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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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Tennessee running back Reggie Cobb (34) flies by Auburn defenders Steve Brown (38), Walter Tate (76) and others for more of his 225 yards rushing on only 22 carries as the 12th-ranked Vols surprised No. 4 Auburn 21-14 before 95,341 fans at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 30, 1989.89then09 093
Tennessee running back Reggie Cobb (34) flies by Auburn defenders Steve Brown (38), Walter Tate (76) and others for more of his 225 yards rushing on only 22 carries as the 12th-ranked Vols surprised No. 4 Auburn 21-14 before 95,341 fans at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 30, 1989.89then09 093 /

1988: 5-6 (3-4). 839. 2. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Record: 11-1 (6-1). 1989: Johnny Majors

SEC Championship; No. 5 AP and Coaches; W Cotton Bowl

Back to Johnny Majors as a head coach, this is the greatest turnaround season in Tennessee football history. While 1985 ended a couple droughts, 1989, part of the same rebuilding process that Majors started way back in 1977, ushered in an era of modern success for the Vols that nobody could have predicted at the time.

Things didn’t seem that good a year before. The Vols started off the year 0-6, and after years of up and down seasons, calls to fire Majors had reached fever pitch. Majors, for his part, held his ground, overhauled his staff, and finished the year with five straight wins.

That gave the administration just enough evidence to keep their faith in him. It paid off. In 1989, the Vols started 5-0 with a win at No. 6 ranked UCLA and at home against eventual ACC Champion Duke, led by Steve Spurrier, and No. 4 ranked Auburn. They had to dismiss Reggie Cobb midseason and made a switch to Andy Kelly at quarterback after that, though.

Amidst that change, they lost 47-30 to Alabama. However, they then won out, cashing in on another easy November, to finish 10-1. Alabama’s loss to Auburn allowed the Vols to finish as SEC co-champions. Then they beat the No. 10 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl.

This team had gone from 5-6 to 11-1. They finished in the top five, and honestly, you could’ve made a case for them to capture a share of the national title. Most importantly, it was the first of back to back SEC Championships and spawned an era of 16 straight bowl appearances, 13 straight top 25 finishes, four SEC Championships and a national championship.

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