Tennessee was expected to have a slight fall-off after their conference championship the previous season. They had lostquarterbackPeyton Manning,wide receiverMarcus Nash, andlinebackerLeonard Little to theNational Football League (NFL). Manning was the first pick overall in the1998 NFL draft. Tennessee was also coming off a difficult 42–17 loss toNebraska in theOrange Bowl, and were in the midst of a five-game losing streak to the rivalFlorida Gators. Nonetheless, the Volunteers beat eight bowl teams, including six January bowl teams, four top-ten teams, and threeBowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl-bound teams, and completed the program's first undefeated season in 60 years.
Tennessee kicker Jeff Hall converted a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Vols a key road win.[14] This was the second game winning kick of Hall's career, the first coming against Georgia in the 1995 season..[15] In his first game as a starter, replacingPeyton Manning, quarterbackTee Martin went only 9-of-26 for 143 yards, but led the Vols into field goal range for the game-winning kick. Running backJamal Lewis led the Vols with 140 yards rushing and a touchdown. Wide receiverPeerless Price had two touchdown receptions.
Syracuse quarterbackDonovan McNabb gave the Volunteer defense fits, putting up 300 yards with a 22-for-28 day.[16]
Tennessee broke a five-game losing streak against the Gators.[17] Florida kicker Collins Cooper missed a potential game-tying field in overtime and set off a wild celebration atNeyland Stadium that saw the goalposts and CBS cameras disappear.The Vols won despite racking up only 235 yards of total offense and going 2 for 13 on third down conversions. The difference was turnovers. The Florida Gators lost four fumbles, and one interception, with three of the fumbles caused byAl Wilson. Jeff Hall made his field goal in the first overtime, setting the stage for the Florida miss and the Vols win.The Vols also held the Gators to −13 net rushing on 30 attempts. FullbackShawn Bryson scored on a 57-yard run.[18]
Junior quarterback Tee Martin threw for four touchdowns and 234 yards en route to the Vols win over the Houston Cougars.Jamal Lewis recorded 135 rushing yards and one touchdown.[19] The Vols recorded 334 rushing yards and 589 total yards as a team.The Vols defense held Houston to 239 total yards and recorded three sacks with eight tackles for loss.
The Vols jumped out to an early lead behind the running ofJamal Lewis. However, following a season ending ACL injury, Lewis left the game and the Tennessee defense held on for the 17–9 win.[20]
In a rematch of the high scoring1997 SEC Championship Game, the defense needed a score by defensive endShaun Ellis and a four-play goal line stand from inside the one-yard line to secure the win.[21] They did so without senior captainAl Wilson, who missed the game with a shoulder injury.[22]
Tennessee entered their third game in the 1998 SEC season as underdogs. However, behind the running ofTravis Henry and Travis Stephens, and a strong defensive effort, the Vols dominated the Bulldogs.[23]
Georgia was limited to only 254 total yards and the Vols defense held their opponent without a touchdown for the second straight game.
The Vols pushed their winning streak over Alabama in theThird Saturday in October to four games with a 35–18 victory.[24] The win gave Tennessee a 6–0 record for the first time since 1969.[25]
This time, the Vols Offense relied onTravis Henry who rushed for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. The play that broke the game open for the Vols was a 100-yard kickoff return byPeerless Price in the 3rd quarter that answered an Alabama touchdown and two-point conversion.
Tee Martin set an NCAA record for consecutive completions with 24, leading the Vols to a 49–14 victory.[26] Martin completed his first 23 passes (with one from the previous game) to set the record. He also recorded his first 300-yard passing game by going 23-for-24 for 315 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Vol Defense held South Carolina scoreless until the 4th quarter, when they had a 42–0 lead.
Tennessee took care of the Blazers to win their homecoming contest and move their record to 8–0. It was their first 8–0 start since 1956.[27]The Vols racked up 447 total yards, led by the rushing ofTravis Henry and the passing ofTee Martin. WRPeerless Price also added 103 yards receiving.
Tennessee fell behind 21–3 in the first half, but capped off a season-saving comeback with aTravis Henry touchdown run in the final seconds.
Henry had 197 yards rushing and the deciding touchdown. The key play of the game and possibly the season occurred in the fourth quarter. Arkansas was nursing a 24–22 lead late in the game and was attempting to run out the clock. Defensive tackle Billy Ratliff pushed Arkansas guardBrandon Burlsworth into quarterbackClint Stoerner, causing him to stumble and fumble.[28] Ratliff recovered the ball and allowed Tennessee the chance to drive the field and score the game-winning touchdown.[29]
Kentucky struggled after one of their players died and another was injured in an automobile accident early that week, as Tennessee picked up an easy 59–21 win. This game marked the end of the Battle of the Beer Barrel, due to the alcohol-related death that week.
Kentucky QBTim Couch passed for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns, but Kentucky never threatened after the 1st quarter
The Vols clinched their second consecutive SEC East Division title with a win in Nashville. Tennessee dominated once again, holding the Commodores scoreless and limiting them to 174 total yards.
Tee Martin had 241 yards passing and one touchdown, while Travis Henry led the team in rushing with 136 yards and a touchdown. Peerless Price added 181 yards receiving and a touchdown.[30]
Tennessee won its second SEC title, in a defensive struggle. The Vols were held to 249 total yards and scored 3 touchdowns. They were down late in the 4th quarter 14–10, but scored two touchdowns within 32 seconds of each other on passes byTee Martin.[31] This win secured a berth into the National Championship game for the Vols.[32]
Tennessee won its first consensus national championship since 1951 and the first ever BCS title game by defeating the Seminoles 23–16.[33] The second ranked Seminoles were favored and boasted superstar WRPeter Warrick. The Vols limited Warrick to 1 catch for 7 yards and scored on long passes to Peerless Price and an interception return by CBDwayne Goodrich, who was the defensive MVP of the game.[34][35] Price had 199 yards receiving on 4 catches and scored the deciding touchdown in the 4th quarter.[36]
QBTee Martin: 164/285 (57.5%) for 2,442 yards (8.57) with 21 touchdowns vs. 8 interceptions (2.81%). 113 carries for 306 yards (2.71) and 7 touchdowns.
RBTravis Henry: 195 carries for 998 yards (5.12) and 7 touchdowns. 5 catches for 40 yards and no touchdowns.
RB Travis Stephens: 120 carries for 537 yards (4.48) and 4 touchdowns.
RB/FBShawn Bryson: 24 carries for 207 yards (8.63) and 4 touchdowns. 22 catches for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns.
RBJamal Lewis: 73 carries for 497 yards (6.81) and 3 touchdowns.
WRPeerless Price: 65 catches for 1,119 yards (17.22) and 11 touchdowns.
WRCedrick Wilson: 34 catches for 565 yards (16.62) and 6 touchdowns.
WR Jeremaine Copeland: 29 catches for 455 yards (15.69) and 1 touchdown.
