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Ranking Tennessee football’s six seasons that began on Sept. 26

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: A Tennessee Volunteers megaphone sits on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: A Tennessee Volunteers megaphone sits on the sideline during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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4. 1936: 6-2-2 (3-1-2); No. 17 AP

Head coach: Robert Neyland

When you look at what happened this season, it becomes clear that a hallmark of Tennessee football starting years on Sept. 26 is coming away with huge, gigantic, unforgettable upsets. We mentioned them ending two longs streaks in 1959. Well, in 1936, which was the first year of Robert Neyland’s second stint, they ruined two national title campaigns by other teams.

After going 4-5 their one year under W.H. Britton, the Vols were looking to get back to their Southern Conference dominance, which had eluded them since the formation of the SEC in 1933. The Sept. 26 game to start this year was uneventful, as they beat Chattanooga. However, they then lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

At 1-2 and faltering, UT got its spark by shockingly tying Frank Thomas’ Alabama Crimson Tide in a scoreless shutout. Alabama would go on to finish the year 8-0-1, and that tie cost them the SEC and national title. A week later, though, even crazier, the Vols upset the No. 2 ranked Duke Blue Devils. Duke would go 9-1, and this loss would cost them the title as well.

UT took that momentum and didn’t lose again, beating the Georgia Bulldogs, Maryville Scots, Vanderbilt Commodores and Kentucky Wildcats. They finished the season tying the Ole Miss Rebels to get their 6-2-2 record and No. 17 ranking during the first year of the AP Poll.

This laid the foundation for the coming Golden Age of the program. After a 6-3-1 record in 1937, the Vols would reel off three straight undefeated regular seasons, win two national titles and three SEC titles.

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