1996 Tennessee Volunteers football team

1996 Tennessee Volunteers football
Florida Citrus Bowl champion
Florida Citrus Bowl, W 48–28 vs. Northwestern
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 9
Record10–2 (7–1 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDavid Cutcliffe (4th season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorJohn Chavis (2nd season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–3
Captains
Home stadiumNeyland Stadium
1996 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$  8 0   12 1  
No. 9 Tennessee  7 1   10 2  
South Carolina  4 4   6 5  
Kentucky  3 5   4 7  
Georgia  3 5   5 6  
Vanderbilt  0 8   2 9  
Western Division
No. 11 Alabama xy  6 2   10 3  
No. 12 LSU x  6 2   10 2  
No. 24 Auburn  4 4   8 4  
Mississippi State  3 5   5 6  
Ole Miss  2 6   5 6  
Arkansas  2 6   4 7  
Championship: Florida 45, Alabama 30
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Phillip Fulmer, the Volunteers compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 7–1, placing second in the SEC's Eastern Division. Tennessee was invited to the Florida Citrus Bowl, where the Volunteers defeated Northwestern. The team played home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee had ever lost to in-state rival Memphis for the first time ever. The Volunteers offense scored 437 points while the defense allowed only 185 points.