They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game.

Tennessee headed into the 2007 season looking to build on an average 2006 campaign to UT standards where the team went 9–4 with narrow losses to eventual national champion Florida and also to LSU.

[7] RunningbacksArian Foster saw the majority of time at tailback, with relief appearances by LaMarcus Coker, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer.

[9] ReceiversThe Wide Receivers were led by Juniors Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe, along with redshirt Sophomore Austin Rogers.

Senior Ryan Karl and Sophomore Rico McCoy manned the outside spots, while Junior Jerod Mayo earned All-SEC honors at MLB.

However, only Hefney retained his spot, as injury and impressive play allowed Freshmen Eric Berry, Brent Vinson and Dennis Rogan to emerge for the unit.

Starters for the majority of the year [12] [15] Tennessee dropped its opening game for the first time in over a decade, losing on the road to California by the score of 45–31.

After Cal's loss to Tennessee the previous year, some observers and college football personalities such as LSU coach Les Miles had questioned the strength of the Pac-10.

But then Tennessee QB Erik Ainge got his team's offense moving, throwing a touchdown pass just before halftime to cut the lead to 28–13 at intermission.

The Gators mounted a long drive to start the second half, but freshman Volunteer cornerback Eric Berry picked off a Tim Tebow pass (his first interception thrown in 2007) and returned it 93 yards for another Tennessee touchdown.

But on the first play of the possession, Erik Ainge's handoff to running back Arian Foster was mishandled, and Gator linebacker Dustin Doe scooped up the loose ball and took it into the endzone for a Florida touchdown.

The win, combined with Florida's losses to Auburn and LSU puts Tennessee back into the race for the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

However, following a LaMarcus Coker return to the 47-yard line, Tennessee put together an 8-play, 26-yard drive to set up freshman Daniel Lincoln for the game tying 48-yard field goal.

Freshman Eric Berry had a long fumble return to set up the Vols first score and added an interception in the second quarter.

[39] Tennessee rolled up it top point total of the season by scoring in creative ways en route to a 59–7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.

[41] Tennessee used clock management and stout defensive play to stop Arkansas TB Darren McFadden en route to a 34–13 victory over the Razorbacks.

Arkansas countered with a field goal after TB Felix Jones put them in good position with a 48-yard kick return into Tennessee territory.

Vol freshman DB Dennis Rogan countered with a return of his own, 78 yards to the Arkansas 15, setting up a Daniel Lincoln 25-yard field goal to answer the score.

In the second half, Tennessee forced Arkansas to punt and then Arian Foster gave the Vols a three score lead by racing 59 yards for a touchdown.

However, Vanderbilt scored twice in the final minute of the half, first with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Jeff Jennings, and then with 33-yard field goal by Hahnfeldt.

Tennessee actually punted the ball back to Vanderbilt with seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, but Commodore DE Broderick Stewart was flagged for roughing Vol punter Briton Colquitt.

The Volunteers (9–3, 6–2) earned a shot at LSU in the SEC title game by beating the Wildcats (7–5, 3–5) for the 23rd straight time, the longest active winning streak by one team over another in major college football.

The game looked to be in hand when the Vols led 31–14 near the end of the 3rd quarter following an Ainge touchdown pass to TE Jeff Cottam.

However, the Wildcats fought back behind a strong second half performance by QB Andre Woodson, scoring 17 unanswered points to push the game into overtime.

However Arian Foster was stopped short on an off tackle run and was also flagged for a personal foul for throwing the ball up in the air after the play was over.

Substitute QB Ryan Perriloux, filling in for injured Matt Flynn, led the Tigers on the 76-yard drive, finding WR Demetrius Byrd for the go ahead touchdown pass.

However, LSU found its winning score when DB Jonathan Zenon picked off an Ainge pass at the Tennessee 18-yard line and returned it for a touchdown.

The win by LSU propelled them into the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, while Tennessee accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl to face Wisconsin.

[49] Despite losing 3 starters to academic suspensions, Tennessee put together a solid performance to end their season with a 21–17 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2008 Outback Bowl.

WR Gerald Jones, lining up at QB in the aptly named "G-Gun" formation scored on a 3-yard run to cap off a 66-yard drive.