May 22, 2025; Hoover, AL, USA; Tennessee shortstop Gavin Kilen (6) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a solo homer to give Tennessee the lead in the 10th inning in the third round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met. Tennessee eliminated Texas with a 12-inning 7-5 victory. Kilen drove in all three runs in extra innings.
The end of the 2025 season wasn’t what Tennessee fans had envisioned when it began. Hopes were high. There were dreams of championship contention. But as the final games played out, what once looked like a top-tier campaign ended with a few bumps in the road. Critics pointed to the Volunteers’ rocky finish as evidence of regression. Detractors questioned the trajectory of the program. But here’s the truth most are missing: Tennessee’s “disappointing” finish was actually a testament to how far the program has come—and how much stronger it is compared to other traditional powerhouses who outright collapsed in 2025.
This season didn’t end with confetti, but it ended with clarity. Tennessee’s stability, consistency, and resilience stood in stark contrast to what unfolded at two other blue-blood programs, both of which entered the year with similar or greater expectations. While those teams bottomed out—failing to make bowls, losing locker rooms, watching players abandon ship in the portal—Tennessee bent but didn’t break.
And that speaks volumes.
It wasn’t long ago that Tennessee football was stuck in a cycle of coaching changes, underachievement, and irrelevance on the national stage. The post-Phil Fulmer years were unkind. Lane Kiffin’s one-year stint in 2009 was a tease. Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, and Jeremy Pruitt each had moments, but none could sustain momentum. By the time Josh Heupel arrived in 2021, the program was more of a punchline than a power. Yet in just a few years, Heupel and his staff resurrected the brand, restored national relevance, and re-energized a fanbase starving for success.
The 2022 campaign served as the launchpad—a magical season that saw Tennessee defeat Alabama, flirt with a College Football Playoff berth, and end in an Orange Bowl victory. Since then, expectations have skyrocketed. That’s both a compliment and a challenge. Every season is now judged against greatness, not merely improvement.
Which is why the 2025 season, with its late losses and missed opportunities, has sparked some frustration. But take a step back. Tennessee still finished with a winning record. The Vols remained competitive in every contest. They stayed ranked for most of the year. That is the new floor—one that many elite programs would’ve killed for in 2025.
Consider what happened at USC and Texas A&M, two programs with historic legacies, elite recruiting pipelines, and massive expectations.
At USC, Lincoln Riley’s empire crumbled in record time. After Caleb Williams’ departure to the NFL, the Trojans entered 2025 with five-star talent but no chemistry, no defense, and ultimately, no identity. The result? A 5-7 collapse that included blowout losses, sideline meltdowns, and speculation that Riley might jump to the NFL—or be pushed out first. The Coliseum became half-empty by November. USC missed a bowl. The transfer portal became a revolving door. Their coaching staff was gutted. Stability was non-existent.
Then there’s Texas A&M, where optimism is always in supply but success never seems to follow. The Jimbo Fisher era finally ended in late 2024 with an enormous buyout. The 2025 campaign was supposed to be a fresh start under new leadership. Instead, it was chaos. The Aggies posted a dismal 4-8 record, including losses to directional schools and blowouts against SEC foes. Five-star recruits hit the portal. Boosters panicked. And once again, Texas A&M is a cautionary tale about how money doesn’t guarantee success.
Now contrast that with Tennessee.
The Vols didn’t implode. They didn’t lose their culture. They didn’t unravel. Despite injuries, despite a tough schedule, despite an offense that at times lacked rhythm, Tennessee still won games, stayed nationally relevant, and kept its core intact. There were no locker room leaks. No finger-pointing. No exodus of talent. If anything, the year proved that this program is built for sustainability—not just for sprints of success.
Josh Heupel deserves credit for that. He’s crafted a program identity rooted in explosive offense, player development, and relentless effort. But more importantly, he’s created a culture of accountability and belief. Tennessee doesn’t panic. It reloads. It adjusts. That’s the hallmark of a strong program.
And the players deserve praise too. Despite the late-season adversity, there was no quit. Seniors led with class. Young talent flashed signs of future greatness. The offensive line held together through attrition. The defense—though inconsistent—made strides under new schemes. And perhaps most impressively, recruits never wavered.
In an age where programs are judged not just by wins and losses, but by transfer portal retention and NIL management, Tennessee continues to trend upward. The 2025 class remains one of the most highly rated in program history. The Vols have held on to their top commits, navigated the portal intelligently, and kept their locker room intact.
That speaks to something deeper than depth charts or schemes. It speaks to buy-in. The players believe. The coaches believe. The recruits believe. And the fans? Even the most cynical have started to realize that Tennessee isn’t going anywhere. A down year in Knoxville would’ve been a dream scenario for a place like USC or A&M in 2025.
Let’s not forget the context either. The SEC remains the toughest gauntlet in college football. There are no breathers. Tennessee’s schedule included multiple top-10 opponents, road tests in hostile environments, and few moments to catch their breath. In a lesser league, the Vols might’ve won 10 games again. In the SEC, eight wins and a bowl appearance still reflect a sturdy foundation.
And that foundation is everything. Programs don’t die from one bad season. They die from rot—from cracks behind the scenes, from leadership voids, from culture erosion. Tennessee avoided all of that. Even in tough moments, the ship never swayed. And that, more than any scoreboard, tells the story of 2025.
The postseason looms now. Tennessee won’t be in the Playoff, but they’ll be in the conversation again next year. A bowl win could launch momentum into the offseason. Returning talent and another elite recruiting class will position them well for 2026. The SEC landscape is shifting, with Texas and Oklahoma now full members. The Playoff is expanding. Opportunities abound for programs that are built to last. Tennessee is one of them.
In the broader picture, 2025 wasn’t a failure—it was a stress test. And Tennessee passed. When other top programs folded, the Vols endured. That’s what strong programs do.
So yes, the finish was rocky. There were missed chances, frustrating drives, and what-ifs galore. But there was no collapse. No scandal. No sense that the moment was too big. The program didn’t unravel—it absorbed the blows and kept marching.
In college football, that’s the true measure of strength. Not perfection. Not invincibility. But durability. Tennessee has it. Others don’t.
So when the dust settles on the 2025 season, remember this: Tennessee didn’t fall apart. They fell short—and that’s a big difference. And in the SEC, in this era of upheaval and high stakes, that difference is everything.
Because sometimes, how you survive the tough times says more about your future than how you celebrate the great ones.
