1940 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1940 Tennessee Volunteers football Southeastern Conference SEC 4 10–1 5–0 Robert Neyland 14th Single-wing Shields–Watkins Field National champion (Dunkel)SEC champion Sugar Bowl L Lost 13–19 vs. Boston College The 1940 Tennessee Volunteers represented the University of Tennessee in the 1940 college football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Robert Neyland, in his 14th year, and played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and one loss (10–1 overall, 5–0 in the SEC), as SEC champions and with a loss against Boston College in the 1941 Sugar Bowl. This team claims a national championship after being recognized under the Dunkel System, a power index system devised by Dick Dunkel Sr.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/FBS.pdf National Poll Rankings National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records NCAA 75, 77 January 3, 2015 Schedule 1940 AP September 28 w y Mercer Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 49–0 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83065539/vols-prep-for-duke-maul-mercer/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel Vols prep for Duke, maul Mercer September 29, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com October 5 w y Duke Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 13–0 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83065705/duke-bows-to-tennessee-might-13-to-0/ The Charlotte News Duke bows to Tennessee might, 13 to 0 October 6, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com October 12 w y Chattanooga Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 53–0 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83066004/tennessee-crushes-moccasins-530/ The Chattanooga Times Tennessee crushes Moccasins, 53–0 October 13, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com October 19 w y 5 Alabama Legion Field Birmingham, AL Third Saturday in October 27–12 24,500 Vol air bombs blast victory over Tide ground attack, 27–12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KOU-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_kwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6483%2C2285120 The Tuscaloosa News October 20, 1940 10 August 8, 2021 October 26 w 5 Florida Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 14–0 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83066549/gators-hold-mighty-vols-to-two-touchdown/ St. Petersburg Times Gators hold mighty Vols to two touchdowns October 27, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com November 2 w y 7 LSU Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 28–0 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83066746/state-tigers-claws-crippled-by-great-te/ The Shreveport Times State Tigers' claws crippled by great Tennessee grid eleven November 3, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com November 9 w y y 5 Southwestern (TN) Crump Stadium Memphis, TN 40–0 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83067007/vicious-vols-trample-southwestern-400/ The Knoxville Journal Vicious Vols trample Southwestern, 40–0 November 10, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com November 16 w y 5 Virginia Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 41–14 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83067205/vols-trounce-virginia-4114/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Vols trounce Virginia, 41–14 November 17, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com November 23 w 6 Kentucky Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN rivalry 33–0 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83067517/volunteer-passes-beat-wildcats-330/ The Lexington Herald-Leader Volunteer passes beat Wildcats 33–0 November 24, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com November 30 w y 6 Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 20–0 25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83067819/vols-top-vandy-200accept-sugar-bowl-b/ The Chattanooga Times Vols top Vandy, 20–0, accept Sugar Bowl bid to play Boston College December 1, 1940 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com January 1, 1941 l y y 4 Boston College 5 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl 13–19 73,181 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49450320/ The Boston Globe Indomitable spirit brings Eagles win January 2, 1941 August 8, 2021 Newspapers.com Rankings 1940 college football rankings AP 1 8 5 (7) 5 (6) 7 5 (11) 5 (2) 6 (3) 6 (8) 4 (10) References Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons Tennessee Volunteers football