LSU to bring that trophy back home to the SEC, where it belongs!
Tennessee is hard team to watch as a Fan… always waiting for the next kick in the Gut… WHOOOOOO!
Tennessee is a hard team to watch play…for any fan. When Indiana went into “prevent defense” & gave up that
TD, I felt that the Vols would win. Did everyone see the Idiana QB’s eyes on every play…It was like the “Where am I look”.
Haha yea, I am glad someone else noticed that. I ferociously stared right back at him. Saw his soul every play. I like to pretend that helped us.
Woo!!! SEC baby!!
WOW!!!!! Way to go! What a game! Ya’ll really made the SEC look good. I actually caught myself whistling “Rocky Top” a few times. Great come back season!
Wooo!!
Just out here hollering whooo like my name is The Nature Boy.
Whooooo!
Jeeez. I watched the Kentucky game the other day and was thankful it wasn’t my team coming down to the wire for the win, I know it’s hard on the heart.
Fast forward to tonight….
That kicker missed the extra point and it left the door wide open. Vols won the last 5 minutes when it mattered. Indiana gave it away badly. What a game.
I said it’s great to be a TN vol! GBO
Great comeback win! That on-side kick was sweet. Congrats to Vol Nation!
Best onside kick of the year. Simply amazing execution.
Played like shat but pulled it off. Why in the h$ll does JG not play good unless the game is on the line? It’s like he needs to come back and win it. Crazy. Play calling was boring. Indiana gave us that one. Win is a win.
Congrats Vols. Way to stay in it. Good way to finish the season and good for the SEC. Happy New Year!
What was an ugly game turned into probably the best finish of the bowl season. Congratulations Vols!
Good job Vols. I was beginning to think you would lose the game. C’mon LSU bring home the championship to finalize a dominant SEC postseason!
I grew up in SEC country, but now live in Big 10 country. My daughter is a graduate of IU. She has a good job and is happy. This game represents the Big 10 in all the dysfunction. They can make big plays. They can play smash mouth football. The Big has no imagination, no anticipation, they cannot win the big games. The entire stadium saw that onside kick coming. Except for the IU team and coaches. I am hoping LSU gets it done, because we all hate the ACC.
Heck of an ending (clean language to avoid censorship). I’m going to miss football season big time. But for now, way to go Vols and let’s Geaux Tigers!
I had a lot riding on the Vols (moneyline) and was saying,”Pruitt, don’t be dumb enough to try an onside kick here; everyone is expecting it.” Everyone but Indiana; I guess they didn’t watch much 2018 or early season film. Kudos to the bowl committee for pairing up such close teams. Indiana has no NFL talent and their top RB was out, but unlike the crappy Big 10 schools Butch played against, this team came to play.
Amazing how missed extra points always seem to come back and bite you.
I thought tennessee didn’t cover? Wasn’t the line TN -3.5?
He bet on the moneyline. Tennessee just had to win.
You might want to remember the VERY good Iowa team that Butch and Tennessee destroyed in 2014 bowl season. I got to watch Missouri wax Minnesota the day before, with some Nebraska friends (does it get any better?) (yes). The next day I crossed the border into Iowa stopped a a sport bar restaurant and watched the saddest room full of Hawkeyes cry in their beer for 4 quarter.
Absolutely brilliant comeback. Good job Vols and congratulations!
Way to go Vols! I almost quit watching because it looked as if Tennessee hadn’t shown up to play at all. But finally they did. That’s a great way to represent the SEC and go into the off season on a winning streak!
Now LSU it’s your turn, bring the Natty home to the strongest conference in football! SEC! SEC!
So, SEC East undefeated in bowl season. Well done. Beat Clemson LSU
Thanks to all the good words from the SEC brethren (and whatever the equivalent is for SEC sisters). I am just glad UT could contribute to a successful bowl season for the conference. Now, GEAUX TIGERS!
The only time I’ll cheer for UT is at bowl games, but congratulations, I was pulling for you guys. That was a nail-biter. Good win Vols, way to bring it home.
Some experts are saying that LSU, just like Alabama the year before, is rolling on offense. And like last year, they run into a Clemson defense that will stop them. 2 things are entirely different. No 1, the players who carried that Clemson defense are in the NFL now. No 2, and much more importantly, the guy running the LSU offense came from the New Orleans Saints. He will not get outschemed or out coached. He will adjust to whatever Sweeney’s lifelong sidekick throws at Burrows. We all know how fortunate the Tigers are to even being here.
“We all know how fortunate the Tigers are to even being here”
They’re undefeated reigning champions on a 25 game win streak. That’s not being fortunate. ClemPson is really good. I think LSU will win but wouldn’t be surprised if ClemPson pulls it out. Should be a great game.
They are fortunate to be in this game because OSU outplayed them. Two badly timed penalties and a bad call on the scoop and score allowed them to advance.
Great win!
Heyooo there we go Tennessee. I stopped watching when I thought IU had it in the bag. Nice ending to the season for the Vols
Wow, what a comeback, great victory Vols!
Congrats Vols!
Hurray Vols. What a bowl season for the SEC. And Missouri should have been another one.
NCAA is so f’d up.
Congratz! Really glad SEC is showing who’s the best conference. Bring the trophy home, LSU! Show ’em that you’re the one and only Tigers.
Well, the bad version of JG showed up for the game. All the problems he displayed all season when he started, but give him credit. Just like when he came off the bench during the season, he put it together. Nice win for UT. Congrats again to all of our SEC brethren on their bowl games and victories. With everyone else, wishing LSU to bring home the trophy and give a dose of humility to Clemson. [sigh], football season is almost over.
Good win Vols and heck of a comeback…
Whew! Well a win is a win. Took a lot to make that comeback. This team had its issues this season, but one thing you cant say about them is that they ever quit or give up. That’s big kudos to the coaching staff and players.
Lets geaux Tigers and bring that NC trophy to Baton Rouge and the sec!
PS: it has been nice to see most posters make positive comments on all our SEC opponents wins in bowl season.
I have to admit I turned it off. It was ugly. Sucks I missed what sounds like a great ending.
Great win, great comeback!!!! And in reality for the way we started,, versus the progress and heart of this team,,,, Great season.. Good to see everyone on site supporting us and the rest of the best conference in football!!!!
I’m really hoping UT gets it together next season (except against UGA of course) we need the East to be a 3 headed monster again.
Awesome comeback! A few friends of mine drove down for the game, then left after the pick-6. They’re regretting that move! I’m glad we could add a W to the SEC win column.
Side note – I haven’t seen or heard anything on this yet, but it makes me cringe just a little watching the exchange from QB to Crouch. He’s obviously only in on short yardage, smash mouth plays. One would think they’d clean up his fundamentals a bit, especially with early contact being a near certainty. Oh well, all’s well that ends well for now!
Congratulations Vols ! ! We need you strong ! SEC, SEC, SEC, SEC ! Whip those B1G types !
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t this the second game of the season where the other team’s PAT didn’t make it? A win is a win, but sure would have preferred a blowout.
Kentucky missed the PAT after their second touchdown I believe (I think it was blocked/tipped at the LOS by Middleton), which forced them into having to go for the touchdown in the final minutes as opposed to a game tying FG.
Jarrett Guarantano is the best Forrest Gump description of a box of chocolates – “you never know what you’re going to get.” Last night was classic Guarantano. Glad the Vols won. Happy for another SEC win but that was a game that should have never been that close. Pruitt and Chaney really do have a challenge on their hands for next season; play the box of chocolates or hang your hopes on a wild gunslinger sophomore – or hope the new recruit Bailey is what everybody hopes. Guarantano is just so maddening to figure out. GBO
Midwest…Great analogy ! I’ll take the kid from Ocala, Florida…Maurer can mature & he can sling it. Guarantano goes for adequate to “do what” ?
Congrats to the Vols. Great comeback! SEC baby!
Really impressive way Pruitt was able to save this season after losing to Georgia State and BYU and some of the players were wanting to quit. A lot of teams would have folded.
Congrats UT, way to represent the SEC.
Must confess I turned off the game early in the 3rd but happy to find out you had a great come back victory.
Nice to see pretty much everyone ending the season on a happy note.
Tennessee gonna tennessee. Whew. Glad it’s over. My heart can’t take anymore. I’m surprised to see rival fans in here praising our win. Thanks guys! Now go bring the trophy home LSU!
I am new to this site and it is interesting to me to see so many fans of other schools pulling for other SEC schools to win. I am not that guy. Although it is nice to see a social media stream without everyone yelling at each other I can honestly say I have not pulled for an SEC yet. I hope they all lose. I can’t hate Bama, Florida, Georgia then hope they win?? I am I alone in this? I figure LSU will destroy Clemson next week but I can’t say I “hope” they win??? Maybe it is just me.
More like Iu gave it away.Vols cried to the refs down the stretch and used trickery early recovery to win. Had to bench Geronimo like every game and Jennings should of not been allowed to play with his unsportsmanlike conduct at the end of the season. 3rd qtr showed the better of the 2 teams. Gator bowl needed vols to win so they can continue to feed the SEC bias bullcrap. Not to mention even the announcers said the last spot was very generous Id hope even the vols could punch it in after the refs walked them up field last 2 drives. That with little league tricks won the game vols showed why their program is in the toilet and showed how a basketball school whipped them for 3 qtrs. Wow vols won with a lot of help and sorry but Jennings who was the difference at the end should have not been allowed to play shows how class less or is in Knoxville
Do you feel better now?
First the spot you speak of was reviewed and overturned. Second why is everyone so scared to face juaun Jennings? IU held him to 2 catches and below 70 yards. Pretty good compared to other games. And the beat us for 3 qtrs??? First half 202 yrds-69 yrds. IU really put it on us. 1 qtr we got beat and JG caused some of the self inflicting wounds. Our defense didn’t help in the third allowing QB draws and scrambles for chunk plays. Trick plays? Everyone knew an onside kick was coming! I guess IU didn’t watch film over the past 2 seasons. But outsmarting the other team is kinda the point of coaching. Great win. Way to send the seniors out.
Also, John Cooper still maintains that Tennessee used cleats that were 1/4″ too long in the 1996 Citrus Bowl.
Indiana went full Kentucky.
Missed an extra point that left the door open. Tennessee walked through. Then the IU defense let them down in the 4th quarter.
Indiana is B1G Ten (actual size 14) Kentucky.