Tennessee Volunteers football

{{short description|Football team of the University of Tennessee}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox NCAA football school

| TeamName = Tennessee Volunteers football

| CurrentSeason = 2025 Tennessee Volunteers football team

| Image = Tennessee Volunteers logo.svg

| ImageSize = 120

| FirstYear = 1891; {{Years or months ago|1891}}{{efn|The 1894 and 1895 teams were unofficial.}}

| AthleticDirector = Danny White

| HeadCoach = Josh Heupel

| HeadCoachYear = 5th

| HCWins = 37

| HCLosses = 15

| Stadium = Neyland Stadium

| FieldName = Shields-Watkins Field

| StadiumBuilt = 1921

| StadCapacity = 101,915

| StadSurface = Tifway 419 Bermuda Hybrid

| Location = Knoxville, Tennessee

| NCAAdivision = I FBS

| Conference = SEC

| ConfDivision =

| PastAffiliations = SIAA (1896–1920)
SoCon (1921–1932)

| WebsiteName = UTSports.com

| WebsiteURL = https://utsports.com/sports/football

| ATWins = 870

| ATLosses = 415

| ATTies = 53

| BowlWins = 30

| BowlLosses = 25

| BowlTies =

| PlayoffApps = 1 (2024)

| Playoffs =

| NatlTitles = 6 (1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998)

| UnNatlTitles = 6 (1914, 1931, 1939, 1956, 1985, 1989)

| NatlFinalist = 2 (1997, 1998)

| ConfTitles = 16 (13 SEC, 2 SoCon, 1 SIAA)

| DivTitles = 6 (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007)

| Heismans =

| AllAmericans = 41{{Cite web |title=Award Winners |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Fs.ncaa.org }}

| uniform = 180px

| color1 = Tennessee Orange

| color1hex = ff8200

| color2 = White

| color2hex = ffffff

| color3 = Smokey Gray

| color3hex = 4b4b4b

| FightSong = Down the Field (Official)
Rocky Top (Unofficial) Dixieland Delight (Unofficial)

| MascotDisplay = Smokey XI

| MarchingBand = Pride of the Southland Band

| PagFreeLabel = Outfitter

| PagFreeValue = Nike

| Rivalries = Alabama (rivalry)
Auburn (rivalry)
Florida (rivalry)
Georgia (rivalry)
Georgia Tech (rivalry)
Kentucky (rivalry)
South Carolina (rivalry)
Vanderbilt (rivalry)

}}

The Tennessee Volunteers football program (variously called "Vols," "UT" and "Big Orange") represents the University of Tennessee (UT).

The Vols have played football for 132 seasons, starting in 1891; their combined record of 870–415–53 ({{Winpct|870|415|53}}) ranks them fourteenth on the all-time win list for NCAA football programs.{{Cite web | url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2017/FBS.pdf | title=Football bowl subdivision records | website=fs.ncaa.org}}{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2008 |title=University of Tennessee Athletics – Football |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-history/fb-history-gbg-lead.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401001943/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-history/fb-history-gbg-lead.html |archive-date=April 1, 2015 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Utsports.Com}} Their all-time ranking in bowl appearances is fifth (55) and eighth in all-time bowl victories (30), most notably four Sugar Bowls, three Cotton Bowls, two Orange Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, and a Peach Bowl. They have won 16 conference championships and claim six national titles, including two (1951, 1998) from the major wire-service: AP Poll and/or Coaches' Poll in their history.

The Vols play at Neyland Stadium on the university's campus in Knoxville, where Tennessee has won 485 games, the highest home-field total in college football history for any school in the nation at its current home venue. Additionally, its 101,915 seat capacity makes Neyland the nation's sixth largest and third largest in the Southeastern Conference.

History

{{summarize|date=April 2018}}

{{Main|History of Tennessee Volunteers football}}

{{See also|List of Tennessee Volunteers football seasons}}

Conference affiliations

Rivalries

{{Main|Tennessee Volunteers football rivalries}}

The Vols' main rivalries include the Alabama Crimson Tide (Third Saturday in October) and Vanderbilt Commodores. Tennessee's longest and most played rivalry is with the Kentucky Wildcats. Since the formation of the SEC Eastern Division in 1992, the Vols have had emerging rivalries with the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, and the South Carolina Gamecocks. None of their games have trophies, although Kentucky–Tennessee used to battle over a trophy called the Beer Barrel from 1925 until 1999. The Volunteers used to have important rivalries with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Auburn Tigers, and Ole Miss Rebels until Georgia Tech left the SEC and realignment forced them to drop Auburn and Ole Miss from the schedule annually.

Championships

=National championships=

Tennessee has been selected as national championships six times from NCAA-designated major selectors, including twice (2) from major wire-services: AP Poll and Coaches Poll.{{cite web | title=AP National Championships - Football | website=College Poll Archive

| url=http://www.collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/research/championships.cfm#.YTN82Y5KiUk | access-date=2025-02-03}}{{Cite book |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf |title=2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records |date=August 2018 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |location=Indianapolis |access-date=September 9, 2018}}{{rp|112–115}} Tennessee claims all six national championships.{{Cite book |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2014/ |title=2014 Tennessee Football Media Guide |publisher=University of Tennessee Department of Athletics |year=2014 |editor-last=Stanton |editor-first=Jimmy |pages=1, 160–174 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |editor-last2=Yellin |editor-first2=Jason |editor-last3=Kniffen |editor-first3=Mary-Carter}}{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Official Athletic Site – Football: National Champions |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-history/fb-history-nationalchamps.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406090245/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-history/fb-history-nationalchamps.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |publisher=University of Tennessee Department of Athletics }}

The Associated Press (AP) has selected Tennessee as national champions twice, in 1951 and 1998. The No. 1 Vols lost in the Sugar Bowl following the 1951 season after being named AP and UPI national champions due to the polls being conducted before the bowl season prior to 1965 and 1974 respectively. The 1938 and 1950 championships, while not AP titles, were recognized by a majority and a plurality of overall selectors/polls, respectively.{{Cite web |title=Yearly National Championship Selections |url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1938 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Cfbdatawarehouse.com}}{{Cite web |title=Yearly National Championship Selections |url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1950 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Cfbdatawarehouse.com}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Tennessee Volunteers|Year|Coach|Selectors|Record|Bowl|Opponent|Result|Final AP|Final Coaches}}
1938rowspan="4"|Robert NeylandBerryman, Billingsley, Boand, Dunkel, College Football Researchers Association, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess)11–0OrangeOklahomaW 17–0No. 2
1940Dunkel 10–1SugarBoston CollegeL 13–19No. 4
1950Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, Football Research, National Championship Foundation, Sagarin (ELO-Chess)11–1CottonTexasW 20–14No. 4No. 3
1951Associated Press, Litkenhous, United Press International (coaches), Williamson10–1SugarMarylandL 13–28No. 1No. 1
1967Doug DickeyLitkenhous9–2OrangeOklahomaL 24–26No. 2No. 2
1998Phillip FulmerAssociated Press, BCS, FW, National Football Foundation, USA Today13–0Fiesta (BCS National Championship Game)Florida StateW 23–16No. 1No. 1

Tennessee has also been awarded national championships by various notable organizations in six additional years of 1914, 1931, 1939, 1956, 1985, and 1989, though the school claims none.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee All National Championships |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/tennessee/all_national_champs.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117094217/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/tennessee/all_national_champs.php |archive-date=January 17, 2010 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Cfbdatawarehouse.com}}

=Conference championships=

Tennessee has won a total of 16 conference championships, including 13 SEC championships.{{Cite web |title=2018 Media Guide |url=https://static.utsports.com/custompages/sports/m-footbl/2018/Media%20Guide/Volmanac_Records_Section.pdf |website=utsports.com |publisher=Tennessee Athletics }}{{rp|273–275}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Tennessee Volunteers|Year|Conference|Coach|Overall record|Conference record}}
1914SIAAZora G. Clevenger9–05–0
1927rowspan="2"|SoConrowspan="7"|Robert Neyland8–0–15–0–1
19329–0–17–0–1
1938rowspan="13"|SEC11–07–0
193910–16–0
194010–16–0
19469–25–0
195110–15–0
1956Bowden Wyatt10–16–0
1967rowspan="2"|Doug Dickey9–26–0
19699–25-1
1985rowspan="3"|Johnny Majors9–1–25–1
198911–16–1
19909–2–25–1–1
1997rowspan="2"|Phillip Fulmer11–27–1
199813–08–0

=Division championships=

As winners of the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division, Tennessee has made five appearances in the SEC Championship Game, with the most recent coming in 2007. The Vols are 2–3 in those games.

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Tennessee Volunteers|Year|Division Championship|Opponent|Result}}
1997rowspan="6"|SEC EastAuburnW 30–29
1998Mississippi StateW 24–14
2001LSUL 20–31
2003colspan=2| N/A lost tiebreaker to Georgia
2004AuburnL 28–38
2007LSUL 14–21

† Co-champions

Head coaches

{{Main|List of Tennessee Volunteers head football coaches}}

Tennessee has had 24 head coaches since it began play during the 1891 season. Robert Neyland is the leader in seasons coached and games won, with 173 victories in 21 seasons (spread out over three stints). John Barnhill has the highest winning percentage of those who have coached more than one game, with .846. James DePree has the lowest winning percentage of those who have coached more than one game, with .306. Of the 23 different head coaches who have led the Volunteers, Neyland, Wyatt, Dickey, Majors, and Fulmer have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Bowl games

{{main|List of Tennessee Volunteers bowl games}}

This is a list of Tennessee's ten most recent bowl games. Tennessee holds an all-time bowl game record of 30–25 through the 2023 season, due to the removal of the vacated win from 2019.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Volunteers College Football History, Stats, Records |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tennessee/index.html |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Tennessee Volunteers|Season|Coach|Bowl|Opponent|Result}}
2007Phillip FulmerOutback Bowl#18 WisconsinW 21–17
2009Lane KiffinChick-fil-A Bowl#11 Virginia TechL 14–37
2010Derek DooleyMusic City BowlNorth CarolinaL 27–30 2OT
2014Butch JonesTaxSlayer BowlIowaW 45–28
2015Butch JonesOutback Bowl#13 NorthwesternW 45–6
2016Butch JonesMusic City BowlNebraskaW 38–24
2019Jeremy PruittGator BowlIndianaW 23–22vacated
2021Josh HeupelMusic City BowlPurdueL 45–48 OT
2022Josh HeupelOrange Bowl#7 ClemsonW 31–14
2023Josh HeupelCitrus Bowl#17 IowaW 35–0

Tennessee's all-time appearances and victories of 56 & 31 (on-field results) rank fifth and fourth, respectively. With the removal of the vacated 2019 victory, they stand at 55 appearance and 30 victories, which rank as sixth and seventh.

Logos and uniforms

{{expand section|date=August 2014}}

The Volunteers had originally worn black uniforms from 1911 to 1920.

Orange jerseys with black wool numbers were first worn on September 23, 1922, in a 50-0 win against Emory & Henry.{{Cite web |title=Uniforms, Football |url=https://volopedia.lib.utk.edu/entries/uniforms-football/#:~:text=In%201970,%20when%20called%20for,Majors'%20final%20game%20in%201992. |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Volopedia |language=en-US}}

In 1935, the jerseys were white with orange stripes on the sleeves but this changed in 1936 to orange jerseys and white numbers, which were on the front for the first time.File:Tenngacaptains2007.JPG

In 2009, the Volunteers wore black jerseys with orange pants on Halloween night against the South Carolina Gamecocks.{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2013 |title=Tennessee Vols Football Uniforms |url=http://uniformcritics.com/football/college/tennessee-vols/ |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Uniformcritics.com}}

On October 5, 2013, the team debuted its "Smokey Gray" uniforms in an overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium.{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2013 |title=Vols To Wear Smokey Gray Unis Saturday – UTSPORTS.COM – University of Tennessee Athletics |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092913aac.html |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=Utsports.Com}}

In 2024, the team continues with "Smokey Gray" as the main colour but now, for the first time, features an orange 'Tennessee' across the chest.{{Cite web |title=Knoxville News Sentinel Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/07/13/tennessee-football-smokey-grey-uniform-2024/74381530007/ |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=subscribe.knoxnews.com}}

Traditions

=Orange and white=

File:UTColors.jpg wearing the school colors.]]

The orange and white colors worn by the football team were selected by Charles Moore, a member of the very first Tennessee football team in 1891. They were from the American Daisy which grew on The Hill, the home of most of the classrooms at the university at the time (now housing most of the chemistry and physics programs et al.). Tennessee football players did not wear the color until 1922 however.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Tennessee Traditions - The Orange & White |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

The orange color is distinct to the school, dubbed "UT Orange", and has been offered by The Home Depot for sale as a paint, licensed by the university. Home games at Neyland Stadium have been described as a "sea of Orange" due to the large number of fans wearing the school color; the moniker Big Orange, as in "Go Big Orange!", derives from the usage of UT Orange.

The color is spot color PMS 151 as described by the university.{{cite web|url=http://pr.tennessee.edu/identity/quick.asp| title= Quick Points - UT Colors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301153849/http://pr.tennessee.edu/identity/quick.asp |archive-date=March 1, 2007 }}

In addition to the famous orange and white, UT also has had the little-known Smokey Gray color since the 1930s and debuted the color in the October 5, 2013, rivalry game against Georgia in an alternate jersey.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Patrick |date=October 5, 2013 |title=Tennessee Vols have had several uniform changes in the last two decades |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/oct/05/vols-uniform-changes-in-last-two-decades/ |access-date=October 22, 2013 |publisher=Chattanooga Times Free Press}}

=Checkerboard end zones=

File:Theowcheckerboard.jpg.]]

Tennessee first sported their famous orange and white checkerboard end zone design in 1964 under coach Dickey and remained until artificial turf was installed at Neyland Stadium in 1968.{{cite web | title=There's More to the Checkboards Than Orange & White Paint | website=University of Tennessee Athletics | date=2003-09-10 | url=https://utsports.com/news/2003/9/10/There_s_More_to_the_Checkboards_Than_Orange_amp_White_Paint.aspx | access-date=2024-09-12}} They brought the design back in 1989. The idea was inspired by the checkerboard design around the top of the clock tower at the historic Ayres Hall.{{cite web | last=Wilusz | first=Ryan | title=UT Vols: Where did the checkerboard, 'Power T' come from? | website=Knoxville News Sentinel | date=2018-08-26 | url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2018/08/25/ut-vols-football-checkerboards-paint/1072276002/ | access-date=2024-09-12}}

The checkerboard was bordered in orange from 1989 until natural grass replaced the artificial turf in 1994. The return of natural grass brought with it the return of the green (or grass colored) border that exists today.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Traditions - Orange and White Checkerboards |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

=Rocky Top=

{{Further|Rocky Top}}

Rocky Top is not the official Tennessee fight song (Down the Field is the official fight song), as is widely believed, but is the most popular in use by the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. The Band began playing the fight song during the 1970s after it became popular as a Bluegrass tune by the Osborne Brothers. The fight song is widely recognized as one of the most hated by opponents in collegiate sports.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2008 |title=Top Ten College Football Traditions Fans Love To Hate |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31765-top-ten-college-football-traditions-fans-love-to-hate |access-date=April 17, 2015 |website=Bleacher Report}} The song became one of Tennessee's state songs in 1982.

=Smokey=

File:BTSmokey.JPG

Smokey is the mascot of the University of Tennessee sports teams, both men's and women's. A Bluetick Coonhound mascot, Smokey X, leads the Vols on the field for football games. On game weekends, Smokey is cared for by the members of Alpha Gamma Rho's Alpha Kappa chapter. There is also a costumed mascot, which has won several mascot championships, at every Vols game.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Tennessee Traditions |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

Smokey was selected as the mascot for Tennessee after a student poll in 1953. A contest was held by the Pep Club that year; their desire was to select a coon hound that was native to Tennessee. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, several hounds were introduced for voting, all lined up on the old cheerleaders' ramp at Neyland, with each dog being introduced over the loudspeaker and the student body cheering for their favorite. The late Rev. Bill Brooks' "Blue Smokey" was the last hound announced and howled loudly when introduced. The students cheered and Smokey threw his head back and barked again. This kept going until the stadium was roaring and UT had found its mascot, Smokey. The current Smokey is Smokey X, after Smokey IX was retired at the conclusion of the 2012 season. The most successful dog has been Smokey VIII who saw a record of 91–22, two SEC titles, and the 1998 National Championship.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Tennessee Traditions - Smokey |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

=The Vol Walk=

Head coach Johnny Majors came up with the idea for the Vol Walk after a 1988 game at Auburn when he saw the historic Tiger Walk take place. The walk became an official part of gameday in a Tennessee-Alabama match on October 20, 1990. Prior to each home game, the Vols will file out of the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex, down past the Tennessee Volunteers Wall of Fame, and make their way down Peyton Manning Pass and onto Phillip Fulmer Way. Thousands of fans line the street to shake the players' hands as they walk into Neyland Stadium. Through rain, snow, sleet, or sunshine, the Vol faithful are always out in full force to root on the Vols as they prepare for the game. The fans are always pumped up with Rocky Top played by The Pride of the Southland Band.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Traditions - Vol Walk |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

=The T=

File:Openingt.jpg

File:UCLA@UTopen.ogv

The "T" appears in two special places in Vol history and tradition. The "T" first appeared in 1964 when coach Doug Dickey added the familiar block letter T onto the side of the helmets; a rounded T came in 1968. Johnny Majors modified the famous orange helmet stripe to a thicker stripe in 1977.{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Tennessee Traditions - The power T |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

The Vols also run through the T. This T is formed by the Pride of the Southland marching band with its base at the entrance to the Tennessee locker room in the north end zone with team personnel holding the state flag and the UT flag, Smokey running in on the field, and the entire UT team storming in to loud cheers and applause from the 100,000-plus Vols fans in Neyland. When Coach Dickey brought this unique and now-famous tradition to UT in 1965, the Vols' locker room was underneath the East stands. The Vols would run through the T and simply turn back to return to their sideline. However, beginning in 1983, the team would make the famous left turn inside the T and run toward their former bench on the east sideline when the locker room was moved from the east sideline to the north end zone. It was announced on January 24, 2010, that the Vols would switch their sideline from the east sideline to the west sideline for all home games from then on. This resulted in the Vols making a right out of the T instead of a left. This change took effect with Tennessee's first home game of the 2010 season against UT-Martin.

=Vols=

File:Thevolunteer.jpg

The Volunteers (or Vols as it is commonly shortened to) derive that nickname from the State of Tennessee's nickname. Tennessee is known as the "Volunteer State", a nickname it earned during the War of 1812, in which volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a prominent role, especially during the Battle of New Orleans.{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2014 |title=Tennessee Department of State: Tennessee State Library and Archives |url=http://www.state.tn.us/TSLA/history/military/tn1812.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427081440/http://www.state.tn.us/TSLA/history/military/tn1812.htm |archive-date=April 27, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2015 |publisher=State.tn.us}}

=Vol Navy=

Around 200 or more boats normally dock outside Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River before games. The fleet was started by former Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney who docked his boat there first in 1962, as he wanted to avoid traffic around the stadium. What started as one man tying his runabout to a nearby tree and climbing through a wooded area to the stadium has grown into one of college football's unique traditions. Many fans arrive several days in advance to socialize, and the Vols have built a large walkway so fans can safely walk to and from the shoreline. UT, the University of Pittsburgh, Baylor University, and the University of Washington are the only schools with football stadiums built next to major bodies of water.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Traditions - Vol Navy |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-traditions-html.aspx |access-date=April 2, 2022 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}

All-time record

As of the end of the 2023 regular season, Tennessee is ranked eleventh all-time won-lost records by percentage and tenth by victories. The all-time record is 870–415–53 ({{Winpct|870|415|53}}).{{Cite web|title=Winspedia - Tennessee Volunteers Football|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/tennessee|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=winsipedia.com|language=en-US}} At Neyland Stadium, the Vols have a record of 478–141–17 ({{Winpct|478|141|17}}).{{Cite web|title=2022 Tennessee FB Record Book|url=https://utsports.com/documents/2022/8/4/2022_Tennessee_FB_Record_Book__FINAL_FOR_WEB_.pdf|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=utsports.com|language=en-US}} 11 additional wins from 2019-20 were vacated by NCAA Committee on Infractions penalty ruling in July 2023. One of those victories was in a bowl game. Tennessee's all-time on-field record is 881-415-53({{Winpct|881|415|53}}). The all-time on-field bowl record is 31-25({{Winpct|31|25}}). Tennessee's all-time on-field record at Neyland Stadium is 494-142-18 ({{Winpct|494|142|17}}).

The UT football season records are taken from the official record books of the University Athletic Association. They have won 13 conference championships and six national titles in their history and their last national championship was in the 1998 college football season.

Tennessee holds the NCAA record for the most consecutive shutout wins with 17. The streak started with a Volunteers win against Tennessee-Chattanooga on November 30, 1938 and ended with a 27–12 loss against Alabama on October 19, 1940. During this streak, Tennessee outscored its opponents 479–0. Tennessee also holds the record for the most consecutive quarters opponents held scoreless, with 71.{{cite web | last=Daughters | first=Amy | title=The Most Unbreakable Records in College Football | website=Bleacher Report | date=2018-06-08 | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2399074-the-most-unbreakable-records-in-college-football#:~:text=10.,Most%20Consecutive%20Shutouts%20(Regular%20Season)&text=Tennessee's%2017%20consecutive%20regular-season,19%2C%201940 | access-date=2025-04-11}}

The Vols play at Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee has an all-time winning record of 494 games, the highest home-field total in college football history for any school in the nation at its current home venue. The stadium surrounds Shields–Watkins Field, the official name of the playing surface.{{cite web | last=Ramey | first=Grant | title=Tracing Neyland Stadium's history, from 1921 to 2020 | website=247Sports | date=2020-07-29 | url=https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/longformarticle/tennessee-vols-football-tracing-neyland-stadiums-history-from-1921-to-2020-149629256/ | access-date=2024-09-12}}

Hall of Fame

Tennessee boasts the most college football hall of famers in the SEC, seventh most in major college football, and the ninth most of all college football programs, with 24.

File:Doug Atkins - 1954 Bowman.jpg]]

File:NathanDougherty.jpg, considered the "founding father of UT Athletics"]]

File:Peyton Manning (51665689271).jpg]]

=Players=

  • Gene McEver – Elected 1954{{Cite web |title=Gene McEver |url=http://tshf.net/halloffame/mcever-gene/ |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=2014 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame}}
  • Beattie Feathers – Elected 1955{{Cite web |title=Beattie Feathers |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1579}} |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Herman Hickman – Elected 1959{{Cite web |title=Herman Hickman |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1580}} |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Bobby Dodd – Elected 1959 (Player) and 1993 (Coach){{Cite web |title=Bobby Dodd |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1740}} |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Bob Suffridge – Elected 1961{{Cite web |title=Bob Suffridge |url=http://smokeys-trail.com/HallFame/suffridge.html |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=Smokey's Trail}}
  • Nathan Dougherty – Elected 1967{{Cite web |title=Nathan Dougherty |url=http://smokeys-trail.com/HallFame/dougherty.html |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=Smokeys-trail.com/}}
  • George Cafego – Elected 1969{{Cite web |title=George Cafego |url=http://smokeys-trail.com/HallFame/cafego.html |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=Smokeys-trail.com/}}
  • Bowden Wyatt – Elected 1972 (Player) and 1997 (Coach){{Cite web |title=Bowden Wyatt |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1827}} |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Hank Lauricella – Elected 1981{{Cite web |title=Hank Lauricella |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaurHa20.htm |access-date=April 17, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}
  • Doug Atkins – Elected 1985
  • : Also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Elected 1975){{Cite web |title=Doug Atkins |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=17 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame}}
  • Johnny Majors – Elected 1987{{Cite web |title=Johnny Majors |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=2286}} |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Bob Johnson – Elected 1989{{Cite web |title=Bob Johnson |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1900}} |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Ed Molinski – Elected 1990{{Cite web |title=Ed Molinski |url=http://tshf.net/halloffame/molinski-edward/ |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame}}
  • Steve DeLong – Elected 1993{{Cite web |title=Steve DeLong |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1899}} |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • John Michels – Elected 1996{{Cite web |title=John Michels |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MichJo21.htm |access-date=April 17, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}
  • Steve Kiner – Elected 1999{{Cite web |title=Steve Kiner |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1939}} |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • Reggie White – Elected 2002{{cite web | title=Reginald Howard White, 2002 | website=College Football Hall of Fame | url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/reggie-white-2002 | access-date=2024-09-12}}
  • : Also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Elected 2006){{Cite web |title=Reggie White |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PLAYER_ID=257 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame}}
  • Frank Emanuel – Elected 2004{{Cite web |title=Frank Emanuel |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EmanFr20.htm?redir |access-date=April 17, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}
  • Chip Kell – Elected 2006{{Cite web |title=Chip Kell |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051606aaa.html |access-date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=utsports.com}}
  • Peyton Manning – Elected 2017{{Cite web |title=Peyton Manning |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=2412}} |access-date=November 15, 2018 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}
  • : Also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Elected 2021){{Cite web |title=Peyton Manning |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/peyton-manning/ |publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame}}
  • Eric Berry – Elected 2023{{Cite web |title=NFF Announces Star-Studded 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class |date=January 9, 2023 |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2023/1/9/general-nff-announces-star-studded-2023-college-football-hall-of-fame-class.aspx |access-date=January 10, 2023 |publisher=THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC}}

=Coaches=

  • Robert Neyland – Elected 1956{{cite web | title=Robert Reese Neyland, Jr., 1956 | website=College Football Hall of Fame | url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/bob-neyland-1956 | access-date=2024-09-12}}
  • Bowden Wyatt – Elected 1997{{cite web | title=Bowden Wyatt (1997) | website=National Football Foundation| url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1827#:~:text=Bowden%20Wyatt%20was%20elected%20to,was%20captain%20and%20All%2DAmerica. | access-date=2024-09-12}}
  • Doug Dickey – Elected 2003{{cite web | title=Douglas Adair Dickey, 2003 | website=College Football Hall of Fame | url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/doug-dickey-2003 | access-date=2024-09-12}}
  • Phillip Fulmer – Elected 2012{{cite web | last=Paschall | first=David | title=Fulmer chosen for college hall | website=Chattanooga Times Free Press | date=2012-05-16 | url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/fulmer-chosen-for-college-hall/ | access-date=2024-09-12}}

Retired numbers

{{see also|List of NCAA football retired numbers}}

Tennessee has retired eight jersey numbers:{{Cite web |title=Football Retired Jerseys |url=https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-m-footbl-retired-jerseys-html.aspx |website=University of Tennessee Athletics}}{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Kevin |title=Memorial Day: Remembering Vols That Gave It All |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/182582-memorial-day-remembering-vols-that-gave-it-all |website=Bleacher Report}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=6 style ={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers|color=white}} | Tennessee Volunteers retired numbers
style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width=40px| No.

! style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width= 150px| Player

! style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width= px| Pos.

! style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width=100px| Tenure

! style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width= px| No. ret.

! style = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tennessee Volunteers}}; width= px| Ref.

16Peyton ManningQB1994–19972005[https://utsports.com/sports/2017/6/14/history-retired-jerseys-html.aspx Tennessee Retired Jerseys] on UTSports.com{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2005 |title=Tennessee to retire Manning's No. 16 at ceremony |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2206032 |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
32Billy Nowling{{refn|name=afg|group=n1}}FB1940–19421946
45Johnny MajorsHB1954–19562012{{cite web | title=Johnny Majors, former Tennessee and Pitt coach, dies at 85 | website=Erie News Now | date=2020-06-03 | url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/42206435/johnny-majors-former-tennessee-and-pitt-coach-dies-at-85 | access-date=2024-10-16}}
49Rudy Klarer{{refn|name=afg|group=n1}}G1941–19421946
61Willis Tucker{{refn|name=afg|group=n1}}FB1939–19401946
62Clyde Fuson{{refn|Died in service during World War II. They were honored as "Vol Legends" prior to a game against the Air Force Falcons on September 9, 2006.{{Cite web |title=NOWLING, TUCKER, KLARER AND FUSON HONORED AS VOL LEGENDS SATURDAY |url=https://utsports.com/news/2006/9/7/NOWLING_TUCKER_KLARER_AND_FUSON_HONORED_AS_VOL_LEGENDS_SATURDAY.aspx |website=University of Tennessee Athletics}}|name=afg|group=n1}}FB19421946
91Doug AtkinsDE1950–19522005
92Reggie WhiteDT1980–19832005{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2005 |title=Tennessee retires Reggie White's number 92 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2178276 |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

;Notes

{{reflist|group=n1}}

Individual award winners

=Players=

:Peyton Manning1997{{Cite web |title=Peyton Manning |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannPe00.htm |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

:Peyton Manning1997

:Peyton Manning1997

:Steve DeLong1964{{Cite web |title=Steve DeLong |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeLoSt00.htm |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

:John Henderson2000{{Cite web |title=John Henderson |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HendJo99.htm |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

:Peyton Manning1997

:Michael Munoz2004{{Cite web |title=Michael Munoz |url=http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120804aaa.html |access-date=April 18, 2014 |publisher=utsports.com}}

:Eric Berry2009{{Cite web |title=Eric Berry |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BerrEr99.htm |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=Pro Football Reference}}

:Jalin Hyatt2022{{Cite web |title=Jalin Hyatt College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jalin-hyatt-1.html |access-date=December 28, 2022 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}

=Coach=

:Phillip Fulmer1998

:Phillip Fulmer – 1998

:David Cutcliffe1998

:John Chavis2006

:Phillip Fulmer – 2009 {{cite web | title=Fulmer Named 2009 Neyland Trophy Winner | website=University of Tennessee Athletics | date=2009-04-15 | url=https://utsports.com/news/2009/4/15/Fulmer_Named_2009_Neyland_Trophy_Winner | access-date=2024-11-27}}

Past and present NFL players

File:Alvin Kamara.jpg (2015–16)]]

File:Jason Witten 2017.JPG (2000–02)]]

Future opponents

=Conference opponents=

From 1992 to 2023, Tennessee played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. In 2024, the SEC expanded the conference to 16 teams and eliminated its two divisions, causing a new scheduling format for the Volunteers to play against the other members of the conference. After initially only releasing the 2024 schedule, the 2025 schedule was announced at SEC Media Days with further scheduling information to come{{cite web | title=SEC establishes 2025 football schedule format | website=Southeastern Conference | date=2023-11-15 | url=https://www.secsports.com/news/2024/03/sec-establishes-2025-football-schedule-format | access-date=2024-10-21}} Only the 2025 conference schedule was announced on March 20, 2024, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.

==2025 Conference Schedule==

{{CFB schedule

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Alabama

| site_stadium = Bryant Denny Stadium

| site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, AL

| gamename = Third Saturday in October

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Arkansas

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Florida

| site_stadium = Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Kroger Field

| site_cityst = Lexington, KY

| gamename = rivalry

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| away = y

| opponent = Mississippi State

| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Starkville, MS

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Oklahoma

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| gamename = rivalry

}}

}}

=Non-conference opponents=

Announced schedules as of April 9, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Volunteers Football Schedules and Future Schedules |url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/sec/tennessee-volunteers.php |access-date=April 9, 2025|publisher=fbschedules.com}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Tennessee Volunteers|2025|2026|2027|2028|2029|2030}}
vs. Syracuse (Atlanta)

| Furman

| Georgia Tech

| vs. West Virginia (Charlotte)

| at Washington

| Washington

ETSU

| at Georgia Tech

| Western Michigan

|

|

|

UAB

| Kennessaw State

|

|

|

|

New Mexico State

|

|

|

|

|

Notes and references

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}