All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee footballs previous 7-0 starts hint SEC title is guaranteed

By Caleb Calhoun

4 Jan 1999: the Tennesse Volunteers celebrate during the Fiesta Bowl Game against the Florida State Seminoles at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Tennessee defeated Florida State 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
4 Jan 1999: the Tennesse Volunteers celebrate during the Fiesta Bowl Game against the Florida State Seminoles at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Tennessee defeated Florida State 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /
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Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; SEC symbol painted on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Mississippi Rebels at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; SEC symbol painted on the field before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Mississippi Rebels at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

9. 1938: 11-0 (7-0)

National champion; SEC Champion; No. 2 AP; W Orange Bowl

Although 1939 was the watershed year, the first year of the Golden Age was the best year for Tennessee football. It’s also the only other perfect season the Vols have ever enjoyed outside of 1998 while playing in the SEC, but once again, it obviously involved a 7-0 start. By the way, anybody noticing a trend here?

Every 7-0 start for the Vols in SEC play ended with an SEC Championship. Anyway, UT came into this one in its third year of Robert Neyland’s second stint. He had adjusted his recruiting six years into SEC play and loaded up on talent. We mentioned Bob Foxx, Bob Suffridge, Ed Molinski, Abe Shires and George Cafego. Well, Bowden Wyatt was on this team too.

The Vols roared off to a 5-0 start before finally getting into the AP Poll, coming in at No. 8 after beating Alabama on the road. To get to the elusive 6-0, they beat LSU 14-6. A week later, they beat the Chattanooga Mocs 45-0, which began their 15-game shutout streak.

They ended 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll to the TCU Horned Frogs, but numerous selectors named them national champions. It was safe to say this was a split vote even if TCU got the coveted AP trophy. However, Tennessee football, which won its first SEC title this year, also beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, its first bowl appearance and first bowl win.

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