What Is 2007 Tennessee Vols football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 9–4 record under head coach Phillip Fulmer and winning the Outback Bowl 21–0 over Wisconsin on January 1, 2008.

Key Facts

Finished the 2007 season with a 9–4 overall record
Defeated Wisconsin 21–0 in the 2008 Outback Bowl
Played in the SEC Eastern Division under head coach Phillip Fulmer
Ranked as high as No. 13 in the AP Poll during the season
Running back Arian Foster rushed for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns

Overview

The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team competed in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), representing the University of Tennessee. Led by 15th-year head coach Phillip Fulmer, the team played its home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville and finished the season with a 9–4 overall record, including a 5–3 mark in conference play.

The Volunteers capped their season with a dominant 21–0 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2008 Outback Bowl, held on January 1, 2008, in Tampa, Florida. This win marked Tennessee’s first bowl victory since 2004 and highlighted a season of modest resurgence after two down years.

Record: The team finished 9–4 overall and 5–3 in the SEC, placing second in the Eastern Division behind champion Florida.
Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer entered his 15th season as head coach, maintaining stability despite growing pressure from inconsistent recent seasons.
Key Player: Running back Arian Foster emerged as a star, rushing for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns on 238 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.
Defensive Strength: The defense allowed only 17.7 points per game, the best mark for Tennessee since 1999, anchored by defensive tackle Dan Williams.
Bowl Game: Tennessee shut out Wisconsin 21–0 in the Outback Bowl, the first bowl shutout in school history and a rare feat in major college football.

Season Performance and Key Games

The 2007 campaign featured a mix of strong performances and narrow setbacks, with Tennessee showing resilience after a 5–6 start the previous year. The team began the season ranked but faced a challenging SEC schedule, including matchups against ranked opponents and division rivals.

Season Opener: Tennessee defeated California 35–13 on September 1, 2007, in a neutral-site game at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
SEC Competition: The Vols lost key games to #5 LSU (21–14) and #12 South Carolina (27–24), both in overtime, which impacted their division standing.
Signature Win: A 28–24 victory over #13 South Carolina in November helped secure bowl eligibility and boosted postseason momentum.
Quarterback Play: Erik Ainge started all 13 games, throwing for 2,335 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, showing improved consistency.
Rivalry Game: Tennessee lost to in-state rival Vanderbilt 26–24 in November, marking the first Commodore win in Knoxville since 1988.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2007 season compared favorably to recent years, showing improvement in defense and bowl performance despite lingering issues in close games.

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Bowl Result	Final AP Rank
2005	5–6	2–6	No bowl	Unranked
2006	5–7	3–5	No bowl	Unranked
2007	9–4	5–3	Won Outback Bowl 21–0	Ranked No. 22
2008	12–1	7–1	Lost in SEC Championship	Ranked No. 2
2009	7–6	3–5	Lost in Chick-fil-A Bowl	Unranked

The table illustrates how the 2007 season marked a turning point, bridging two losing seasons with the successful 2008 campaign. While not dominant, the Vols showed marked improvement in defense and bowl preparation, laying groundwork for future competitiveness under Fulmer before his departure in 2008.

Why It Matters

The 2007 Tennessee Vols season was significant for restoring some pride to a storied program amid declining performance. It provided momentum heading into the final year of Fulmer’s tenure and highlighted emerging talent that would influence future teams.

Program Stability: The season reassured fans after two losing years, showing the program could still compete in the tough SEC.
Bowl Redemption: The Outback Bowl shutout was the first by an SEC team in a bowl since 1969, earning national recognition.
Player Development: Arian Foster’s breakout season paved the way for his NFL career, later joining the Houston Texans.
Coaching Legacy: Though Fulmer was fired in 2008, this season briefly quieted criticism and extended his tenure.
Recruiting Boost: Success in 2007 helped maintain recruiting momentum, especially in-state talent acquisition.
Historical Context: The season is remembered as a brief resurgence before a major coaching transition and program overhaul.

In summary, the 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team played a pivotal role in the program’s transition period, combining defensive excellence with offensive improvement to deliver a winning season and a memorable bowl victory.