The Tennessee Vols couldn’t get the job done on Saturday in Knoxville, falling 45-24 to the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Tennessee had positive momentum going into the game, coming off the program’s first road win against the Florida Gators in 22 years the previous weekend.

The Vols, however, came out flat in the second half against the Commodores, getting outscored 24-3 in the final two quarters.

Expectations weren’t high for Tennessee coming into the season, so an 8-4 regular season record, including three SEC road wins, should be considered a decent year.

But a loss to Vanderbilt — even though Vandy is a playoff-caliber team this season — is never shrugged off on Rocky Top.

Vols QB Joey Aguilar dropped a quote after the loss to Vanderbilt that appears to confirm a concerning report about Tennessee

A few weeks ago, On3’s Chris Low reported that some folks in Tennessee’s program feel the Vols’ practices aren’t physical enough.

“One source told On3 that one of the biggest concerns among some within the program is that the practices throughout the entire year, not just the season, aren’t physical enough and that there’s not enough contact,” wrote Low.

After Tennessee’s loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Vols starting quarterback Joey Aguilar was asked about the team’s inconsistency this season.

Aguilar, who arrived at Tennessee after spring practice, suggested the Vols need to have more urgency in practice.

“I would just probably say our week of preparation,” said Aguilar. “Some days we’re really good at practice. Some days we’re a little slower. And I mean, that carries on to game days. So, I think what we got to do is just attack the week like it’s your last. I mean, sometimes it could be your last, sometimes it can’t.

“We’re grateful that we are able to keep on going, but I think we just got to attack practice every day more seriously. And not saying that we don’t, but I mean there’s an extra level of urgency that we can have attacking practice week by week. So I would just say that.”

Without being present for Tennessee’s practices, it’s hard to say exactly what the issue is. But it’s clear from Low’s report, Aguilar’s comments, and the results of the 2025 regular season that Tennessee has to make some adjustments this offseason to the way it practices.

After all, if you don’t treat every practice rep like it’s the fourth quarter of the national championship, it can be hard to flip the switch on game day and maintain the right competitive mentality for a full 60 minutes.

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