Vols Wrap Up 2025 Season at 8-4: A Year of Missed Chances and Mixed Reviews
Tennessee football’s 2025 regular season came to a close Saturday night with a 45-24 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt - a result that left a sour taste in the mouths of Vols fans and capped off a rollercoaster year with an 8-4 (4-4 SEC) record. While the final record might look respectable on paper, the details tell a more complicated story.
The Vols went just 1-3 at home in SEC play and failed to notch a single win over a Power Four opponent with a winning record. Every loss came against teams currently ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll, but that didn’t soften the blow for a fanbase that expected more in Josh Heupel’s fifth season at the helm.
We took a look at how Tennessee fans graded the season - and let’s just say, the report card is full of tough love.
Overall Grade: C
This was the most common consensus from fans: average. Not terrible, not great - just stuck in the middle. And for a program with Tennessee’s expectations, “average” isn’t going to cut it for long.
One fan summed it up this way: *“When I was in school, a C meant average. At best, that’s what they were.
You had hopes for them, but they regressed over the course of the season. And showed no heart against the Dores in the finale.”
Another echoed that sentiment, pointing to the lack of signature wins: *“C- All wins were against teams with less than 6 wins. Losses were to teams that are legit CFP contenders.
Just a mediocre season.” *
There was also frustration with the inability to protect home turf. Neyland Stadium, typically a fortress, saw three SEC losses this year.
As one fan put it: *“8-4 isn’t that bad at a glimpse, but 3 conference home losses ain’t acceptable. That’s the issue.
You got the gritty road wins, but you failed to protect home turf.” *
Offense: B+
Despite the overall disappointment, the offense earned relatively high marks. Tennessee managed to move the ball effectively against lesser opponents, and fans appreciated the unit’s ability to stay productive despite adversity - including a mid-year quarterback change.
One fan gave the offense a B+, noting the context: *“Only because they had to replace the starting quarterback after spring football and our starting cornerbacks didn’t play. Otherwise it is a C… having said that we are about 4 or 5 plays away from the playoffs!
Go figure!” *
However, there was a common theme: the offense struggled to finish games against quality opponents. Another fan highlighted that inconsistency: “Offense was good against less talented teams and could not score in the second half against good teams.”
Defense: D
Here’s where things really fell apart.
Tennessee’s defense was the most frequently criticized unit, with fans pointing to poor tackling, lack of physicality, and an inability to get stops when it mattered most.
“Defense’s lack of tackling and physicality was very disappointing on the year and lost us games,” one fan wrote.
Another didn’t hold back: *“The biggest disappointment was our defense. Even when we scored points, we couldn’t stop anyone.
There is talent in all the positions; but execution was inconsistent.” *
Position-by-position breakdowns reflected the issues: the secondary took the brunt of the criticism, especially at the safety position, which one fan graded an ‘F’. The STAR position didn’t fare much better. The defensive line and linebackers hovered around average marks - not disastrous, but not nearly enough to carry the load.
Special Teams: Mixed Bag
Special teams grades were all over the place. Punt and kickoff coverage got high marks, but field goals and extra points were a different story. Multiple fans pointed to missed kicks in key moments as game-changers.
One fan even suggested the season could’ve looked a lot different with a single make: “Honestly could have been an A if they make that field goal.”
Return units didn’t escape criticism either, with punt/kick return units also graded poorly by several fans.
Coaching: C
Josh Heupel’s fifth year in Knoxville brought as many questions as answers. While the team avoided any major collapses and handled business against weaker opponents, fans were frustrated by the lack of in-game adjustments and questionable decision-making in key moments.
“Tough year but not far from where predictions were at preseason. Injuries hurt for sure, but lack of adjustments overall are concerning. Changes need to be made to make this team better,” one fan wrote.
Another noted the inconsistency: “If we can ever have a complete team - for an entire season (looking at you, 2022 team), it could be special. But we have to stop having amazing D’s with no O, crazy good O with bad D…”
Some fans felt Heupel may have hit a ceiling, especially given the team’s inability to beat quality opponents: *“There isn’t one appealing thing about the Tennessee resume. Fail after fail after fail.
Lost to everyone good on the schedule. Wins against trash schools. 3 home defeats.
Heupel has hit his ceiling.” *
That’s a harsh take, but it reflects a growing impatience from a fanbase that’s tasted recent success and wants to see more.
What’s Next?
Despite the frustrations, there were still glimpses of potential. Several fans noted that Tennessee was just a few plays away from flipping the script. Injuries played a role, and the midseason quarterback change added a layer of complexity that can’t be ignored.
But in the SEC, close doesn’t count for much - and the Vols know that. The 2025 season will be remembered not for what it was, but for what it could’ve been.
As one fan put it: “With this roster AND OPPORTUNITIES WE MISSED, C- and that’s not good enough at Tennessee!”
The offseason now becomes a critical stretch for Heupel and his staff. If Tennessee wants to take the next step, it’ll need to find answers - fast. Because in Knoxville, the expectations don’t stay on pause for long.