No. 2: 2015
Head Coach: Butch Jones
Record: 9-4 (5-3, SEC)
Best win(s): vs. No. 19 Georgia, vs. No. 12 Northwestern
Key offensive players: Joshua Dobbs, Jalen Hurd, Alvin Kamara
Key defensive players: Cam Sutton, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Derek Barnett
Tennessee football had more excitement around it than it had in years, after Butch Jones secured the No. 4 recruiting class in the country on 247Sports. Highly touted recruits such as Khalil McKenzie, Kyle Phillips, Alvin Kamara and Preston Williams arrived on campus along with most of the key contributors from the 2014 roster.
After a season-opening win over Bowling Green in Nashville, the Vols hosted Baker Mayfield and No. 19 Oklahoma. The Vols dominated for three quarters, leading 17-3 going into the fourth, however, Oklahoma was able to storm back and force overtime. The Sooners won after two overtime periods, 31-24.
Going into a trip to Florida at 2-1, the Vols had an opportunity to shake a ten-year winning streak by the Gators. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs put together a historic performance, leading the team in passing, rushing and receiving. A ten-yard touchdown run by Jalen Hurd gave the Vols a 26-14 lead with ten minutes to play, and Jones elected to kick an extra point for a 13-point lead rather than attempt a two-point conversion that would have put the Vols on top by 14. It was a decision that would haunt Tennessee later in the game.
Florida scored once, and regained possession down 27-21. With 1:39 left, the Gators were snapping it from their own 37-yard line on 4th and 14. All Tennessee needed was one stop to win in Gainesville.
Quarterback Will Grier connected with Antonio Callaway on a 63-yard touchdown as Florida won 28-27. The following week, UT blew a 14-point lead against Arkansas at home to fall, 24-20, and drop to 2-3 overall.
A home game against No. 19 Georgia followed and where the season would turn around. Tennessee trailed 24-3 with two minutes left in the first half. Suddenly, a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dobbs to Josh Smith and a fumble recovered on the ensuing kickoff gave Tennessee the ball with one minute left trailing by 14. Dobbs found Alvin Kamara in the flat to cut the Georgia lead to seven. The comeback was on, and Tennessee would become victorious, 38-31. The Vols traveled to Alabama next and played the Crimson Tide close, but fell 19-14.
A six-game win streak followed that concluded with a 45-6 win over No. 12 Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.
Hurd had a career season as a sophomore, rushing for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.