Tennessee football’s 2022 win over Alabama ranked as the best game in the college football playoff Era, According to Saturday Down South.

In what will forever be etched in orange-and-white lore, Tennessee’s thrilling 52–49 victory over Alabama on October 15, 2022, has officially been crowned the best game of the College Football Playoff era, according to a new ranking published by Saturday Down South.

The game, a back-and-forth shootout that saw two bitter SEC rivals trade blows for four quarters, culminated in a walk-off 40-yard field goal by Chase McGrath, snapping a 15-year losing streak to the Crimson Tide and sending Neyland Stadium into absolute pandemonium. The publication described it as “a perfect storm of rivalry, drama, elite quarterback play, and an ending that felt almost scripted by destiny.”

“This wasn’t just a game,” Saturday Down South wrote. “It was a cultural event, the rebirth of a proud program, and the most emotionally charged win in Tennessee’s modern history.”

Coming into the matchup, both teams were unbeaten. Alabama was ranked No. 3 and looking to maintain its dominance over the SEC East. Tennessee, under second-year head coach Josh Heupel, was ranked No. 6 and rising fast behind an explosive offense led by quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.

The game marked the first top-10 showdown in Knoxville since 1998, and the build-up was electric. By kickoff, more than 101,000 fans had packed into Neyland Stadium, and millions were watching across the country in what quickly became the day’s most anticipated matchup.

The game delivered fireworks from the opening whistle. Tennessee scored on its first possession, and Alabama quickly responded. The teams traded scores all night, combining for over 1,100 total yards and 13 touchdowns.

Hendon Hooker turned in one of the greatest performances in Tennessee quarterback history, throwing for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns, with all five scoring tosses going to Jalin Hyatt, who set a school record with 207 receiving yards and five touchdown catches.

Alabama, led by reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young, answered with brilliance of its own. Young threw for 455 yards, and the Tide seemed poised to escape Knoxville with a win after taking a 49–42 lead in the fourth quarter.

But the Vols had other plans.

After a missed Alabama field goal with less than 30 seconds left, Tennessee took over at its own 32-yard line with no timeouts. Hooker calmly led a pair of quick completions, setting up Chase McGrath for the game-winning 40-yard kick as time expired.

The kick was low, wobbly, and unforgettable. As it cleared the crossbar, Neyland Stadium exploded. Fans stormed the field, tore down the goalposts, and carried them through the streets of Knoxville—and eventually into the Tennessee River.

It was the kind of ending that even Hollywood couldn’t have scripted better.

The win marked a turning point not just for the 2022 season, but for Tennessee football as a whole.

• It was the program’s first win over Alabama since 2006.
• It vaulted the Vols to No. 3 in the national rankings, their highest position in two decades.
• It validated Josh Heupel as one of college football’s top offensive minds.
• It reignited Tennessee’s place in the national spotlight, with College GameDay and SEC Nation making repeat visits.

More than anything, it reestablished belief. After years of coaching turnover, recruiting struggles, and on-field mediocrity, Tennessee had finally returned to national relevance.

“That was the moment this program changed,” said then-AD Danny White in a 2023 interview. “You could feel it in the stadium, in the city, and honestly across the country.”

In ranking the best games of the College Football Playoff era (2014–present), Saturday Down South cited several key metrics:

• Rivalry or stakes involved
• National relevance and rankings
• Individual performances
• Game drama and fourth-quarter intensity
• Long-term impact on the sport or programs involved

Tennessee-Alabama in 2022 topped the list over other classics, including:

• Georgia vs. Oklahoma (2018 Rose Bowl)
• Ohio State vs. Michigan (2022)
• Clemson vs. Alabama (2016 CFP National Championship)
• LSU vs. Alabama (2019)

But it was Tennessee’s win—emotional, unexpected, and unforgettable—that earned the top spot.

“It had everything: future NFL stars, lead changes, national title implications, and the loudest celebration college football has seen in years,” SDS wrote.

Though Tennessee would fall short of a College Football Playoff appearance that season—largely due to a tough November loss at South Carolina—the impact of the Alabama win was felt well beyond 2022.

Recruits began flocking to Knoxville. Donations to the program surged. NIL momentum accelerated. And Tennessee’s brand value skyrocketed on the national stage.

Hendon Hooker went on to be a Heisman finalist and was eventually drafted by the Detroit Lions. Jalin Hyatt won the Biletnikoff Award and landed with the New York Giants. And Josh Heupel signed a lucrative extension, cementing his place as the program’s long-term leader.

The goalposts may have floated down the Tennessee River, but the meaning of that win still stands firmly planted in the heart of Vol Nation.

Years later, players and coaches continue to reflect on the game as a defining moment in their careers.

Josh Heupel:

“We knew we were building something special. But that night—we showed the world what Tennessee football really is.”

Hendon Hooker:

“I’ve never felt anything like that. That was bigger than football. That was family, history, and legacy all at once.”

Jalin Hyatt:

“Five touchdowns, yeah, that was fun. But honestly, it was just about winning—for our team, for the fans, for everyone who never stopped believing.”

There have been higher-stakes games in the playoff era. There have been national title thrillers, and last-second upsets, and rivalry clashes filled with drama. But no game better captured the emotional power, pageantry, and unpredictability of college football than Tennessee’s 52–49 win over Alabama in 2022.

It wasn’t just a victory.
It was a rebirth.
And now, officially, it’s the greatest game of the CFP era.