Heupel could be "the" guy.

[LittleVol]

We all want him to be the guy- for the sake of him be our current Coach. But looking at his track record while at Tennessee...
- after the 2022 Georgia loss Tennessee could have went into a spiral because our offense was figured out. Even though that was our best year, teams had begun to be able to defend us.

How good would we have been in 2025 had we had the 37th best defense instead of 97th? That fell on Heupel too, but he did make the tough call to get rid of DC that helped him to a College Football playoff and an overall positive stable situation at Tennessee. That was hard.

In 2026 our offense and defense are completely different from just a recent as 2024.

Heupel is slowly getting better as a HC and his offensive play calling is also improving. He's adaptable with playcalling and he's learned that defense is truly important so much that he knows how to help it and lean on it.

I think Tennessee makes the College Football Playoffs in 2026 and Heupel beats UGA this season. He's 0-5 against Kirby but I still see Heupel growing as a coach and I like his progress. Everywhere you look Heupel is active with his touch on every part of the program.

I think Tennessee is very very close to being a Top 5 perineal team in college football. And it's because of Heupel..Who was a 6-6 coach the year of 2020 at UCF.

He's done what Dooley, Butch, Pruitt could never do. Improve.

 

[vol94]

We all want him to be the guy- for the sake of him be our current Coach. But looking at his track record while at Tennessee...
- after the 2022 Georgia loss Tennessee could have went into a spiral because our offense was figured out. Even though that was our best year, teams had begun to be able to defend us.

How good would we have been in 2025 had we had the 37th best defense instead of 97th? That fell on Heupel too, but he did make the tough call to get rid of DC that helped him to a College Football playoff and an overall positive stable situation at Tennessee. That was hard.

In 2026 our offense and defense are completely different from just a recent as 2024.

Heupel is slowly getting better as a HC and his offensive play calling is also improving. He's adaptable with playcalling and he's learned that defense is truly important so much that he knows how to help it and lean on it.

I think Tennessee makes the College Football Playoffs in 2026 and Heupel beats UGA this season. He's 0-5 against Kirby but I still see Heupel growing as a coach and I like his progress. Everywhere you look Heupel is active with his touch on every part of the program.

I think Tennessee is very very close to being a Top 5 perineal team in college football. And it's because of Heupel..Who was a 6-6 coach the year of 2020 at UCF.

He's done what Dooley, Butch, Pruitt could never do. Improve.

Beat GA in playoffs? We don’t play GA in regular season.

I hope he can get us to the promise land but it won’t be this yr.

Texas, aTm, LSU, Auburn, and USC Jr will be tough games. Not to mention we struggle v. Arkansas and Vandy pounded us last season.

 

[MemphisVolFan1978]

If we beat Georgia this year it will have to be in the SEC championship game or the playoffs. Either way, I hope you are right.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

Last years team underperformed at key moments and play calling was part of that.
They had no business losing that GA game. We got a turnover late in the 3rd qtr deep in GA territory already having a lead. Score a TD there and the game could have been over.
What did Heupel call in that key moment of a huge game? 3 straight runs up the middle and settled for a FG.

Or end of the game at Miss St when we had 2 timeouts left and just needed to get into FG range to have a chance to win the game.
What did Heupel do? Didn’t use a single timeout, let time run out and had to go to OT to sneak out a win.

Then of course there is the final game of last year where they got embarrassed at home against Vandy.
Pathetic.

We are likely looking at another 8-4 season at best this year. No experience at QB, thin and undersized on D-line. 9 conf game schedule. 8 games before a bye week.
A 7-5 season is possible.

We are nowhere near where we would expect to be at this point with Heupel.

I will say, if Brandon starts this year and is as good as we hope he is, and we land DGG, next year and the year after could look pretty good.

 

[OffTackleVol]

Last years team underperformed at key moments and play calling was part of that.
They had no business losing that GA game. We got a turnover late in the 3rd qtr deep in GA territory already having a lead. Score a TD there and the game could have been over.
What did Heupel call in that key moment of a huge game? 3 straight runs up the middle and settled for a FG.

Or end of the game at Miss St when we had 2 timeouts left and just needed to get into FG range to have a chance to win the game.
What did Heupel do? Didn’t use a single timeout, let time run out and had to go to OT to sneak out a win.

Then of course there is the final game of last year where they got embarrassed at home against Vandy.
Pathetic.

We are likely looking at another 8-4 season at best this year. No experience at QB, thin and undersized on D-line. 9 conf game schedule. 8 games before a bye week.
A 7-5 season is possible.

We are nowhere near where we would expect to be at this point with Heupel.

I will say, if Brandon starts this year and is as good as we hope he is, and we land DGG, next year and the year after could look pretty good.

"8-4 at best this year" LMAO.........

 

[PACKERVOL]

That's with conservative spending as opposed to Texas, LSU, TA&M, OHIO St., ect. Word is, we're going to hit the portal like never before this January. Portal ranking better be, at least, in the top 3 with where we're ranked in HS recruiting.

 

[SubVet676]

Last years team underperformed at key moments and play calling was part of that.
They had no business losing that GA game. We got a turnover late in the 3rd qtr deep in GA territory already having a lead. Score a TD there and the game could have been over.
What did Heupel call in that key moment of a huge game? 3 straight runs up the middle and settled for a FG.

Or end of the game at Miss St when we had 2 timeouts left and just needed to get into FG range to have a chance to win the game.
What did Heupel do? Didn’t use a single timeout, let time run out and had to go to OT to sneak out a win.

Then of course there is the final game of last year where they got embarrassed at home against Vandy.
Pathetic.

We are likely looking at another 8-4 season at best this year. No experience at QB, thin and undersized on D-line. 9 conf game schedule. 8 games before a bye week.
A 7-5 season is possible.

We are nowhere near where we would expect to be at this point with Heupel.

I will say, if Brandon starts this year and is as good as we hope he is, and we land DGG, next year and the year after could look pretty good.

Can't dispute those facts, and the SEC is a tougher row to hoe now, but...

Knowles, Owings, Ranvier. Three solid upgrades over what we had last year.

Lines should be solid, if thin, and the trenches are where the game is won. Solid at LB. Secondary should be better. QB is a ?, but RB, TE, and WR positions are likewise solid.

I'll go with 8-4, but it won't take much to get to 10-2, and that just might be enough to get us to the dance. Or, it could be 7-5. Maybe even 6-6. Who knows?

Yes, Heupel needs to "find a pair" in those close games. But if he does, I like our chances this year, and especially next if we can keep what we have in the fold.

One thing is almost certain: the 2026 season is going to be interesting to watch unfold.

Go Vols.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

"8-4 at best this year" LMAO.........

Go back and look at this post at the end of the year. I’ll be shocked if we do better than 8-4 mainly due to lack of any experience at QB. I would love to be wrong but I don’t see it

 

[OffTackleVol]

Go back and look at this post at the end of the year. I’ll be shocked if we do better than 8-4 mainly due to lack of any experience at QB. I would love to be wrong but I don’t see it

Well, I hope you're wrong as well! 8-4 would be disappointing but far away from being "the best" we can do.

 

[stolitonic]

We will NOT be going to the playoffs this year.

Anyone with that delusion needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and turn the sunshine pumping down a bit

First year starting QB most likely a true freshman, new system on D, and a bunch of question marks.

This year is going to be the year of pain that we SHOULD have just bit the bullet on last year after Nico bailed As things were, we tried to salvage the season and just kicked the van down the road a year

 

[UTFranklinVol]

I'm not a betting man but if I were I would bet heavily against the Vols making the playoff for one and only one reason, a brand new freshman QB is NOT getting us to the playoff.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

I'll have what the OP's having!


Go Vols!

 

[SubVet676]

We will NOT be going to the playoffs this year.

Anyone with that delusion needs to take a long hard look in the mirror and turn the sunshine pumping down a bit

First year starting QB most likely a true freshman, new system on D, and a bunch of question marks.

This year is going to be the year of pain that we SHOULD have just bit the bullet on last year after Nico bailed As things were, we tried to salvage the season and just kicked the van down the road a year

You're a solid poster, but I'm going to disagree with you here, on that one point.

Aguilar was a gamer. Definite upgrade over he-who-shall-not-be-named. Yes, he made his mistakes, but he was a solid QB, and with a Top 50 defense and a reliable FG kicker...as opposed to what we had...this team does no worse than 10-2, with a win over UGA.

Good enough to get to the dance.

UT underachieved last year, and that fell squarely at the feet of Tim Banks, Schmidt, and a head-case FG kicker. All three issues have been addressed.

What does that mean for '26? No idea. Maybe another 8-4 year. Maybe 7-5. Maybe 6-6. But maybe 9-3, or 10-2. At this point, everything is a guess.

Playoffs? Probably not. But I'd take this team's chances over last year's team by a country mile.

If nothing else, I think the '26 Vols will be a tough out. And that's what it's going to take to win in the new SEC.

Go Vols.

 

[TAF]

They had no business losing that GA game. We got a turnover late in the 3rd qtr deep in GA territory already having a lead. Score a TD there and the game could have been over.
What did Heupel call in that key moment of a huge game? 3 straight runs up the middle and settled for a FG.

SO much TRUTH here!

I HOPE he learned a lesson here.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

We all want him to be the guy- for the sake of him be our current Coach. But looking at his track record while at Tennessee...
- after the 2022 Georgia loss Tennessee could have went into a spiral because our offense was figured out. Even though that was our best year, teams had begun to be able to defend us.

How good would we have been in 2025 had we had the 37th best defense instead of 97th? That fell on Heupel too, but he did make the tough call to get rid of DC that helped him to a College Football playoff and an overall positive stable situation at Tennessee. That was hard.

In 2026 our offense and defense are completely different from just a recent as 2024.

Heupel is slowly getting better as a HC and his offensive play calling is also improving. He's adaptable with playcalling and he's learned that defense is truly important so much that he knows how to help it and lean on it.

I think Tennessee makes the College Football Playoffs in 2026 and Heupel beats UGA this season. He's 0-5 against Kirby but I still see Heupel growing as a coach and I like his progress. Everywhere you look Heupel is active with his touch on every part of the program.

I think Tennessee is very very close to being a Top 5 perineal team in college football. And it's because of Heupel..Who was a 6-6 coach the year of 2020 at UCF.

He's done what Dooley, Butch, Pruitt could never do. Improve.

I think Heupel is good, not great. He will need great coordinators around him. He also should have fired banks a long time ago

 

[Brave Volunteer]

That's with conservative spending as opposed to Texas, LSU, TA&M, OHIO St., ect. Word is, we're going to hit the portal like never before this January. Portal ranking better be, at least, in the top 3 with where we're ranked in HS recruiting.

If we can secure DGG and then get a great haul in the portal, I wont care about our high school recruiting ranking so much.

 

[livefaith]

We all want him to be the guy- for the sake of him be our current Coach. But looking at his track record while at Tennessee...
- after the 2022 Georgia loss Tennessee could have went into a spiral because our offense was figured out. Even though that was our best year, teams had begun to be able to defend us.

How good would we have been in 2025 had we had the 37th best defense instead of 97th? That fell on Heupel too, but he did make the tough call to get rid of DC that helped him to a College Football playoff and an overall positive stable situation at Tennessee. That was hard.

In 2026 our offense and defense are completely different from just a recent as 2024.

Heupel is slowly getting better as a HC and his offensive play calling is also improving. He's adaptable with playcalling and he's learned that defense is truly important so much that he knows how to help it and lean on it.

I think Tennessee makes the College Football Playoffs in 2026 and Heupel beats UGA this season. He's 0-5 against Kirby but I still see Heupel growing as a coach and I like his progress. Everywhere you look Heupel is active with his touch on every part of the program.

I think Tennessee is very very close to being a Top 5 perineal team in college football. And it's because of Heupel..Who was a 6-6 coach the year of 2020 at UCF.

He's done what Dooley, Butch, Pruitt could never do. Improve.

I appreciate the KoolAid on a hot day. But what leads you to the expectation of 10-2 this year? Have you seen our schedule. Only 2 ways I see this are ... #1 DL stays healthy and over performs expectations. #2 One of our QBs shocks the world and gets in the corrupt Heisman convo. #3 Our defense solidified quickly picking up a new scheme.

 

[njvols]

That's with conservative spending as opposed to Texas, LSU, TA&M, OHIO St., ect. Word is, we're going to hit the portal like never before this January. Portal ranking better be, at least, in the top 3 with where we're ranked in HS recruiting.

I think you’re right….I also wonder if we are keeping some of our powder dry to make for sure we lock down the 5* TN RB…can’t remember his name.

 

[TNnative]

OK, I feel it is quite certain Josh Heupel IS, in fact, "a" guy.

But hopefully, he does prove in fact, he is "THE" guy.

BY the way, did you all hear about that kidnapping at that school?


It's cool. The little brat finally woke up.

 

[stolitonic]

You're a solid poster, but I'm going to disagree with you here, on that one point.

Aguilar was a gamer. Definite upgrade over he-who-shall-not-be-named. Yes, he made his mistakes, but he was a solid QB, and with a Top 50 defense and a reliable FG kicker...as opposed to what we had...this team does no worse than 10-2, with a win over UGA.

Good enough to get to the dance.

UT underachieved last year, and that fell squarely at the feet of Tim Banks, Schmidt, and a head-case FG kicker. All three issues have been addressed.

What does that mean for '26? No idea. Maybe another 8-4 year. Maybe 7-5. Maybe 6-6. But maybe 9-3, or 10-2. At this point, everything is a guess.

Playoffs? Probably not. But I'd take this team's chances over last year's team by a country mile.

If nothing else, I think the '26 Vols will be a tough out. And that's what it's going to take to win in the new SEC.

Go Vols.

I liked Joey. I really did.

There was no reason to keep playing him after a point though. Heupel seemed to have some maniacal obsession with getting him those 200 passing yards per game. That came at the expense of getting the other QBs on the roster reps in what was already a lost season.

Once we were out of playoff contention, it was time to at least give George or the guy who transferred out a shot. Who knows, maybe one of them stepped into the role in a big way and we would really have something on our hands this season.

Decisions have to be made in part for the future also. Would it have really mattered if we went 7-5 due to starting a green.QB the back half of last year instead of 8-4? Not really.

 

[AllVol11717]

I liked Joey. I really did.

There was no reason to keep playing him after a point though. Heupel seemed to have some maniacal obsession with getting him those 200 passing yards per game. That came at the expense of getting the other QBs on the roster reps in what was already a lost season.

Once we were out of playoff contention, it was time to at least give George or the guy who transferred out a shot. Who knows, maybe one of them stepped into the role in a big way and we would really have something on our hands this season.

Decisions have to be made in part for the future also. Would it have really mattered if we went 7-5 due to starting a green.QB the back half of last year instead of 8-4? Not really.

I think if you bench a QB who isn’t really underperforming then you risk seeing the whole team quit when they realize you’ve given up on the season as a whole. The Vandy game though was absolutely an example of Heupel just trying to keep that 200yd streak going and should have been a chance to let our potential QB of the future learn how to navigate playing from behind, since the season was effectively over at that point.

I was pretty vocal about the poor management of backup QB reps during the season. Merklinger never looked comfortable commanding the offense against lesser competition but was routinely taking snaps that would’ve been much more useful for Macintyre.

As a staff, they have to have seen Merklinger’s shortcomings in practice and known with Faizon coming in that his transfer was more than likely. Why you continue to invest valuable live action reps on getting Merklinger ready to start for UConn this year instead of Macintyre more prepared for us is poor roster management.

I’m pro-Heupel long term, but it’s clear he’s still learning the finer points of moving from being a really good coach to a great one, and it’s not an easy transition.

 

[cgbtn]

Can't dispute those facts, and the SEC is a tougher row to hoe now, but...

Knowles, Owings, Ranvier. Three solid upgrades over what we had last year.

Lines should be solid, if thin, and the trenches are where the game is won. Solid at LB. Secondary should be better. QB is a ?, but RB, TE, and WR positions are likewise solid.

I'll go with 8-4, but it won't take much to get to 10-2, and that just might be enough to get us to the dance. Or, it could be 7-5. Maybe even 6-6. Who knows?

Yes, Heupel needs to "find a pair" in those close games. But if he does, I like our chances this year, and especially next if we can keep what we have in the fold.

One thing is almost certain: the 2026 season is going to be interesting to watch unfold.

Go Vols.

Franklin got fired with Knowles as his DC, but Knowles is going to be cjh’s savior.

 

[SamDaisyDuke]

I appreciate the KoolAid on a hot day. But what leads you to the expectation of 10-2 this year? Have you seen our schedule. Only 2 ways I see this are ... #1 DL stays healthy and over performs expectations. #2 One of our QBs shocks the world and gets in the corrupt Heisman convo. #3 Our defense solidified quickly picking up a new scheme.

That’s 3 ways…..

 

[INDEFENSE]

I occasionally read about college coaches spending time with NFL coaches in the offseason. I truly hope CJH spends some time the next couple of years with the Bears and coach Ben Johnson. He is one of the best at play calling and using his entire arsenal to keep defenses off balance. It would give us a chance to lean in a little more to the NFL style offense while adding to our ability to disguise the plays and utilize the TE's more.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Think Heup is adaptable. The enemy changes, he will also change. Just get him enough Jimmies and Joes, which I think he will get. Despite the NIL tar pit the greedy schools and boosters created via long term self-centered exploitation of kids who finally reacted. Heup is the cooah we need to navigate this mess. There will be rickety trestle bridge to cross, steep inclines to ascend. The Heup locomotive will get i done.