top of page
Derek Owings: Tennessee’s New Director of Football Sports Performance
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee football added a proven architect of elite performance to its staff on Tuesday as head coach Josh Heupel announced the hiring of Derek Owings as the program’s new Director of Football Sports Performance. Owings arrives on Rocky Top with a championship résumé, most recently serving as a key figure in Indiana’s rise to national prominence. Working alongside head coach Curt Cignetti, Owings helped transform the Hoosiers from Big Ten cellar dwellers
Ellie Williamson
3 min read
Defined by 3: Tennessee Football ends the 2025 season in Nashville with Milestones, Missed Standards, and Motivation for 2026
Nashville, TN - The 2025 Tennessee football season neither began nor ended the way Vol Nation had hoped. In the finale against a very Chicago Bears looking Illinois, Tennessee fell short in all 3 phases of the game. It’s a familiar refrain echoed by head coach Josh Heupel throughout the season in his press conferences. His expectation in 2025 was always clear. He wanted the team to compete at an elite level in every phase of the game. That standard, however, too often went
Ellie Williamson
3 min read
The Music City Bowl: Origin and Growth of a Nashville Tradition
Nashville, TN - The Music City Bowl was established in 1998 as Nashville, Tennessee’s signature post‑season college football game. The Nashville Sports Council in partnership with the city and local stakeholders, sought to bring a major bowl to a city renowned for hospitality, entertainment, and accessibility to teams from various conferences. The inaugural game was played at Vanderbilt Stadium, and a year later moved to its long‑term home at Nissan Stadium. The NFL venue
Ellie Williamson
5 min read
SEC Releases A 9-Game Conference Schedule For 2026
Knoxville, TN - Starting with the 2026 season, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will transition from an eight-game conference schedule to a nine-game SEC slate for all 16 teams. This is one of the most significant changes in SEC football scheduling in decades. The new format was approved by the league and is designed to balance competitiveness, protect rivalries, and provide more frequent cross-conference matchups. The additional SEC game ensures that teams play more meanin
Ellie Williamson
2 min read
Defensive Coordinator Report:Jim Knowles
Knoxville, TN- A Penn State to Tennessee arc continues in 2026 for the Vols. On December 8, 2025, the University of Tennessee Athletics announced that it had parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks. The decision comes after five seasons under Josh Heupel. Banks had a tenure that included remarkable highs, but ultimately ended amid a defensive regression for the 2025 season amid injuries, inconsistency, and fundamental breakdowns that ultimately forced Josh Heupel’s
Ellie Williamson
4 min read
Josh Heupel Leads Tennessee Through a Pivotal Signing Day Strategy
Knoxville, TN - Every year, “National Signing Day” marks the moment when high-school football recruits across the country can formally sign their National Letters of Intent, committing to a college program. For a storied program like the Tennessee Volunteers, this day is historically a critical milestone. It is a chance to solidify the top high school talent in the country. It will shore up depth, and signal to fans and competitors alike what the next few years might hold.
Ellie Williamson
4 min read
High Stakes in Knoxville: Tennessee and Vanderbilt Set for Pivotal Rivalry Clash
Knoxville, TN - When Tennessee and Vanderbilt meet this weekend, the annual in-state rivalry dating back to 1892 arrives with more weight than usual. Traditionally viewed as a game driven by pride and state wide bragging rights, this year’s matchup carries legitimate postseason implications, rising national attention, and two top 20 football programs moving upward under their respective coaching staffs. Vanderbilt announced early Friday morning on the eve of this game, that C
Ellie Williamson
5 min read
bottom of page