Tennessee Vols football players coach Josh Heupel is adding and losing in the transfer portal for the 2026 roster

Tennessee's 2025 season ended not with a bang, but with a whimper. The Vols ensured that they would finish with an 8-5 record -- their worst under coach Josh Heupel since his first season in 2021 -- with Tuesday's 30-28 loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl.

Willie Martinez was on Josh Heupel's original Tennessee coaching staff in 2021, and their relationship goes back much further.

The Tennessee Vols couldn't get the job done against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday in Nashville. Illinois made a 29 yard field goal as time expired to secure a 30-28 win over the Vols.

The Tennessee Volunteers finish the season with an overall record of 8-5 after a devastating last second loss in the Music City Bowl. Illinois defeated the Vols 30-28 by a successful field goal as time expired.

Kurt Schmidt worked with Josh Heupel for nine years at three different schools. But Tennessee football will not renew his contract.

Josh Heupel has already taken a step to change things up, firing defensive coordinator Tim Banks. Veteran Jim Knowles now takes over following the bowl, set to finalize his staff which could come with more changes. After that comes the transfer portal, where Tennessee obviously needs to attack.

The Tennessee Vols' 2025 season wasn't a disaster, but it also didn't go the way many fans had hoped. A combination of ill-timed mistakes, injuries, and unexpected roster issues (losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava during spring practice and the Boo Carter saga) created too much adversity for a young