Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel finds himself surprisingly low on a list he very clearly should be much higher on

In the high-stakes world of college football, recognition is both a currency and a controversy. Coaches live and breathe by it—used to justify multimillion-dollar extensions, rally fanbases, and bolster recruiting pitches. And yet, every offseason, new rankings emerge that leave even the most loyal fanbases scratching their heads. This summer, one of the more surprising omissions—or rather, underestimations—comes at the expense of Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel.

On a recently released list ranking the top college football head coaches heading into the 2025 season, Heupel’s name was buried far deeper than expected. While names like Kirby Smart, Nick Saban (still included despite his retirement), and Jim Harbaugh predictably topped the chart, Heupel was staggeringly listed outside the top 15. To those who haven’t been paying attention, it may not ring alarm bells. But to those who have seen Heupel’s transformative impact in Knoxville, it’s a glaring slight.

The list, published by a prominent national outlet, sought to rank coaches based on a combination of career achievements, recent success, recruiting performance, and trajectory moving forward. Heupel, who has engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent SEC memory, was ranked behind coaches with less impressive résumés, fewer signature wins, and in some cases, only one good season to their names. For Tennessee fans—and many in the wider college football community—it raises an uncomfortable question: what more does Josh Heupel have to do?

When Heupel arrived at Tennessee in 2021, the program was in turmoil. The Volunteers had just endured a scandal-plagued exit from the Jeremy Pruitt era, facing looming NCAA sanctions, a gutted roster, and low national expectations. Into this chaos walked Heupel, a former national champion quarterback at Oklahoma and a proven offensive mind who had revived UCF’s program with an up-tempo, high-octane attack.

In just his second season, Heupel took a 7-6 Tennessee squad and turned it into an 11-2 powerhouse that toppled Alabama for the first time since 2006. The 2022 Vols became the darlings of college football with a fireworks show of an offense, led by quarterback Hendon Hooker, Biletnikoff-winning wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, and a system that averaged over 40 points per game. The 52-49 victory over Alabama in Knoxville wasn’t just a win—it was a statement, punctuated by the tearing down of goalposts and a campus celebration for the ages.

That season, Tennessee finished ranked No. 6 in the nation and beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl. By any metric—recruiting uptick, player development, scheme success, national relevance—Heupel had restored Tennessee to the upper tier of college football faster than almost anyone thought possible. And yet, a couple of years later, his name appears buried behind others who have accomplished far less

It begs the question: how are these rankings determined? If recent success and upward momentum are key factors, Heupel should be among the top ten without much debate. Only a few coaches in America have posted a double-digit win season, developed a Heisman candidate, produced first-round NFL talent, and elevated a blueblood program back to national relevance—all within their first three years. Heupel checks every one of those boxes.

Moreover, his offensive system has become the envy of college football. Defensive coordinators have struggled to keep up with the Vols’ lightning-fast pace, wide splits, and deceptive play action. Heupel’s offense not only puts points on the board, but it develops talent—fast. Look at how quickly Hooker went from Virginia Tech transfer to Heisman contender, or how Hyatt exploded from relative unknown to NFL Draft darling.

Recruiting-wise, Heupel has made major inroads, pulling in back-to-back top-15 classes and flipping key recruits from rival programs. The 2024 class, headlined by five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, shows Heupel isn’t just an offensive mastermind—he’s a program builder with staying power.

So how, exactly, does a coach with this résumé find himself outside the top 15?

The answer may lie in a combination of legacy bias and recency optics. Some coaches included ahead of Heupel have name-brand cachet—longer careers, national title appearances, or big-program pedigree. Others may have one breakout season, but benefit from current hype or media fascination. Meanwhile, Heupel operates in a uniquely tough conference, where even a 9-4 record in 2023 (viewed as a “down” year) still included a Citrus Bowl win and competitive play despite injuries and roster turnover.

Part of the issue may be Tennessee’s recent history. Before Heupel’s arrival, the Vols had cycled through coaches with regularity—Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, Pruitt—and never found sustainable success. It’s possible that national media still views Tennessee through that lens, hesitant to fully buy in even after two strong seasons.

Another factor is perhaps stylistic. Heupel’s scheme, while highly effective, isn’t traditional. It’s aggressive, risky, and fast-paced—traits often (wrongly) associated with gimmick offenses. That perception ignores the complexity of his system and the level of discipline it requires to run effectively. It also downplays his adaptability; Heupel’s 2023 team, for instance, leaned more on defense and the run game due to quarterback growing pains, and still found success.

Then there’s the SEC East itself—long dominated by Georgia, with Florida, South Carolina, and Kentucky always lurking. Unlike coaches in weaker conferences who can rack up wins, Heupel’s path is gauntlet-lined. Beating Alabama and LSU, competing against Kirby Smart’s juggernaut, and still finishing with 10+ wins is an achievement that should enhance his standing, not diminish it.

Heupel’s placement on this list is more than just an offseason snub—it’s a reflection of how the narrative around Tennessee is still catching up to reality. His Vols are no longer a rebuilding project. They are a legitimate SEC force with the infrastructure, talent, and coaching to challenge for playoff appearances.

Consider this: in just three years, Heupel has reshaped Tennessee into a modern powerhouse. Recruiting is surging. Facilities are improving. NIL infrastructure is among the nation’s best. And perhaps most importantly, the Vols now expect to win. That cultural shift—the belief that beating Alabama is possible, that 11 wins isn’t a miracle but a goal—is among Heupel’s greatest achievements.

The idea that such a coach belongs outside the top 15 in the nation is not only inaccurate—it’s insulting.

As the 2025 season approaches, Heupel has a chance to rewrite the narrative once more. With Iamaleava taking full control under center, an experienced offensive line, and a defense that showed major strides last season, Tennessee has the pieces in place to make another national push.

A road trip to Oklahoma—Heupel’s alma mater—will be circled on every college football calendar. Conference battles with Georgia, Alabama, and Texas will again serve as litmus tests. But if history is any guide, Heupel’s teams don’t back down from the spotlight—they embrace it.

If Tennessee surges again this fall, any list not placing Heupel among the game’s elite will be impossible to defend. Until then, this snub may serve as the kind of motivation he and his team thrive on.

Rankings are subjective by nature. But they also shape perception and influence everything from media narratives to recruiting battles. And in this case, they’ve badly missed the mark. Josh Heupel has proven, time and again, that he is not just a good coach—he is one of the best in college football today.

Tennessee’s resurgence isn’t a fluke. It’s a product of vision, leadership, and relentless execution. Heupel’s fingerprints are all over the Vols’ climb back to national relevance, and to downplay that is to ignore one of the sport’s best stories.

Whether the rest of the college football world catches up remains to be seen. But in Knoxville, there’s no doubt: Josh Heupel deserves better.