Examining Tennessee's 6 claimed National Titles

People give Bama an awful lot of flack for their bogus titles (and rightfully so) but other schools are just as guilty of this practice as they are and seem to go by unscathed. I'm here to remedy this and today we'll be looking at the Tennessee Volunteers, who claim National Titles in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967 and 1998.


1938

The Vols went 11-0 and Won the Orange Bowl, which is an outstanding season, especially when you consider that they only gave up 16 points all year. Even by 1938 standards that's damn impressive. However, they actually finished #2 in the only major poll that existed in 1938, the AP (to Davey O'Brien and TCU). As dominant as these Vols were, you just can't call them National Champions. This is the first time I've ever considered recognizing a team that didn't finish #1 in the AP or the Coaches poll, but I just can't do it in good conscience.

ruling: NOT LEGIT


1940

Thankfully, 1940 is much easier. The Vols finished FOURTH in the AP behind Minnesota, Stanford and Michigan.

ruling: NOT LEGIT


1950

The Vols AGAIN finished 4th in the AP. They also finished 3rd in the UPI and lost a regular season game to Mississippi State. Oklahoma went undefeated during the regular season and finished #1 in both polls. The Sooners lost their bowl game to Bear Bryant's Kentucky Wildcats but the vols have no problem claiming 1940 even though they lost the Sugar Bowl. In any event it doesn't matter because they didn't sniff #1 in either poll.

ruling: NOT LEGIT


1951

In 1951 Tennessee went unbeaten and were named National Champion by both the UPI and AP


ruling: LEGIT


1967

The Vols went 9-2 and finished #2 to 10-1 USC in both polls.


ruling: NOT LEGIT


1998

The Vols won the inaugural BCS title

ruling: LEGIT





So there you have it, the Tennessee Volunteers claim 4 Bogus National Titles.