The Volunteers had finished fifth in the Southeastern Conference, with an 11–10 loss to #3 Alabama being especially damaging.
Gary Wright kicked two 38 yard field goals to make it 6–0, and Dewey Warren threw touchdown passes to Austin Denney and Richmond Flowers to make it 18–0 at halftime.
On the first drive of the second half, Larry Csonka scored on an 8-yard touchdown plunge to make it 18–6 (after a failed conversion play).
With only 46 seconds left in the game, Floyd Little made it 18–12 on a 3-yard touchdown plunge (with another failed conversion play), but it wasn't enough.
Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game.