Heupel Year 5

[Sandman Vol]

We all know it’s going to take breaking through the top 10 to top 5 talent barrier to win a natty. We’ll see if he makes it there.

He’s a good coach, with a lot still to learn, and to prove. He’ll be here for a couple years more if not a decade. The program will have to get tired of top 10 and 15 finishes to make a change and we’d be silly to do that given the past 20 years without giving heupel every dollar and opportunity as needed to make such a call, which we haven’t done yet.

Jimmy Haslam should give up his long legged and piss poor project with the browns and focus on this program like he has on the business school, is my opinion, but obviously he can do whatever he wants with his money and it’s not my call to make. .

 

[Chitlin&theDude]

No just curious if you thought we were gonna beat UGA and bama or be 5-2 at this point of the season

I thought we'd beat AL or GA. And I thought we'd be able to tackle.

 

[NEO]

Saban would be firing his entire staff and players would be held accountable. That is the gold standard every coach should be held to.

If CJH cannot hold Martinez, Banks, and himself accountable then why would the players.

CJH makes the worst decisions when seconds are precious and we false start every time the game is on the line and we need a 1st down or TD.

Our team mirrors our coach. Undisciplined.

Teams take on the persona of their coach.

 

[vavolfan6]

Not sure he will win a championship. But the landscape of college football is so different with NIL in the CFP era. It takes a really impressive run to win a championship and there is only one winner each year. In fact, there are only 3 active College coaches with a national championship

But as long as Heupel is the coach we will be in contention for a playoff spot every year and be in the conversation. I'll take that. Of course I'd like to win a national championship but there is plenty to be proud of even if we fall short of that.

 

[jordanthegimp]

The consensus opinion of JH by people who don't see the world through orange glasses is he's a good coach, better than what we've had, but will never compete for championships and never move ahead of the elite teams. He's now 2-3 against AL, 0-5 against GA (2-2 against FL). And hasn't played for a championship. What say you?

Every week regardless of result you guys post the same thing- At this point I’m convinced you use Chat GPT to reword/ present just slightly different. I can’t wait to see what gets posted if Vitello actually leaves.

 

[airvols]

I don’t want to fire the head coach, just a few of the other coaches. The offense misses Alex Golich, the defense has never been great, need a defensive back coach badly. Defensive coordinator needs to find another job.

 

[vol94]

Last years defense wasn't even that great we got torched against UGA and Ohio St. The schedule was just easier last year.

Next yr schedule will be brutal; 8-4 season??

 

[jbr82]

That’s the TN way. Ride with mediocre

All the way to the TaxSlayer bowl

 

[vol94]

We need to make some staff changes in the off season and get some defensive players in the portal

Need elite corners, safety and LB

 

[jbr82]

Next yr schedule will be brutal; 8-4 season??

With the extra sec game it gets tougher. I don’t see this staff being a championship staff.

 

[volbound1700]

Heupel will win about 8 games a year from here on out. Gonna be tougher next year

Schedule-wise, 2026 might be our best chance as we have most the tough games in Neyland and we don't play Florida or Georgia. However, not sure what kind of team Tennessee will have. Here is the 2026 SEC Schedule:

2026 SEC Opponents
Home (5): Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Texas
Away (4): Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Texas A&M is the only daunting road game (i.e. opponent that will be ranked) although Arkansas and South Carlina could be tricky.

 

[Go47]

I thought we'd beat AL or GA. And I thought we'd be able to tackle.

If I am honest, I went into the season thinking would lose to UGA, Bama, either Oklahoma or Arkansas and UF. I thought we would be 8-4.

We have lost to UGA and Bama. We beat ARKY. Oklahoma and UF remain to be seen. We are a different team at home . . . So I think we beat Oklahoma and lose UF. I think the Vandy game and Oklahoma game are 50/50 with us having a slight nod as they are played at home. I have no belief we beat Florida in the swamp. I fully expect:

1. Pre-snap / drive killing penalties
2. Poor defense
3. A tight game that UF finds a way to win as we find ways to lose (our usual modus operandi in reps games

I think we end up 9-3 or 8-4 is we lose to Oklahoma or Vandy.

 

[Go47]

Schedule-wise, 2026 might be our best chance as we have most the tough games in Neyland and we don't play Florida or Georgia. However, not sure what kind of team Tennessee will have. Here is the 2026 SEC Schedule:

2026 SEC Opponents
Home (5): Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Texas
Away (4): Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt

Texas A&M is the only daunting road game (i.e. opponent that will be ranked) although Arkansas and South Carlina could be tricky.

Agree . However, until we don’t look like hot garbage in SEC road games . . . Any good to decent road team in conference can beat us.

 

[a vol n tears]

Not sure he will win a championship. But the landscape of college football is so different with NIL in the CFP era. It takes a really impressive run to win a championship and there is only one winner each year. In fact, there are only 3 active College coaches with a national championship

But as long as Heupel is the coach we will be in contention for a playoff spot every year and be in the conversation. I'll take that. Of course I'd like to win a national championship but there is plenty to be proud of even if we fall short of that.

Agree with what your saying. However when they go to 16 teams, it is not a huge deal to finish in the top 16 ranked teams. And with so much money coming to the playoff teams, more schools are going to put money into their programs.
Man I loved the old days when conference championships meant everything, but a New Year’s Day bowl was soothing. Now fans don’t care unless you win the NC.

Hey, if Heupel goes 7-5 maybe Danny White won’t raise ticket prices or add anything to the cost.

 

[VFL28]

I think he's a solid coach, but not in the elite category. He needs to make some changes to the staff this off-season.

 

[jbr82]

I think he's a solid coach, but not in the elite category. He needs to make some changes to the staff this off-season.

That’s what serious about championship type coaches would do imo, we will see how he handles it going into yr 6. May have to get better players here and there as well.

 

[Dirtyhairies]

The consensus opinion of JH by people who don't see the world through orange glasses is he's a good coach, better than what we've had, but will never compete for championships and never move ahead of the elite teams. He's now 2-3 against AL, 0-5 against GA (2-2 against FL). And hasn't played for a championship. What say you?

Oh good Lord stop it. Thats not the consensus. We got whooped tonight. We aren't that great this year. Plenty of people on here are ready to wheel out the guillotines, meanwhile the consensus outside of the orange tinted glasses is that Josh is more than likely an elite coach.

Yea tonight sucked. No, he isnt Nick Saban. Next question.

 

[bpalmer28]

Not a good time to ask the question.

 

[vavolfan6]

Agree with what your saying. However when they go to 16 teams, it is not a huge deal to finish in the top 16 ranked teams. And with so much money coming to the playoff teams, more schools are going to put money into their programs.
Man I loved the old days when conference championships meant everything, but a New Year’s Day bowl was soothing. Now fans don’t care unless you win the NC.

Hey, if Heupel goes 7-5 maybe Danny White won’t raise ticket prices or add anything to the cost.

I think fanbases are still adjusting their expectations. I think eventually the CFP will become similar to March Madness where teams are honored to be a semifinal team or make the tourney, etc. Still something to celebrate and be a part of.

Conference Championships still have meaning though. But their full meaning is still being understood in light of the CFP. Just like being the SEC champ in baseball and basketball have some meaning as well.

 

[Go47]

CJH’s trajectory beyond year 5 will hinge on:

1. Taking the next step in recruiting . . . Especially on the defensive side of the ball. We need better players at all three levels on defense. Personally, I think Banks is not the answer . . . But regardless . . . CJH needs a better / more consistent defense. Safety and LB play are especially in need of serious improvement. Tackling seems especially bad.

2. QB play - Nico didn’t work out. He needs to hit on a QB. His teams have proven they don’t need elite talent at running back to run it well. But he needs to find a great QB.

3. Showing he can coach a team to look prepared to win on the road / while shedding this trend of looking like a poorly coached team with penalties / turnovers / lack of play making in road games against good teams.

I personally don’t believe things tend to stay the same. I think he will trend up in the above areas . . . And be in the hunt for championships OR the 8-9 wins will turn into 7-8 wins or worse with losses to teams beyond the usual (UGA, Bama, UF) and the yearly “how did we lose to that team” which in all honesty, predates CJH.

His big issue is his teams play poorly on the road and look undisciplined . . . Over and over again. He got away with it against Mississippi State. Bama handed his rear to him.

 

[Vol865]

If you went into this season expecting a CFP run, you're delusional.

 

[Volfrombirth1965]

The consensus opinion of JH by people who don't see the world through orange glasses is he's a good coach, better than what we've had, but will never compete for championships and never move ahead of the elite teams. He's now 2-3 against AL, 0-5 against GA (2-2 against FL). And hasn't played for a championship. What say you?

Can I buy your tickets?

 

[TNHopeful505]

Again, just a reminder, as of right now, our recruiting class for 2026 is ranked #8 in the country, which is the best its' been since he's been here. We have the #1 QB, the #1 WR, and we are positioned in the lead spot for the #1 RB in the class of 2027 (who there's been talk of potentially reclassifying to 2026).

We have beaten Bama 2 of the last 4 years, and the most prominent SEC team of the past 4 years, we literally came within inches of beating this year (and should have).

I don't know if Heup will ever win a championship or not. But, look at the list of those who have since our last one:

Bobby Bowden (retired)
Bob Stoops (retired)
Larry Coker (retired)
Jim Tressell (retired)
Pete Carroll (not coaching college)
Nick Saban (retired)
Mack Brown (fired, not coaching)
Urban Meyer (not coaching)
Les Miles (not coaching)
Gene Chizik (not coaching)
Jimbo Fisher (not coaching)
Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
Ed Orgeron (not coaching)
Kirby Smart (Georgia)
Jim Harbaugh (not coaching college)
Ryan Day (Ohio State)

So, literally, since 1998, 16 coaches have won 26 National Championships. And of those coaches, only 3 of them are still coaching today in college.

It is incredibly difficult to win a National Championship, and it was BEFORE NIL and the transfer portal came along. We will never see another Saban type dynasty. Ever.

Yes, National Championships are the goal. Of course. But only one team will win it each year. An undefeated season is going to be very rare in this league going forward.

 

[JackWhite]

The Hype is an 8-4/9-3 coach with an occasional 10-2 season. Thats his ceiling.

This is true. Anyone that disagrees with it has oranged color glasses on.

I like Huep, but we’ll need another coach in a few years.

 

[BP4Prez]

The Hype is an 8-4/9-3 coach with an occasional 10-2 season. Thats his ceiling.

He's won 10 at a 50% clip during his time here so far. That’s literally everyone’s ceiling not named Kirby Smart/Ryan Day (probably Kirby’s going forward in this conference in the NIL era).