September 20, 1975
Tennessee at UCLA
The 1-0 UCLA Bruins of coach Dick Vermeil met the 1-0 Tennessee Volunteers of coach Bill Battle. This was the first time a previous Belt holder had an opportunity to reclaim the title. Bruins’ RB Wendell Tyler had an 82-yard touchdown run to highlight the offensive explosion from both teams, as UCLA became the first team to hold The Belt twice with a 34-28 victory over the Volunteers. The Bruins took the lead late in the 1st quarter with All-American QB John Sciarra scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run giving UCLA a 7-0 lead. Tennessee tied the game at 7-7 early in the 2nd quarter when RB Stanley Morgan scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Tyler’s long touchdown run put UCLA back on top at 14-7. The Volunteers got a 23-yard touchdown run from QB Randy Wallace but the missed extra-point attempt left Tennessee trailing 14-13. Shortly before halftime, UCLA pushed the lead to 21-13 when RB Kenny Lee scored on a 5-yard touchdown run. Early in the 3rd quarter, UCLA WR Wally Henry turned a reverse into a 45-yard touchdown run giving the Bruins a 27-13 advantage after PK Brett White missed the extra-point attempt. Tennessee got back within a touchdown when back-up QB Gary Roach connected with TE Tommy West for a 36-yard touchdown making the score UCLA 27 Tennessee 20. Late in the 3rd quarter, UCLA’s RB Theotis Brown scored on a 4-yard touchdown run giving the Bruins a 34-20 lead heading into the final quarter. Midway through the 4th quarter, Tennessee’s All-American WR Larry Seivers caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Roach but the Volunteers could get no closer. Sciarra threw for 140 yards with 2 interceptions while Tyler rushed for 129 yards with his touchdown. For the Volunteers, Wallace threw for 183 yards but had 2 passes intercepted while Roach threw for 107 yards with 2 touchdowns. Tennessee receivers also had big days as Seivers caught 9 passes for 145 yards with his touchdown while West had 5 catches for 107 yards with his touchdown. Tennessee finished the season 7-5 while the Bruins finished 9-2-1, Pac-8 Co-Champs & ranked 5th nationally. Tennessee would play for The Belt again in 1977.
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