6. 1991 (Johnny Majors’ role: Head coach)
9-3 (5-2); Fiesta Bowl; No. 14 AP; No. 15 Coaches
Nobody knew it at the time, but this was Johnny Majors’ last full season as head coach of the Tennessee football program. Entering the year, the Vols were back-to-back SEC Champions and had a ton of talent with senior quarterback Andy Kelly and All-American wide receiver Carl Pickens. However, they had a lot to replace as well.
Alvin Harper, Antone Davis, Charles McRae, Anthony Morgan, Greg Amsler and Tony Thompson were all gone from the offense. Still, there were enough weapons for this team to get off to a red-hot start, beating the Louisville Cardinals to open the season on the road and then reeling off wins against three ranked teams: The UCLA Bruins, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers.
MSU involved a game-winning pass from Kelly to Von Reeves late to win 26-24. But at 4-0, this team was No. 5. Then, their brutal schedule became too much, as they lost to the eventual SEC Champion Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide, who would go 11-1, both on the road.
After rebounding to beat the Memphis State Tigers, though, the Vols had a legendary win that defined the season. Ranked No. 14, they visited the No. 5 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who beat them in Knoxville a year ago. Down 31-7, UT engineered an epic comeback to win 35-34.
It remains one of the greatest wins of Majors’ career. Afterward, the Vols won their final three SEC games to finish 9-2. They did get blown out by the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl, but going 9-3 and finishing in the top 15 with such great wins made this a very good season.