Vols Rally Behind William Inge Ahead of Music City Bowl as Defensive Transition Begins
The biggest question looming over Tennessee football during the short window between the season-ending loss to Vanderbilt and the upcoming Music City Bowl wasn’t about the opponent-it was about who would be calling the shots on defense. After a season that started with College Football Playoff hopes and ended with a thud, the Vols made a major change: defensive coordinator Tim Banks was out.
Banks, who helped guide Tennessee’s defense during its 2024 playoff run, couldn’t replicate that success this season. The regression on that side of the ball was too much to ignore, and head coach Josh Heupel made the call to move on-though not until after signing day. In the meantime, linebackers coach William Inge, who helped lead Washington to the national title game in 2023, has stepped in as interim defensive coordinator.
But the long-term plan is already in motion. Heupel has tapped Jim Knowles, most recently at Penn State, as the next full-time defensive coordinator.
For now, Knowles is taking a backseat-observing, evaluating, and starting to piece together a picture of what this Tennessee defense can be in 2026 and beyond. But in the short term, it’s Inge who’s running the show as the Vols prep for Illinois in the Music City Bowl.
Heupel addressed the transition earlier this week, and his message was clear: the players are responding.
“Well, initially I think everybody hurts because you know there’s a change,” Heupel said. “But as we started our preparation getting back on the grass, guys have had excitement. Coach Inge has subtly tweaked some things from his past and we’ve had really good work and guys are ready to go play and compete and excited for the opportunity.”
That sense of renewed energy is exactly what Tennessee needs right now. Bowl games may not carry the same weight they once did in the playoff era, but for a team in transition, they still matter. They’re a proving ground, a momentum builder, and a chance to lay the groundwork for next season.
And make no mistake-this group wants to play for Inge. There’s a clear sense of buy-in from the players, who, while disappointed to see Banks go, are embracing the fresh voice and slight schematic shifts Inge is bringing to the table.
Now, don’t expect a complete overhaul in just a few weeks. This is still largely the same defensive structure Tennessee’s been running.
But Inge has a history of dialing up creative pressure packages, especially in big games. At Washington, his defenses were known for their ability to generate chaos up front, and we could see hints of that in the bowl game-more stunts, more disguised pressure, more ways to make the quarterback uncomfortable.
That’s the kind of style players tend to rally around. It’s aggressive, it’s fast, and it lets defenders play with confidence. If Inge can tap into that, even in a limited sample, it could give Tennessee a spark on defense that’s been missing down the stretch.
More importantly, it sets the tone. This isn’t just about beating Illinois.
It’s about showing that the Vols are still locked in, still playing with purpose, and still building toward something bigger. The Music City Bowl might not be the playoff stage they envisioned back in August, but it’s still a chance to end the year on a high note-and to give Jim Knowles a glimpse of what he’ll be working with when the real work begins in 2026.
For now, Tennessee’s defense is in William Inge’s hands. And based on the early returns, the players are ready to fight for him.