The Kansas State Wildcats became just the second team to win 11 games in four consecutive seasons by defeating The Tennessee Volunteers, 35–21, in the 2001 Cotton Bowl Classic.
Third-quarter touchdown runs of 12 and six yards by junior Josh Scobey three minutes apart were the difference as Kansas State improved its four-year record to 44–8, including three bowl victories.
After losing to #1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference championship game, Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder gave his players the chance to vote on whether or not they wanted to accept a Cotton Bowl Classic bid.
Having lost the 1997 Cotton Bowl Classic to BYU, the Wildcats scored on their second possession and led 21–7 just 19½ minutes into the contest.
Senior quarterback Jonathan Beasley ran for a 14-yard score and threw TD passes of 56 and 10 yards to Quincy Morgan to give Kansas State the two-touchdown advantage.