The biggest storyline during the brief break between the Vanderbilt loss and the Music City Bowl was what would happen at the defensive coordinator spot. The Vols made the College Football playoffs in 2024 primarily due to the defense, but the regression was too much for fans and Josh Heupel to handle.
Tennessee football's Music City Bowl preparation hit by absence of key defensive player
Tim Banks was eventually fired after signing day and linebackers coach William Inge, who brought Washington to the national title game in 2023, was promoted to interim Defensive coordinator while Heupel found his long-term solution.
Tennessee landed on Jim Knowles from Penn State to fill the defensive coordinator role, but for now, it’s William Inge running the defense as the Vols prepare for the Music City Bowl. Knowles is taking a step back, watching closely, and getting a feel for what this group can do and what he’ll need to address when the offseason starts.
Josh Heupel was asked about how the defense has reacted to Inge taking over, and he said, "Well, initially I think everybody hurts because you know there’s a change. But as we started our preparation getting back on the grass, guys have had excitement. Coach Inge has subtly tweaked some things from his past and we’ve had really good work and guys are ready to go play and compete and excited for the opportunity.”
Tennessee's defense is excited for the Music City Bowl
Josh Heupel’s comments don’t come as a shock. The players were clearly disappointed to see Banks leave, but they’re also fired up to get back on the field and play for Inge in the Music City Bowl. Inge has also put his own little tweak on the defense in preparation for Illinois.
It's no surprise that the overall defense will likely be the same, as it's impossible to install a new defense in 3 weeks. We do likely see more stunts and creative ways to attack the quarterback as Inge did at Washington. The players will love this aspect if Inge.
At the end of the day, it’s encouraging to see that the Vols still have the energy and motivation for a bowl game. Things may not feel like they used to during bowl season, but Tennessee is still focused on building momentum and setting the stage for a strong start to 2026.