A tumultuous cycle within Tennessee football has culminated in a coaching search characterized by chaos and substantial fallout, leading to the dismissals of both the head coach and athletic director. The program has seen a continuous shuffle of coaching personnel, while also grappling with NCAA investigations and diminished scholarship opportunities.
Incidents like a mustard bottle being hurled onto the field at Neyland Stadium or a close call involving a golf ball aimed at Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin encapsulate the turbulence of Tennessee’s coaching history. Kiffin’s brief tenure of one year gave way to a staggering roster of seven coaches, including two interim leaders, following the firing of Philip Fulmer in 2008.
As the competition heats up, No. 6 Ohio State—aiming for its first national championship since 2014 and its inaugural title game appearance since 2020—will face off against seventh-ranked Tennessee, who last claimed a national title in 1998. The Volunteers have been the subject of many jests over the years as they grappled with a struggle for relevance.
This chapter officially unfolds on December 21, when ninth-seeded Tennessee takes on No. 8 seed Ohio State in the opening round of the newly restructured College Football Playoff. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Rose Bowl, meeting top-ranked Oregon.
Cooper Mays, the center for the Vols, expressed pride in their achievements, stating, “We’ve done our job and gotten this place back to where it needs to be and where it’s supposed to be.” He emphasized the significance of being a contender in December and the playoffs.
Much of the credit for this resurgence goes to coach Josh Heupel, who in his fourth year at the helm has guided Tennessee to a rebound following a dismal 3-7 season in 2020, which concluded with the firing of then-coach Jeremy Pruitt and other key staff due to severe NCAA violations. The university agreed to scholarship reductions to ease penalties from the NCAA, resulting in Heupel starting his tenure with merely 65 scholarships.
The investigation by the NCAA wrapped up in the summer of 2023, revealing over 200 infractions, including 18 rated as Level I violations and around $60,000 dispensed to athletes and their families during Pruitt’s recruiting efforts.
Despite these challenges, Heupel has transformed the program, guiding the Volunteers to 30 wins since 2022, making it their most successful three-year period since 1998-2000. For Heupel, participating in the playoffs isn’t an end goal but rather part of an ongoing journey.
“You earn the right to be in a game like this,” Heupel noted, reflecting on the season’s progress. He expressed pride in the team’s achievements while acknowledging the need for preparation against formidable opponents.
Initially, Heupel was viewed as a remedial choice, brought in by newly appointed athletic director Danny White, who moved from Central Florida to revitalize the athletic program. Now, Heupel stands alongside Tennessee’s greats, being one of only three coaches in the program’s history to register multiple 10-win regular seasons within such a short timeframe.
The enthusiasm surrounding Tennessee football has surged, as Neyland Stadium sees a resurgence in attendance, with a waiting list for season tickets swelling beyond 20,000, further fueled by a planned ticket price increase for 2025 to retain top talent.
University officials have been vocal in their defense against NCAA inquiries regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation. Donde Plowman, the chancellor, has openly criticized the NCAA, labeling it a “failing” organization, supported by various state attorneys general in a legal challenge that secured a temporary injunction against the NCAA.
Winning has become contagious across Tennessee’s athletic landscape, with the men’s basketball team capturing the Southeastern Conference title and claiming the top national ranking, while the baseball team celebrated its inaugural national title. Furthermore, the newly appointed Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell has propelled the women’s basketball program back into the AP Top 25 after a coaching change.
However, football remains the heartbeat of the SEC, and the ardent fans of the Volunteers, who were pivotal in halting previous coaching searches, had hoped to host a home game this season. Unfortunately, losses to Arkansas and Georgia have altered their path.
With a history of significant struggles against powerhouse teams like Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, the prospect of playoff participation seemed remote. Yet, under Heupel’s leadership and with a legacy of his own as a quarterback, the Volunteers have managed to shift their trajectory. The future looks brighter for Tennessee football, and fans are eager to see what comes next.
