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 Bear 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 unmet. 

Teaching the love for competition perhaps may just be a thing of the old West. Regardless, the new, wild West of college football was on full display in Nashville. 

As part of that new college football era in December, the Tennessee program lost several regular-season contributors. Several key players shifted focus elsewhere, and while the Music City Bowl drew a strong attendance crowd, (52,815) both Illinois and Tennessee took the field with notable absences from their regular-season rosters.

What wasn’t missing was the number three.

First, DeSean Bishop  became the third consecutive Tennessee running back to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season. Bishop now joins Jaylen Wright (1,013 yards in 2023) and Dylan Sampson (1,491 yards in 2024) in the Vols’ rushing history.

The number 3  showed up again on defense. Tennessee held Illinois to three points on three separate occasions. Illinois kicker David Olano made the most of those opportunities. Olano connected on three field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, lifting the Fighting Illini to a 30–28 victory.

The game also marked the conclusion of the third season of football coverage on The Players Lounge at Tennessee.

Over the years, TPL has helped elevate many football voices across Knoxville. To celebrate, TPL asked Vol fans in attendance at the Music City Bowl what New Year’s resolutions they had for Tennessee football.

Drop in on the TPL socials  to join that conversation. 

With the number three still lingering on the final day of 2025, here are three New Year’s resolutions for Tennessee Football of my own:

1. Turn Talent Into Takeaways

Tennessee recruits talent. There is even a talent fee to prove it. In 2026, that athleticism must translate into more turnovers on defense. So for 2026, we need increased pressure up front, tighter coverage on the back end, and a renewed emphasis on stripping the football. Too often, the defense lacked the physical edge expected of SEC play in 2025. Analytical reviews consistently pointed to tackling issues and blown coverages that turned manageable situations into extended opponent drives. Technique can’t be gifted. It has to be earned.

2. Protect Offensive Momentum

Hear me out. The offense struggled mightily in the season finale, falling well below its standard. Joey Aguilar was sacked too often in critical moments, and while the trenches are young, they must be fortified for 2026. Momentum, however brief, needs protection. Turnovers and inconsistent quarterback play prevented Tennessee from closing out tight games. Moving forward, the focus must be on cleaner progression reads, better ball security, sharper decision-making under pressure, and  most importantly, as we learned in 2025, a contingency plan for depth concerns. Locking down the quarterback position may once again be the program’s biggest challenge.

3. Be Relentless on the Road

It’s time to turn hostile SEC environments into statement wins. Losses in marquee matchups, including Alabama and the bowl defeat to Illinois, highlighted lapses in late-game execution. In 2026, Tennessee must improve situational awareness, special teams reliability, and red-zone efficiency to flip those outcomes. Close games away from home should no longer feel out of reach.

As 2025 winds down, let’s toast the true VFL spirit on display at Nissan Stadium. There were meaningful traditions honored by a senior class led by Jalen McMurray and glimpses of a promising future from fittingly, 3 emerging playmakers: Edwin Spillman ,

Braylon Staley , and Joakim Dodson.

Cheers to a new year. After all, spring football is only 3 months away. 

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