9-0-1 (6-0-1 SoCon)
Is there any doubt Robert Neyland would be on here? Notice how all the coaches whose only head coaching career was with Tennessee football are high on this list. Neyland was in the midst of his first stint with the Vols and was already making the program a household name with his success.
The Vols had won the Southern Conference in 1927, Neyland’s second season, and were in the midst of a three straight seasons with no losses, although they had one blemish each of those seasons, all a tie. This was during the legendary days of Gene McEver and Bobby Dodd, and they helped bring the Vols to the national stage.
The 1929 season was just a part of that. UT dominated the year, highlighted by a second straight win over Alabama, as the annual matchup between the two began in 1928. They won that one 6-0. Another highlight was beating Vanderbilt 13-0, marking the first time in school history the Vols beat Vandy in back to back years.
A 6-6 tie with the Kentucky Wildcats cost UT the Southern Conference title, which went to the Tulane Green Wave, and it gives Wyatt’s 1950 season with Wyoming a case on here. However, Neyland doing this given his competition was more impressive, so it slightly gets the nod.