The Auburn Tigers opened the 1970 season unranked. After bottoming out in 1966 with a 4-6 record, Coach Shug Jordan had the Tigers steadily improving each season. The Tigers posted a 6-4 record in 1967, went 7-4 in 1968 and improved to 8-3 in 1969, so the Tigers were on the right path. That path would continue to take Auburn to greater heights in 1970 thanks in large part to the eventual 1971 Heisman trophy winner Pat Sullivan and his favorite target Terry Beasley.
After starting the year with a 33-14 win over Southern Miss, Auburn traveled to Legion Field to take on the #17 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.