3. 1985 (Johnny Majors’ role: Head coach)
9-1-2 (5-1); SEC Championship; W Sugar Bowl; No. 4 AP and Coaches
It was the breakout season for Tennessee football and Johnny Majors. The rebuilding process under Majors was much longer than expected, as UT still hadn’t had a top 25 finish since he arrived in 1977.
However, in 1985, Majors was on the heels of four straight bowl games and returned lots of talent. Quarterback Tony Robinson was the star, and UT began the season by blowing a 26-10 lead to the No. 10 ranked UCLA Bruins for a tie at home.
Still, that tie proved they belonged. Two weeks later, they hosted the No. 1 ranked Auburn Tigers, and Robinson had four touchdowns to lead them to a shocking 38-20 win. All of a sudden, this team was dangerous. They then held off the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a shootout before losing at the No. 7 ranked Florida Gators by a touchdown.
The schedule wouldn’t light up. UT visited the No. 15 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Robinson built them their 16-14 lead, but he then suffered a season-ending injury. The defense secured that win with a Dale Jones interception, and the Vols tied the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at 6 the next week as the offense adjusted to new quarterback Daryl Dickey.
At 3-1-2 and ranked No. 19, UT was counted out without Robinson. Well, instead, they went on a roll, beating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Memphis State Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt Commodores to win its first SEC Championship since 1969.
Dickey set a school record at the time for touchdown-to-interception ratio and most consecutive passes without an interception. That season was a story of overachievers. He was a three-year benchwarmer before 1985. The same was true of safety Chris White, who entered early due to injury and became an All-American with nine interceptions. Tim McGee was also an All-American.
UT reached the Sugar Bowl to face the No. 2 ranked and heavily favored Miami Hurricanes. A win would secure Miami a national title, and they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. However, in the highlight of the year, the “Sugar Vols” dominated the rest of the way, winning 35-7. They were back under Majors, and they had that huge win to cap off a 9-1-2 season, SEC Title and top five finish.