Obviously, coming off a College Football Playoffs appearance in 2024, the Tennessee football season didn’t go nearly as planned in 2025. However, there was still some good to come out of 2025. The Vols had a nice emergence of Joey Aguilar after losing Nico to UCLA. Tennessee had its fair share of fun weekends, too.
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Nonetheless, the Vols had some exhilarating games that were featured on ESPN’s College Football's Top 100 Games of the 2025 Season list.
Tennessee landed not one, but two games on the list. The first came in at No. 95: the Vols’ September 27 matchup against Mississippi State. Tennessee pulled out a 41-34 overtime victory in a game that featured eight lead changes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats the entire way.
Next, Vols fans knew this was coming. The other game featured was, unfortunately, Tennessee versus Georgia on September 13th. The game was ranked No. 12 in college football last fall. The game will be remembered by all fans for Max Gilbert's missed kick at the end of regulation. It would’ve been the first time Tennessee has beaten Georgia since the Hail Mary in 2016.
Tennessee athletics have a national brand
Just one day after Tennessee basketball was featured in Nielsen’s most-watched college basketball teams, the football team made a list of the most exciting college football games.
The Tennessee brand has never been stronger, as football, basketball, and baseball have all been thriving over the last few years.
The Tennessee football program has made some substantial additions to the roster this offseason, especially on the defensive side of the ball. So one can only hope they are in next year’s article with a few more wins over the usual suspects like Alabama, LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M. The addition of Jim Knowles might be the best add of them all, though, as he will transform the Vols' lackluster defense into a top unit.
Having two games on the Most exciting list is good, but Tennessee can do much better next year.