What was our projection before this season?

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

I believe I had us at 9-3 with losses to GA, Bama, and the game we lose each year that we shouldn’t. This year that game was OK, which also knocked us out of the playoffs.

When exactly were we ever in the playoff, to even get "knocked" out? We lost to the two best teams we played in Georgia & Alabama. I don’t recall Tennessee ever being high enough in the conference standings to even be considered for a playoff spot before Oklahoma, which was yet another bad loss.

 

[DocVol]

I'll concede he has time management issues late in games and I would like to see him work with someone on that or hire a guru, but the rest of that assessment is way off. You don't go 45-18 in 5 seasons being an "atrocious coach at managing his players", especially considering the improvement from the record the previous 5 seasons of 29-31. It isn’t like Heupel has had greater talent either, he is just better at managing the team and getting the talent the players have to show up on the football field. Consider UT's 247's team talent composite rankings for 2016-2020 which produced the 29-31 record:

14th, 12th, 15th, 16th and 15th

And then UT's 247 team talent composite rankings that produced the 45-18 record:

19th, 19th, 16th, 17th and 16th

The difference in the record is Josh Heupel, and that sure as hell doesn't look like "incompetence" to me. I've seen the knuckleheads in our fanbase crater our program once in my lifetime and folks need to acquire some damn perspective fast or they will do it again.

I’ll buy some of this. But, not all. To lose the incompetence label, he has to correct the most basic things: game management and player development/management. Simply pointing out he is not the HOF coach (yet) that many apologists here think. He’s got things to clean up and it’s tiresome to see the SAME mistakes and shortfalls repeated over and over again. That’s the mark of incompetence—either you’re unwilling or unable to improve. Period.

 

[Rocky Top T]

So 10 is impossible?
DA

We were talking about Regular Season!

 

[jasonvol18]

You had your star RB and 2 first round quarterbacks along with your best 3 wrs leaving. Joey showed up in fall. We were lucky to get close to beating Georgia. If max kicks we have 1 loss

In year 5 you're supposed to be reloading, not rebuilding. Especially coming off a CFP season. That comes down to recruiting. All the elite teams lose tons and just keep on going. Not this staff. I get lost to GA and Ala, although we had GA beat..But losing to OU after completing dominating the entire 1st half is inexcusable. Just like we have no business losing to Vandy at home this year, but it's definitely possible.

 

[It's Vols or nothing!]

The win over Florida solidifies Huepel's job security for at least the next 2 years whether people like it or not!

 

[ftsandersvol]

When exactly were we ever in the playoff, to even get "knocked" out? We lost to the two best teams we played in Georgia & Alabama. I don’t recall Tennessee ever being high enough in the conference standings to even be considered for a playoff spot before Oklahoma, which was yet another bad loss.

Two losses still gave us a shot depending on what wacky things can happen, but no three-loss team is getting into the playoffs. Even ABC was advertising the TN/OK game as a playoff elimination game.

 

[Volanta]

I said 8-9 wins tops. Many on here said 10-11 wins, but you won't hear from them

I said 10-2 actually I think I said 12-0.