We know, the Tennessee football loss to Oklahoma still stings for a lot of people. Things didn't go to plan and now barring a miracle, the Vols are going to miss out on the College Football Playoff. Despite that, the season isn't over. Quarterback Joey Aguilar also isn't going to take things for granted.
4-star Tennessee commit gives head-turnning quote after his Ohio State visit
Aguilar is out of eligibility following the 2025 campaign and he's going to enjoy every snap he has left with the Vols. Following the loss to the Sooners, Aguilar was understandably down in the dumps, but he made it clear to the UT faithful that the locker room won't stop battling and the focus is on closing the year out strong:
"Just keep fighting. We’re blessed to have three more games. Just got to take it week-by-week."
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) November 2, 2025
What Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar said after loss to Oklahoma ⬇️https://t.co/rIQ2a7Gwee
Joey Aguilar knows Tennessee football still has a lot to play for
As things stand, the Vols are 6-3 on the year and contests against New Mexico State, Florida and Vanderbilt remain on the schedule. If all goes to plan, Tennessee will close the year out 9-3 and still play in a strong bowl game that you know fans will travel well for.
However, we can't help but wonder what could have been for the Vols in '25 had a few things gone differently. Imagine if Max Gilbert would have drilled a game-winning field goal against Georgia in Week 3. That would have changed everything.
Imagine if the Vols didn't shoot themselves in the foot multiple times against Oklahoma, of course including the Aguilar fumble that was taken back to the house for a touchdown. The Vols indeed were in a spot to push for a CFP spot, but brutal errors have come back to haunt them.
It's something that people are incredibly disappointed by and you know Aguilar and the rest of the guys in the locker room aren't happy about things either. What's in the past is in the past, though, and all Tennessee can do is move forward. The Vols are on a BYE this week and then New Mexico State will be up next. Aguilar will hope to be at his best for that one and then the focus will shift to DJ Lagway and the Gators.