The University of Tennessee launched its football program in 1891, laying the groundwork for a storied tradition. Over the decades the Vols have compiled six national championships, highlighted by titles in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967 and 1998.
Conference Dominance
Beyond national glory, Tennessee boasts 16 conference crowns across multiple eras: 13 in the SEC, 2 in the SoCon and 1 in the SIAA. This breadth of success underscores the program’s consistent ability to compete at the highest level.
When #60 Made Its Debut
Jersey number No. 60 traces its roots to 1937, when Melvin Herring became the first Vol to wear the digit. The number has since become a distinctive emblem, carried forward by players who left their mark on championship seasons.
Title‑Season Stars in #60
During the Vols’ 1998 national‑title campaign, Matt Goodin donned the #60 jersey, joining earlier champion Stan Himelsbaugh (1967) and Bill Pearman (1950‑51). Those three represent a rare lineage of athletes who wore the same number while helping Tennessee capture gold.
Members of the military hold up a American Flag before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Members of the military hold up a American Flag before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Sept. 18, 2021; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Jake Yurachek (35) carries the United States flag onto the field prior to the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
(Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
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Wide receiver Quindarius Carr #9 of the Auburn Tigers runs onto the field carrying the American Flag with wide receiver Travante Stallworth #85 of the Auburn Tigers on September 10, 2011 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
(Butch Dill, Getty Images)
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Dominique Easley #2 of the Florida Gators holds an American flag before a game against the UAB Blazers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 10, 2011 in Gainesville, Florida.
(Sam Greenwood, Getty Images)
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Fans of the Georgia Bulldogs hold an American flag to commemorate 9/11 before a game against the UAB Blazers at Sanford Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Athens, Georgia.
(Brett Davis, Getty Images)
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The American flag carried by Kentucky’s ROTC covered the football field before the national anthem as the Kentucky Wildcats play Eastern Michigan at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky on Sept. 13, 2025.
(Matt Stone/USA TODAY Network)
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Eric Reid #1 of the LSU Tigers carries an American Flag onto the field before playing the Idaho Vandals at Tiger Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
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Nov. 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi; Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Nathaniel Watson (14) carries an American Flag onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
(Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)
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Sept. 29, 2001: Fans wave an American Flag before the Missouri versus Nebraska game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Nov. 4, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi; Mississippi Rebels defensive back Nyseer Fullwood-Theodore (44) runs the American flag onto the field prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
(Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports)
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Sept. 11, 2010; Norman, Oklahoma; Oklahoma Sooners Ruf Nek carries the american flag on the Sooner Schooner prior to kick-off for the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Memorial Stadium.
(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
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The American flag is presented on the field before a game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 17, 2005 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Grant Halverson, Getty Images)
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A Tennessee marching band member holds an American flag during halftime against Auburn at Neyland Stadium on Nov. 9, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Michael Patrick/USA TODAY Network)
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Oct. 3, 2020; Austin, Texas; Texas player Anton Simieou runs onto the field with an American flag before a NCAA college football game against TCU at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
(Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports)
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Nov. 11, 2023; College Station, Texas; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Sam Mathews (12) runs out with the American Flag prior to the game against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field.
(Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports)
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Nov. 16, 2019; Nashville, Tennessee; Members of the Army hold a large American flag during the national anthem as helicopters perform a flyover before a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores game and the Kentucky Wildcats at Vanderbilt Stadium.
(Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Network)
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