The Tennessee Vols snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Saturday night in Columbia, losing at the final whistle 27-24 on a walk off 48-yard field goal.

It’s a game that Tennessee controlled, leading in the second half until less than two minutes remained. The Vols had a chance to put the game away, but a mix up by QB George MacIntyre resulted in a missed handoff and a tackle on a fourth down late with Tennessee up 24-17.

The result is a potentially season-altering loss in a game Tennessee had no business losing. 12 penalties for 90 yards, with three taking touchdowns off the board, turned this from a win where Tennessee cruises late to a brutal loss. It also turns the sweet taste of cigar smoke the week before after thoroughly handling Alabama and puts a different brown taste in there.

But it’s a loss in which Tennessee is in good company. According to ESPN, Tennessee becomes the seventh team this season to beat a top 10 team and lose their next game, with teams having a combined record of 5-7 in the following game after a top 10 win.

I know the reaction is to be mad and fire ppl, but no one is immune from this right now. I think Josh Heupel and his staff, like most in the sport, need to improve in some areas. But they’re on the wrong side of two close outcomes bc of a play or two. That’s just how it goes in… https://t.co/L6CdsMbWZs

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) October 25, 2026

Tennessee becomes seventh team this year to beat a top 10 team and lose their next game

It really speaks to the state of college football as a whole right now. With the transfer portal, there’s never been a more widespread distribution of talent as a whole, and now we’re starting to see it on the field, and quickly.

It certainly creates plenty of exciting matchups, as well as a lot of mystery from week to week. Predictions have become even tougher as well, as college football really morphs into a “1-0 each week” mentality.

It’s tough to stomach for Vol fans on Sunday morning, and it’s going to be a tough pill to swallow for two weeks with the Vols on a bye. But as we’ve seen, it’s basically a clear slate the next week after a result. Tennessee can ride that rollercoaster back up the mountain with a win over a highly-ranked Kentucky team on Nov. 7.