The Tennessee Volunteers fell completely flat on Tuesday night in Nashville, losing to Illinois on a last second field goal as time expired. It was a game that saw a familiar defense — one that simply couldn’t get off the field in the second half when it mattered the most — but it also featured an offense that didn’t do much of anything all night long.
It took a miracle kickoff return by freshman Joakim Dodson for Tennessee to have a shot late, but that still ended up not being enough.
What happened
to this offensive line?
We knew the passing game would look a little bit different without Chris Brazzell in the lineup. After all, Brazzell was the guy that bailed Tennessee out on 50-50 deep balls time and time again throughout the season. Without him, the Tennessee offense lacked that vertical element.
As poorly as the offensive line was in pass protection though, Brazzell’s absence may not have even mattered. Joey Aguilar was sacked on the first offensive snap of the game, which was an ominous sign going forward. Aguilar was running for his life all night long, rarely able to get comfortable in the pocket. To Aguilar’s credit, he made a handful of plays with his legs, but the passing game never got going.
Aguilar was sacked four times, and frankly it felt like more with all the pressure he was under. It was the second straight game he was sacked four times, which resulted in him throwing for just 121 yards. Illinois, playing without early-round NFL prospect Gabe Jacas, wrecked Tennessee’s offensive front for 7.5 tackles for loss.
Tennessee was without standout guard Wendell Moe, but Sham Umarov has proven to be a capable depth piece. Per PFF, Sam Pendleton was credited with three pressures allowed and two sacks surrendered. David Sanders gave up two hurries while Lance Heard and Umarov gave up one each. The result, in a game that featured extremely limited possessions for Tennessee, was just 21 offensive points against a less than stellar Illinois defense.
It wasn’t just the offensive line’s fault here, but they certainly didn’t give Aguilar much time to operate.
No Tim Banks, same ole Tennessee defense
To a certain degree, you can’t be too upset with this unit considering all of the opt outs. Tennessee was razor thin at cornerback without their assumed top four players from week one. Captain Arion Carter was also missing after opting out. William Inge was filling in with just a few weeks to prepare so much youth.
Once again though, Tennessee was gashed up and down the field. Illinois, a team that struggled to run the ball all season long, ran for 221 yards. The Volunteers had no answers and seemed to be left guessing all night long. The defensive front that was so good a year ago was once again a liability, just as it proved to be all season.
Luke Altmyer was a difference maker with his legs, dancing out of pressure and executing on designed runs. Altmyer forced several missed tackles in space too, running ten times for 54 yards and a touchdown.
With incoming defensive coordinator Jim Knowles watching from Knoxville, it’s very apparent that Tennessee could use upgrades on all three defensive levels — most notably at safety.
More penalties at the worst possible time
Illinois walked down the field to get into field goal range, but Tennessee had forced a 3rd and 6 with two minutes left to play and three timeouts. A key down was never snapped though, as Tennessee was flagged for an offsides penalty.
3rd and 6 turned into 3rd and 1 and Illinois easily converted. Multiple personal foul penalties along with the last example gave everyone a familiar feeling — this is just flat out and undisciplined football team and it’s been a them of Josh Heupel teams since he’s been here.
“It’s accountability in everything that you’re doing, every single day,” Heupel said after the game. “And we’ve worked on those things and a couple of critical penalties that you just mentioned. There’s some other ones where, you know, we’re giving 15 yards away, one during the course of the night, too, that changed the way the game was played to a position, too.”
What’s the answer here? I have no idea, but it continues to be an issue without any signs of improvement.
A crossroads for Josh Heupel
You won’t hear any hot seat chatter out of me. Not yet at least. Tennessee went 8-4 in the regular season with a quarterback they brought in during the month of May. If Max Gilbert hits that field goal against Georgia, who knows what we’re talking about now instead of this.
But I do get it. The penalties, the clock management, the defensive concerns — how, or will, Josh Heupel change? He found success, perhaps on accident, this year in the portal at quarterback. Can he do that again? Even with five-star No. 2 overall player Faizon Brandon waiting as the obvious answer of the future?
Defensively, so many holes to fill. Yet Tennessee hasn’t been all that aggressive in the portal like others. With new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles coming in, does that change? It would seem like it would have to.
The 2026 schedule is no joke. Road games against Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Arkansas, paired with home dates with Texas, Alabama, LSU and Auburn? That could get off the rails quickly if things go south.
Heupel definitely needs a bounce-back season, and he’s taken the first step defensively by infusing some new blood. Final staff moves on that side of the ball will play out over the next few days, and then it’s on to the portal. His next moves over the next couple of weeks are absolutely critical, no question about it.
