The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel released their annual top 25 coaches in college football earlier this week with Tennessee’s Josh Heupel landing on both lists.
Tennessee is coming off of Heupel’s third season as its head coach and the offensive guru boasts a 27-12 (14-10 SEC) in his time in Knoxville.
Feldman ranks Heupel as the nation’s 17th best coach, up from No. 22 last season, which ranks sixth amongst SEC coaches, coming in behind No. 1 Kirby Smart, No. 4 Kalen DeBoer, No. 6 Brian Kelly, No. 11 Steve Sarkisian and No. 14 Mark Stoops.
“The Vols had been a punch line for a long time before Heupel came in from UCF,” Feldman wrote. “On the strength of his big-play offense, Tennessee went 11-2 in 2022, smashing LSU in Baton Rouge and then taking down Alabama the following week. Amazing turnaround job. With Hendon Hooker gone, UT fell back a little last year, going 9-4, but they didn’t fall apart. He has proven to be a superb hire.”
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Mandel isn’t as high on Heupel as Feldman is but still has the Vols’ head coach in his top 25. Heupel comes in at No. 24 on his list, dropping six-spots from No. 18 a season ago.
Heupel is the seventh highest rated SEC coach on Mandel’s list, coming in behind No. 1 Kirby Smart, No. 3 Kalen DeBoer, No. 6 Brian Kelly, No. 11 Lane Kiffin, No. 13 Steve Sarkisian and No. 22 Mark Stoops.
“The Vols slipped back a bit from their breakout 11-2 campaign in Heupel’s second season but still finished 9-4 and a top 20 ranking,” Mandel wrote. “Heupel has produced four Top 25 teams in six seasons as a head coach (three at UCF, three at Tennessee). For some perspective: He is a modest 14-10 in SEC play during his time in Knoxville.”
2 Responses
He deserves more credit than they can stand to give him
..see ya on Hupeville…lol
Mandell is complete idiot. What else needs said.