University of Tennessee Athletics
UT: College Football's Winningest Program Last 75 Years
July 30, 2002 | Football
July 17, 2002
From Robert Neyland to Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee enters the upcoming college football season as the sport's winningest program for the last 75 years.
During the period from 1926-2001, Tennessee teams have amassed a winning percentage of .73305 and a record of 589-204-33, edging out traditional Southeastern Conference rival Alabama's .73012 percentage.
Not surprisingly, the 1926 campaign marked the first for Neyland as head coach of the Vols after serving as an assistant in 1925. For his career, Neyland amassed a record of 173-31-12 (.829) in 21 seasons at the helm and built UT into one of college football's most storied programs.
Fulmer, entering his 11th season, ranks second only to Neyland in career winning percentage at an SEC school in league history. Fulmer's mark of 95-20 (.826) is second only to Neyland's .829 percentage entering the 2002 campaign.
Fulmer, who ranks as the fastest coach in SEC history to reach 75 wins, is just five victories away from winning his 100th game. His 95 wins in his first 10 seasons ranks fifth in NCAA history and he begins the upcoming season as the SEC's winningest active coach in league games with a 63-13 mark against conference rivals.
Rounding out the Top 10 in winning percentage since 1926 are--Ohio State (.72846), Notre Dame (.72846), Michigan (.72237), Oklahoma (.71525), Penn State (.70865), Nebraska (.70282), Texas (.68811) and Southern California (.68182).
