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Tennessee football’s top 10 years following unranked seasons

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 18, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers cheerleaders cheer at the Vol Walk before a game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers cheerleaders cheer at the Vol Walk before a game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vanderbilt halfback Jeff Starling (32) has a couple of Tennessee defenders on his back as he follows teammate Matt Howard (22). The Vols piled up 28 points after intermission for a 35-0 win over the Commodores at Dudley Field Nov. 26, 1960.
Vanderbilt halfback Jeff Starling (32) has a couple of Tennessee defenders on his back as he follows teammate Matt Howard (22). The Vols piled up 28 points after intermission for a 35-0 win over the Commodores at Dudley Field Nov. 26, 1960. /

6-2-2 (3-2-2). Pick Analysis. 1959: 5-4-1 (3-4-1). 1960: Bowden Wyatt. 9. player. 839. Scouting Report

No. 19 Coaches

At the turn of the 1960s, Tennessee football was falling as a program. The single-wing that turned the Vols into a powerhouse program under Robert Neyland was out of date, but Bowden Wyatt was sticking to it thanks to early success he had. However, he had gone 4-6 in 1958 and, despite beating the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers in 1959, lost his last three games that year.

Entering 1960, there were legitimate questions as to how much longer the Vols could last running this system. Those questions turned out to be more legitimate in the future, but they didn’t appear to be this year. After a 10-3 win at the Auburn Tigers to open the year and then a tie with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, UT went on a roll.

The Vols beat the Tampa Spartans, Alabama Crimson Tide, Chattanooga Mocs and North Carolina Tar Heels to get to No. 8. It truly seemed they were back. However, with a chance to compete for an SEC Championship, they lost two straight to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and eventual national champion Ole Miss Rebels.

Beating the Vanderbilt Commodores 35-0 to close out the season was enough for the Vols to finish in the top 20 of the Coaches Poll, though, and that puts this season on the list just barely. However, things did eventually fall apart, as the Vols went 10-10 Wyatt’s final two years after the success of this season.

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