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SEC History Vault
How many national championships has Tennessee won?
Key takeaways
- Tennessee Volunteers football has won 6 national championships: 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998.
- Title seasons: 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998.
- Across the SEC, Alabama (18), Oklahoma (7), Tennessee (6), Georgia (4), LSU (4), Texas (4), Florida (3), Ole Miss (3), Texas A&M (3), Auburn (2), Arkansas (1) have claimed national titles.
- All-time record in our game log (1902-2026): 873-406-51.
6 National titles
873-406-51 Record 1902-2026
28 of 52 Bowl / playoff wins
1998 (13-0) Best season
28
seasons since Tennessee's last national championship 1998 national championship - Finished 13-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | 1938 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-0. |
| 1940 | 1940 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-1. |
| 1950 | 1950 national championship (claimed) | Finished 11-1. |
| 1951 | 1951 national championship | Finished 10-1. |
| 1967 | 1967 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-2. |
| 1998 | 1998 national championship | Finished 13-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
Tennessee postseason, 1902-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8-5 | Lost Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl |
| 2024 | 10-3 | Lost College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate |
| 2023 | 9-4 | Won Cheez-It Citrus Bowl |
| 2022 | 11-2 | Won Capital One Orange Bowl |
| 2021 | 7-6 | Lost TransPerfect Music City Bowl |
| 2019 | 8-5 | Won TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL |
| 2016 | 9-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2015 | 9-4 | Won OUTBACK BOWL |
| 2014 | 7-6 | Won TAXSLAYER BOWL |
| 2010 | 6-7 | Lost FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL |
| 2009 | 7-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2007 | 10-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2006 | 9-4 | Lost OUTBACK BOWL AT TAMPA FL |
| 2004 | 10-3 | Won COTTON BOWL |
| 2003 | 10-3 | Lost CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL |
| 2002 | 8-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2001 | 11-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2000 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1999 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1997 | 11-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1996 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1995 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1994 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1993 | 9-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1992 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1991 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 9-2-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1989 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1987 | 10-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1986 | 7-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1985 | 9-1-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1984 | 7-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1983 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1982 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1981 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1979 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1974 | 7-3-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1973 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1972 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1971 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1970 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1969 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1968 | 8-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1966 | 8-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1965 | 8-1-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1957 | 8-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1956 | 10-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1952 | 8-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1946 | 9-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1944 | 7-1-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1942 | 9-1-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1939 | 10-1 | Lost Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the SEC
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 Alabama Crimson Tide | 18 | 2020 |
 Oklahoma Sooners | 7 | 2000 |
 Tennessee Volunteers this page | 6 | 1998 |
 Georgia Bulldogs | 4 | 2022 |
 LSU Tigers | 4 | 2019 |
 Texas Longhorns | 4 | 2005 |
 Florida Gators | 3 | 2008 |
 Ole Miss Rebels | 3 | 1962 |
 Texas A&M Aggies | 3 | 1939 |
 Auburn Tigers | 2 | 2010 |
 Arkansas Razorbacks | 1 | 1964 |
 Kentucky Wildcats | 0 | None yet |
 Mississippi State Bulldogs | 0 | None yet |
 Missouri Tigers | 0 | None yet |
 South Carolina Gamecocks | 0 | None yet |
 Vanderbilt Commodores | 0 | None yet |
Current SEC members, claimed national championships.
Where Tennessee sits in the SEC
Current SEC programs have claimed 55 national titles between them: 18 for Alabama, seven for Oklahoma, six for Tennessee, four for Georgia, four for LSU, four for Texas, three for Florida, three for Ole Miss, three for Texas A&M, two for Auburn and one for Arkansas. The other five programs are still chasing a first. See how this season is shaping up on the SEC standings, or browse every season on the Tennessee record by year page.
Editorial note
College football crowned national champions by polls and selectors before the BCS (1998) and the College Football Playoff (2014). The titles here are the ones each program claims in its own record book.
Tennessee Volunteers football has won 6 national championships: 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967, 1998.
About the author and reviewer
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has Tennessee won?
6. 1938 national championship (claimed), 1940 national championship (claimed), 1950 national championship (claimed), 1951 national championship, 1967 national championship (claimed), 1998 national championship.
When did Tennessee win its first national championship?
In 1938. Finished 11-0.
When did Tennessee last win a national championship?
In 1998. Finished 13-0.