Tennessee Survives Close One : Volunteers: They rally to beat Vanderbilt, 17-10, and earn a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

No. 8 Tennessee, trailing 10-3 at halftime, rallied for a 17-10 victory over Vanderbilt Saturday to earn a share of the Southeastern Conference championship and a trip to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on New Year’s Day.

The Volunteers, who finished in a three-way tie with Auburn and Alabama for the SEC title, will play Southwest Conference champion Arkansas. All three schools finished with 6-1 conference records.

Auburn’s 30-20 victory over Alabama Saturday caused only the second three-way tie in SEC history.

Tennessee, 10-1 overall, was expected to have an easy time against Vanderbilt, which finished 1-10 and 0-7. But the Volunteers fell behind as Vanderbilt scored on Brad Gaines’ one-yard run and Johnny Clark’s 35-yard field goal.

Tennessee tied, 10-10, on a four-yard pass from Andy Kelly to Carl Pickens late in the third quarter.

Pickens, who also plays safety on defense, intercepted a pass by Mike Healy minutes later and the Volunteers drove 70 yards in 11 plays for the winning points, with Tony Thompson scoring from the one with 7:11 remaining.

Thompson, a reserve tailback, led Tennessee in rushing with 128 yards in 33 carries.

“I’m just glad the game’s over,” said Tennessee Coach Johnny Majors, whose team concluded its first 10-victory regular season since 1970.

“I’m sure Vanderbilt people are very proud of their team and coaches. They did a terrific job. I commend the job they did. It was just outstanding.”

“Our defense played one fine football game,” said Vanderbilt Coach Watson Brown. “Maybe we’re growing up.”

After Tennessee went in front on Thompson’s touchdown, Vanderbilt’s next two possessions ended with interceptions by Tennessee cornerback J.J. McCleskey, a walk-on who earned playing time late in the season.

Vanderbilt had one last chance after DeMond Winston forced a fumble, but Gaines could not hold a fourth-down pass from John Gromos.