Tennessee Upsets Alabama in 1928 Football Thriller

Vols' "Flaming Sophomores" lead Tennessee to historic victory over powerhouse Crimson Tide

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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In a stunning upset, the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the heavily favored Alabama Crimson Tide 15-13 in a thrilling football matchup on October 20, 1928. Led by the star-studded backfield of Bobby Dodd, Gene McEver, and Buddy Hackman, Tennessee's "Flaming Sophomores" overcame Alabama's reputation as a football juggernaut, marking a pivotal moment in the Vols' rise to become a long-lasting college football dynasty.

Why it matters

Tennessee's victory over Alabama in 1928 was a watershed moment that ushered in a new era of Volunteer football dominance. The win set Tennessee on a course to win four national championships and numerous conference titles in the decades that followed, establishing the program as a powerhouse in the South. The game also cemented the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry as one of the most storied in college football history.

The details

In a back-and-forth battle at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, Tennessee struck first when star halfback Gene McEver returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Alabama responded with a score of its own, but the Vols built a 15-6 lead by halftime thanks to a touchdown pass from Bobby Dodd to McEver. Dodd was injured late in the first half, but Tennessee's defense held on in the second half to preserve the historic upset victory.

  • The game was played on October 20, 1928.
  • Tennessee had previously defeated Maryville College and Centre in its first two games before upsetting Ole Miss 13-12 in its third game.
  • Alabama had blanked Ole Miss 27-0 the week before facing Tennessee.

The players

Robert Neyland

Tennessee's head coach, who was promoted two years earlier with the goal of beating rival Vanderbilt and went on to lead the Vols to four national championships and a decades-long dynasty.

Gene McEver

Tennessee's star halfback, who returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass from Bobby Dodd in the first half.

Bobby Dodd

Tennessee's star quarterback, who threw a touchdown pass to McEver but was injured late in the first half and had to leave the game.

Wallace Wade

Alabama's head coach, who praised Tennessee's McEver and Hackman as "as great a pair of halfbacks as I ever saw" after the game.

Bernard Holm

Alabama's running back, who scored a touchdown for the Crimson Tide in the game.

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What they’re saying

“No greater upset will occur in the South this year than Tennessee's startling victory in a game packed with dynamite and the unexpected.”

— Zipp Newman, Birmingham Post-Herald reporter (Birmingham Post-Herald)

“If they kick that ball to ol' Gene, he's gonna run it back for a touchdown.”

— Gene McEver (Bob Gilbert's book, "Neyland: The Gridiron General")

“Our boys played far better than we dreamed they could. They made up for their lack of experience by their unquenchable fight. I'm so proud of them that I'd kiss every one of them if I wasn't afraid they would all take a (swing) at me when I did.”

— Robert Neyland, Tennessee head coach (Birmingham Post-Herald)

“I take off my hat to McEver and Hackman. Those boys are as great a pair of halfbacks as I ever saw. They justly won the battle.”

— Wallace Wade, Alabama head coach (Birmingham Post-Herald)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Tennessee's historic upset of Alabama in 1928 marked the arrival of the Volunteers as a college football powerhouse, setting the stage for decades of success and cementing the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry as one of the most storied in the sport.