Tennessee has made a splash hire to run the defense after Josh Heupel decided to let go of Tim Banks. Many fans were happy with the hire of Jim Knowles, but not everyone was. Tim Banks has already moved on from Knoxville as he is now the safeties coach for Auburn, once again coaching with Alex Golesh.
With Banks now gone, it's a chance for Tennessee football to elevate its defense to an elite tier. In 2024 under Banks, the defense was a significant part of the College Football Playoff appearance, but in 2025, the defense took a step back, creating turmoil among fans.