After the 2025 season, Josh Heupel, the head coach of the Tennessee Vols, intends to avoid being on the top 10 list.

Josh Heupel’s rise as a college football coach has been rapid, with his tenure at Tennessee marked by a clear commitment to restoring the Volunteers to prominence. Since taking over as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers in 2021, Heupel has quickly proven his ability to lead a high-powered offense that has brought excitement back to Knoxville. Under his guidance, Tennessee has shown significant improvement, both offensively and in terms of program culture. However, despite the success that Heupel and the Vols have experienced, he has recently stated that after the 2025 season, his goal is to avoid being on the “Top 10” list.

At first glance, this might seem like an odd statement, especially given the general consensus that coaches strive to lead their teams to the top rankings in college football. However, when you dig deeper into Heupel’s approach and philosophy, it becomes clear that there is a deeper rationale behind his desire to avoid being ranked among the top 10 in the country at a certain point in the future. This article explores the possible reasons for Heupel’s statement, the broader implications for Tennessee football, and how his long-term goals align with this unconventional ambition.

Heupel’s Leadership at Tennessee

Before understanding the context of Heupel’s statement, it’s important to look at where the Tennessee football program stands today under his leadership. When Heupel took over in 2021, the Vols were in a period of rebuilding. The team was coming off of a tumultuous tenure under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, which involved NCAA investigations and several off-field distractions. The expectations were low, and Tennessee was largely viewed as a team in transition.

However, Heupel’s arrival brought a breath of fresh air to the program. Known for his up-tempo, high-scoring offensive system, Heupel quickly made his mark. In his first season (2021), the Vols had a solid 7-6 record, including a victory in the Music City Bowl, signaling that the program was headed in the right direction.

By 2022, Tennessee was able to reach greater heights. The Vols posted an impressive 11-2 record, including a thrilling win over Alabama that helped them reach No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in over two decades. Quarterback Hendon Hooker emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate, and the offense, led by Heupel’s innovative scheme, became one of the most explosive in college football. It was clear that Heupel’s vision was starting to pay dividends.

Tennessee’s success in the 2022 season demonstrated that Heupel’s offensive philosophy, which focuses on tempo, spacing, and exploiting matchups, can work effectively at a high level. As Heupel looks to continue building the program, his efforts have shifted from just creating a competitive team to positioning Tennessee among the elite programs in college football.

The Meaning of “Avoiding the Top 10 List”

At first glance, Heupel’s statement about avoiding the “Top 10 list” may seem paradoxical. Coaches generally strive for their programs to be ranked among the top teams in the nation, particularly with the prestige and recruiting benefits that come with a top ranking. After all, being ranked in the top 10 puts a program in the national spotlight, garners respect, and increases exposure. Coaches like Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, and Kirby Smart are often celebrated for their ability to keep their programs consistently near the top of the rankings.

However, Heupel’s remark can be viewed in a different light when considering the current state of college football and the nature of rankings. As Heupel navigates Tennessee through the upcoming seasons, it’s possible that his goal is not necessarily to avoid achieving success, but rather to understand that rankings alone do not define the ultimate success of a program. Here are a few reasons why he might feel this way:

1. Sustaining Long-Term Success Over Short-Term Glory

One of the potential reasons Heupel might avoid striving for a “Top 10” ranking after 2025 is to emphasize long-term stability and sustainability over short-term success. College football programs are under constant pressure to win now, but that pressure often leads to short-term thinking and decisions that may not be in the best interest of long-term success.

In the era of the College Football Playoff (CFP), rankings can fluctuate wildly throughout the season based on a variety of factors, such as upsets, injuries, and team performance. Heupel might view being overly fixated on being ranked among the top 10 teams as a distraction from building a sustainable and consistent program. Instead, Heupel could prioritize the development of players, team chemistry, recruiting pipelines, and long-term success over fleeting rankings that often result from a single season’s performance.

By stepping back from the obsession with immediate rankings, Heupel could aim to create a program that will remain competitive year after year, regardless of how rankings evolve. The success of a program shouldn’t be solely defined by where it stands on the weekly polls, but rather by the long-term culture and development that results in a consistent level of excellence. Heupel’s goal may be to focus on creating a program that can achieve sustained success, even if it means not always being at the top of the rankings.

2. The Paradox of “Top 10” Ranking Pressure

Being in the top 10 of the College Football rankings often brings with it a tremendous amount of pressure. Programs that enter the season ranked highly are expected to maintain that ranking throughout the year. For teams like Tennessee, who have been historically overshadowed by other SEC powerhouses, the expectations can become even more daunting.

For Heupel, maintaining a top 10 ranking may come with unnecessary pressure that diverts attention away from the program’s growth. While it’s always beneficial to be viewed as a top-tier team, the constant stress of meeting high expectations can distract from the core goal: building a balanced and well-rounded program that is competitive in the SEC and on the national stage. Heupel could see the “Top 10” ranking as an added weight that may not serve his broader goals, particularly if the team is unable to meet those expectations consistently.

The pressures of being in the top 10 are not just confined to the coaches; they also extend to the players, the fan base, and the overall program. Heupel might recognize that there is value in growing the program gradually and avoiding the psychological toll of trying to maintain a ranking that doesn’t necessarily correlate with sustainable success.

3. The Unpredictability of College Football Playoff Rankings

The College Football Playoff rankings, which ultimately determine the four teams competing for the national championship, have introduced a new layer of unpredictability in college football. The committee, which votes on the rankings, considers a variety of factors when determining which teams are deserving of a playoff spot. While a top 10 ranking is undoubtedly a positive, it does not guarantee a spot in the playoff or even a berth in a major bowl game.

As the landscape of college football continues to evolve, Heupel might see the importance of focusing on how his team plays on the field rather than how they are ranked. The emphasis on the CFP rankings has shifted college football from a system where conference championships and win-loss records carried the most weight to a system where strength of schedule, margin of victory, and brand recognition sometimes dominate.

By not focusing too heavily on being ranked in the top 10, Heupel can better focus on what truly matters: improving his team’s performance in key games, winning conference titles, and positioning Tennessee to be in a position to qualify for the playoff regardless of where they fall in the rankings.

4. Recruiting and Program Growth Beyond Rankings

Another possible reason behind Heupel’s desire to avoid being overly concerned with being ranked in the top 10 is his recognition of the evolving dynamics of college football recruiting. In today’s game, recruiting is just as much about building relationships and maintaining consistency as it is about rankings and on-field success.

Heupel understands that the future success of Tennessee football depends on recruiting talent at a high level. Whether or not Tennessee is ranked in the top 10 does not always correlate with the ability to attract top-tier recruits. The focus on recruiting—building a pipeline of talented, committed players—can often be a more effective way to ensure future success than striving to maintain a certain ranking.

By moving away from the pressure of being consistently ranked in the top 10, Heupel may have the flexibility to focus on building a program with the right culture, ensuring the long-term success of Tennessee football. The ability to recruit players who fit the program’s style, who are motivated to contribute to the team’s success, and who value the development process over immediate rewards is a critical piece of Heupel’s strategy.