The 8-4 season for Tennessee wasn’t as bad as it seems. The Vols were pretty competitive every week, and a couple of plays here and there, and we are talking about their College Football Playoff match-up, not the Music City Bowl.
A big part of the ‘plays here and there’ was the defense not being opportunistic. If you remember 2024, the team that made the playoffs, the defense was a massive part of that campaign. They were one of the best in the nation and complemented Josh Heupel’s offense well.
In 2025, the defense took a significant step back. They were one of the worst defenses in the country, stopping the run, and losing a couple of outstanding defensive backs really hurt the secondary.
With the drop off in production, many fans wanted defensive coordinator Tim Banks gone. They got their wish, and Josh Heupel let him go and hired national champion-winning defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Tennessee’s players met with the media ahead of the Music City Bowl, and Jeremiah Telander had an intriguing quote about the defensive coordinator situation.
Vols LB Jeremiah Telander: First off, we love Coach Banks and as a player, we didn't do enough to keep him here. But Coach Knowles has a great scheme and we're excited to learn it. It's going to be great.
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) December 16, 2025
Tennessee players are excited to learn Jim Knowles defense
At the end of the day, Telander is right. Players play, and coaches coach, and the Tennessee defense did not execute well enough in 2025. Its nice to see the players apprecitive of coach Banks. Whether fans liked him or not, Banks is a well-respected coach in the industry and by players in the locker room.
Fans shouldn't have much ill will towards him anyways, as his defense helped bring the Vols to their first ever playoffs appearance.
On the bright side, it seems like the defense is really fired up about playing under Jim Knowles. As Telander said, it is a great scheme. Knowles has had success at every stop as a coordinator. On the other hand, his scheme is very elaborate and has a learning curve.
Tennessee might take one step back before it takes two steps forward, and that's okay. In the long run, having Knowles call the defense will pay dividends as he is arguably the best defensive mind in the nation.
Tennessee fans have been very fired up about Knowles coming to Tennessee, and now the players are too. It's great to see, because passion leads to purpose.