Tennessee’s 2025 season ended with a gut-punch finish in the Music City Bowl - a 30-28 loss to Illinois that came down to the final tick of the clock. The Vols had taken a late lead thanks to a spark from Joakim Dodson, who electrified the crowd with a fourth-quarter kick return touchdown. But Illinois answered with a methodical, time-consuming drive and sealed the win with a chip-shot field goal as time expired.
Let’s break down how Tennessee graded out in the finale, with Pro Football Focus providing a detailed look at individual performances. These grades give us a window into who showed up, who struggled, and what it might mean heading into the offseason.
Offensive Grades (Minimum 11 plays - 20% of offensive snaps)
Grading Scale:
- Elite: 90-100
- All-Conference: 85-89
- Starter: 70-84
- Backup: 60-69
- Replaceable: Below 60
Top Performers:
- RT David Sanders Jr. - 85.6 (55 snaps) The freshman capped his season with his best performance yet.
Sanders looked the part of a future anchor on the offensive line, holding his own in pass protection and finishing blocks with authority. He’s heading into the offseason with momentum and plenty of buzz.
- RB Star Thomas - 81.0 (17 snaps) Thomas made the most of his final collegiate game, racking up 67 yards on just nine carries.
His vision and burst were on full display, and he looked like the most dynamic back on the field. It does raise eyebrows why Peyton Lewis saw so much action behind DeSean Bishop instead of Thomas, especially with the way Thomas was running.
- QB Joey Aguilar - 76.4 (55 snaps) Aguilar was steady, if not spectacular.
He managed the offense well, made smart decisions, and avoided major mistakes. His performance didn’t jump off the stat sheet, but he showed poise in a tight game.
Other Notables:
- LT Lance Heard - 71.2 (55 snaps) Heard held up well on the blind side, showing flashes of the physicality and footwork that made him a key piece of the line this year.
- WR Mike Matthews - 68.7 (53 snaps) Matthews was relatively quiet but still found ways to contribute. He’s been reliable all season, and while this wasn’t his flashiest outing, he did the little things right.
- RB DeSean Bishop - 68.2 (38 snaps) Bishop got the bulk of the work in the backfield and was solid, though not as explosive as Thomas.
Struggles:
- C Sam Pendleton - 58.9 (55 snaps) Pendleton had a tough time anchoring the middle of the line. Pressure up the gut disrupted several plays, and his grade reflects that.
- WR Braylon Staley - 56.5 (51 snaps) This was uncharacteristic for Staley, who had been one of the most consistent weapons all year.
He just couldn’t get in rhythm, and it showed. Every player has an off day - unfortunately for Staley, his came in the season finale.
Defensive Grades (Minimum 15 plays - 20% of defensive snaps)
Top Performer:
- CB Ty Redmond - 79.5 (57 snaps) Redmond’s growth over the season has been one of the more encouraging storylines for Tennessee’s defense.
Early in the year, teams targeted him relentlessly. By the bowl game?
He allowed just one catch on six targets. That’s lockdown corner work, and it bodes well for his future in the secondary.
Solid Outings:
- LEO Jordan Ross - 74.3 (33 snaps) Ross brought energy and pressure off the edge. He didn’t always get home, but he disrupted the pocket and forced quick throws.
- LB Edwin Spillman - 73.0 (60 snaps) Spillman was active and physical in the middle. He wrapped up tackles and played with good instincts throughout the game.
- DT Bryson Eason - 71.8 (50 snaps) Eason was a steady presence on the interior. He held his ground well against the run and flashed some pass-rush ability.
- STAR Jalen McMurray - 71.7 (17 snaps) McMurray made the most of limited action, playing with discipline and making a couple of key stops.
Middle of the Pack:
- S Andrew Turrentine - 64.7 (64 snaps) Turrentine was all over the field, logging the most snaps on the defense. He had some good moments in coverage but also missed a few tackles.
- LB Jadon Perlotte - 64.2 (44 snaps) Perlotte showed flashes but struggled to consistently get off blocks.
- CB William Wright - 61.5 (72 snaps) Wright was targeted often and gave up some plays, but he also had a couple of pass breakups that kept things from getting worse.
Tough Day at the Office:
Ten of the 18 defenders who logged at least 15 snaps graded under 60. That’s a rough outing, especially in a bowl game where you expect your top guys to rise to the occasion.
- S Kaleb Beasley - 35.6 (17 snaps) Beasley had a game to forget. Whether it was missed assignments or getting beat in coverage, he never found his footing.
- DE Dominic Bailey - 47.8 (53 snaps) Bailey struggled to generate pressure and was largely neutralized at the line of scrimmage.
- LB Ben Bolton - 50.0 (24 snaps) Bolton had a hard time diagnosing plays and was late to react on several key downs.
Close Calls:
Two players just missed the snap count threshold but deserve a mention:
- LB Jaedon Harmon - 75.1 (14 snaps) Harmon made an impact in limited time, flashing sideline-to-sideline speed and making a couple of nice stops.
- DE Tyree Weathersby - 59.0 (14 snaps) Weathersby was active but inconsistent. He showed effort but needs refinement to take the next step.
Final Thoughts
Tennessee’s Music City Bowl loss was a microcosm of their season - moments of promise, flashes of talent, but not enough consistency to close the deal. The offense had bright spots, especially on the line and in the backfield, but couldn’t sustain drives when it mattered most. Defensively, the Vols were simply outmatched down the stretch, with too many missed assignments and not enough impact plays.
Still, there are pieces to build around. David Sanders Jr. and Ty Redmond look like future stars.
Star Thomas went out on a high note. And several young defenders showed enough to be intriguing heading into spring ball.
It wasn’t the ending Tennessee wanted. But in a sport where development is everything, the tape from this game will be valuable - both as a teaching tool and a motivator for what comes next.