All for Tennessee
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 10
Next
Unknown date 1965; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Dewey Warren (16) in action during the 1965 season . Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Unknown date 1965; Unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Dewey Warren (16) in action during the 1965 season . Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

8-1-2 (2-1-2). 1965: Doug Dickey. 5. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 1964: 4-5-1 (1-5-1). 839

No. 7 AP and Coaches; W Bluebonnet Bowl

Bowden Wyatt’s 1960 team would be the last team to finish ranked in either poll until this 1965 team. Doug Dickey took over Tennessee football in 1964 and injected new life into the program, moving on from the single wing to the slot T and adding new traditions like the Power T on the helmet, the checkerboard end zones and running through the T.

Still, all of these changes made for a rebuilding year in 1964, and despite a signature win over Georgia Tech, they had a losing season. It wasn’t clear early on how good they’d be in 1965, as they tied Auburn in the second game of the season after beating the Army Black Knights.

However, after that, they won three of four, a tie with eventual national champion Alabama their only blemish. Included in that was a win over No. 7 ranked Georgia Tech, and that got them up to No. 8 in the rankings. They did suffer an upset loss to Ole Miss, which actually cost them the SEC Championship that year. After that game, though, they won out.

The highlight was a 37-34 win over the No. 5 ranked and Rose Bowl bound UCLA Bruins in Memphis, the game in which the legend of Dewey Warren was born. The Vols then beat the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in their bowl, and they finished in the top 10 of both polls. This sparked a 10-year run of bowl games, top 20 finishes, two SEC Championships and a national championship.

Home/Vols Football