Is Tennessee's defense actually the best defense in America?
The latest Big Orange Podcast takes a deep dive into Jim Knowles' remarkable first season as Tennessee's defensive coordinator and asks whether the Vols have developed the best defense in college football.
Zach Ragan and Charlie Burris discuss the incredible transformation of Tennessee's defense and how far the unit has exceeded expectations entering the 2026 season.
Before the season, the expectation was simply for Tennessee to improve.
A top-40 defense would have been considered a major success.
Instead, the Vols are now among the nation's statistical leaders in nearly every major defensive category.
Tennessee ranks first nationally in sacks, second in explosive passes allowed, third in defensive efficiency, third in tackles for loss and third in fourth-down defense. The Vols also rank among the national leaders in limiting explosive plays, pass defense, scoring defense and takeaways.
And the numbers don't even tell the entire story.
Tennessee's defense completely overwhelmed Alabama in Knoxville, holding the Crimson Tide to just 200 total yards and making Alabama's offense look uncomfortable for most of the afternoon.
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