re: Auburn 1985 - One Of The Most Dominating Defensive Performances In My Memory

My memory sucks. That may be the year that Dye didn't defer, but chose to kickoff to start the game if we won the toss. He wanted the D on the field to start each half. I think that was '85. Whichever year it was, it was a stifling D.

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Every single team we played was ranked when we played them or finished ranked in the Top 20

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No they weren't. This was 1985. Vandy sucked. They started 4-0 in 1984 and got ranked but finished 5-6. Kentucky was ranked in 1984 when they finished 9-3, but were 6-5 in 1985. Ole Miss was 4-6-1 in 1985 and never ranked. The next year,1986, Ole Miss was 8-3-1 and ranked when UT played them. I think you are combining all 3 years together.

BTW the 1985 AU team met UF in Jordan Hare and it was a game for the ages. Two undefeated teams...Florida was banned from being on TV...its was a slobberknocker about 14-10 UF as I recall and pads a popping.

Gators were a juggernaut from 83-85 that never got the recognition due to several factors.

First the canes dynasty under Howard and Jimmy launched.

Second Pat Dye fielded the best team in the country in 83 and Bo Jackson was running wild.

Third, probation.

Those AU-UF games from 83-87 were vicious blood baths though. Pell broke ever record for cheating on the books, but I think UF had more talent than any team in football overall from 83-85. UF may have won the natty in 83 if Bo had not gone 80 yards for the win over UF. 84, UF was clearly the best in the nation, and that 85 Gator D was just stupid good. Only team ever that truly stopped Bo Jackson and they destroyed him.

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2000s = Ohio State 2002, Miami 2001, USCw 2008, Alabama 2009

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2000 Oklahoma

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Anybody else have memories of that game?

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That was one of the most brutal,savage beatdowns I've ever seen. Unfortunately for Ole Miss it was on ESPN--in an era where not everygame, maybe 40% to 50% of a team's games were on TV.

Auburn had over 600 total yards and Ole Miss had some unbelievable number like 9. It was just amazing. Late in the game they showed the Ole Miss QB on the bench with his head in a towel sobbing.Can't blame him. It had to hurt knowing whatever you wanted to do it was going to be obliterated.

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Every single team we played that season was either ranked when we played and/or finished with a top 20 ranking. Not even top 25 but all in the top 20. Hell Vandy was ranked 10 and Kentucky was also ranked as were every single one of our OOC foes.

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Sir,please. Now you are a genuinely good poster and a seemingly decent guy so I will spare you with my lame and often misguided sarcasm.But the assertion that all of the Vols' opponents were ranked isn't even remotely close. Yes, UCLA and Georgia Tech had fine teams as well as Auburn,Florida and Alabama. But Wake Forest,Rutgers and Memphis State were dreadful. And Ole Miss, Kentucky and Vanderbilt all were at the bottom. Now, Tennessee did indeed level all three of them in November. Sadly Vanderbilt hasn't been in the top 10 since 1956. They were ranked #17 briefly in 1984 but going 3-7-1 with a 7-0 win over Chattanooga, losing to Iowa State and going 1-5 in SEC play doesn't tend to get you ranked.

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Genuine question, was Ole Miss good that year?

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No, they were 4-6-1. Their wins were over Arkansas St, Tulane, Vandy and MSU. They also tied Memphis St.

Thanks!

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That game was 31-27 late in the 4th and FSU went turnover crazy and we scored 28 unanswered points

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True. Only 59-27 nail biter in NCAA history. I'm pretty sure it was back and forth until about 10 minutes were left.