NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an age of college football where some programs scoff at bowl games, the Vols aren’t taking their postseason pedestal for granted.
Tennessee football came up well short of a second-straight trip to the College Football Playoff, a disappointing result for a group that felt it had aspirations to make it back to the dance. Injuries and poor fundamentals plagued the Vols’ defense throughout the year, a reality that ultimately led to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Tim Banks. The recently impenetrable Neyland Stadium bore the burden of three losses, a number that eclipsed the home team’s blemishes on their home turf over the last three seasons combined.
Head coach Josh Heupel cited the high standard of the Tennessee program following his team’s blowout loss to rival Vanderbilt. Now, a month removed from that showing, the Vols’ headman readies his guys for the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl with sights set on a positive forecast for 2026.
“I think the landscape of college football, of the expansion of the playoff, certainly has changed the dynamics a little bit,” Heupel said. “But at the end of the day, for us as a program, this is an entire month where you get a chance to continue to grow and compete, develop your players that are on your roster. In a lot of ways, it’s a finish to this season for this program, but it’s also a springboard before you get back in January for all of your young players. Fundamentals, technique, growth in the scheme, opportunity.”
When Tennessee takes the field against Illinois on Dec. 30, neither foe will be fighting to advance to play for a national title. Both sides, however, will have had the benefit of the extra practices that go along with bowl eligibility, one of the underrated aspects of eight-win seasons for both teams.
The Vols will be without five starters due to opt-outs, opening up the door for possible success stories that Heupel hopes echo one of his most impactful past products.
“For us, when we were in this game four years ago, Jalin Hyatt, great story,” Heupel said. “Had some success, but a little bit of up and down in our first season with him. His growth during the month of December, knew he would play extremely well in this game, but it was really a springboard to his following season, his work habits, his attention to detail. And that’s a guy that ultimately ends up winning the Biletnikoff Award — the best wide receiver in the country the following year.”
The eighth-year head coach wouldn’t give away any specific names who have caught his eye this time around, but didn’t shy away from revealing that the same upward trend persists among some fresh faces.
It might be safe to speculate that linebacker Edwin Spillman’s name is one of the candidates, though.
“We’ve probably seen from him maybe the biggest jump potentially of anyone on our team from a growth and development standpoint,” interim defensive coordinator William Inge said. “Seeing him come in, maximize his role, do the things that he had to do when Arion Carter went down, for him to be able to elevate and continue to keep playing.”
With Carter sitting out against the Fighting Illini, Spillman will have even more free rein to build on an already strong redshirt freshman campaign.
Standout corner Colton Hood will also be focusing on the NFL Draft, so Tennessee’s secondary is set to be patrolled by similar young personnel. True freshman Ty Redmond will strive to cap off his first gauntlet, leading his class against the likes of veteran Illinois signal caller Luke Altmyer.
“When you can see the guys allow their talent to continue to elevate and you can put plays on top of plays on top of plays and reps on top of reps,” Inge said. “Now you can get the constant development that they’ve been getting. You just have to go play. You have to go execute, and you’ve got to go do your job. And we believe in them from a confidence standpoint.”
