Tennessee football: Vols 10 greatest seasons without top 25 finish

10. 1953

6-4-1 (3-2-1)

*No bowl game 

It was the first year after Robert Neyland’s permanent retirement, which happened due to health reasons. Neyland became athletic director and promoted longtime assistant Harvey Robinson to succeed him as Tennessee football’s head coach. Robinson inherited a wealth of talent and entered the year ranked No. 17 as a result.

However, this year became a disappointment right off the bat. UT suffered a 26-0 upset loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs to open the season. The next week, they lost 21-7 to the Duke Blue Devils. With both games being at home, this was a disastrous way to kick things off, and the signs that Robinson would not be up to the job became clear.

This season still made the list, though, as Robinson and co. were able to rebound from that by blowing out the Chattanooga Mocs and tying the Alabama Crimson Tide. At 1-2-1, they then went on a four-game winning streak to get to 5-2-1 and back into the top 20.

That ended quickly, though, as they lost 27-21 at the No. 13 ranked Kentucky Wildcats in their final season under Bear Bryant. Although they beat the Vanderbilt Commodores, things ended with a loss on the road to the Houston Cougars.

So in 1953, Rocky Top had a very strong middle of the season, but they started off horribly and limped down the stretch. That middle puts it on the list. A year later, though, Robinson would go 4-6 and be fired by Neyland.