Paul Finebaum makes a strong statement on Josh Heupel, the head football coach of Tennessee, handling the 2025 schedule.
As the 2025 college football season approaches, all eyes are on the Tennessee Volunteers and their head coach, Josh Heupel. Known for his high-powered offense, Heupel has rejuvenated Tennessee’s football program and returned it to relevance after a period of uncertainty. After a successful 2024 campaign, expectations are soaring for what the Volunteers can accomplish in 2025. However, with an incredibly demanding schedule ahead, much of the attention has been on how Heupel will handle the challenges his team will face in the coming year.
Enter Paul Finebaum, the voice of college football for many fans, analysts, and pundits. Known for his no-nonsense opinions and candid takes, Finebaum has always been unafraid to make bold statements about the state of college football. When it comes to Tennessee’s 2025 schedule and Josh Heupel’s ability to navigate through it, Finebaum has been particularly outspoken. He believes this upcoming season will be one of the most pivotal in Tennessee’s football history and, in many ways, a defining moment for Heupel’s tenure as the head coach of the Volunteers.
In this article, we will explore Paul Finebaum’s statements on Josh Heupel, why the 2025 season is critical for Tennessee, and what factors make the upcoming schedule particularly challenging. Additionally, we’ll dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Heupel’s leadership, Tennessee’s roster, and the key moments that will determine whether or not the Vols can meet the lofty expectations ahead.
Paul Finebaum’s Strong Take on Josh Heupel
When Paul Finebaum speaks about college football, people listen. His platform on ESPN has made him one of the most influential voices in the sport, and his analysis carries significant weight. His recent comments about Josh Heupel have been particularly noteworthy as he discusses the upcoming 2025 season for Tennessee.
Finebaum has made it clear that while Heupel has made tremendous strides in rebuilding Tennessee’s program, the real test is how he handles the gauntlet of a schedule that awaits the Volunteers in 2025. According to Finebaum, Heupel has shown an ability to recruit top talent and has the offensive system in place to compete with the best teams in the country. However, the head coach’s ability to manage a challenging slate of games — particularly in the SEC — will ultimately determine his long-term success at Tennessee.
“Heupel is an excellent coach, and we’ve seen the strides Tennessee has made offensively under him,” Finebaum stated in a recent interview. “But the reality is that the 2025 schedule is brutal. The SEC is tougher than ever, and Josh Heupel has to prove that his team can go toe-to-toe with the big boys. It’s going to be a defining year for him.”
Finebaum is especially focused on Tennessee’s ability to handle the pressures of a schedule that includes conference heavyweights like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU, along with potential trap games against SEC foes. He believes that Tennessee’s success in 2025 will depend on how well Heupel prepares his players for those intense matchups, both physically and mentally.
Tennessee’s 2025 Schedule: A Gauntlet of Challenges
The 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the toughest in Tennessee’s recent history. As a program that has made significant strides under Heupel, the Volunteers will face a schedule loaded with tough opponents, both in and out of the SEC. While Heupel’s offensive scheme — which is centered around a high-tempo passing attack — has earned praise for its effectiveness, the reality is that the defense will also have to step up in a big way for Tennessee to succeed in 2025.
- Alabama (Home): The Crimson Tide, led by Nick Saban, are perennial national championship contenders, and facing them at Neyland Stadium will be an early test for Tennessee. Alabama’s elite defense will pose a major challenge for Heupel’s offense. Can Tennessee’s offensive line hold up against Alabama’s pass rush? Will Heupel’s offense be able to exploit Alabama’s weaknesses in coverage?
- Georgia (Away): Georgia has firmly established itself as one of the top programs in college football under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs’ defense has been a dominant force in recent years, and Heupel’s high-octane offense will face one of its toughest challenges in this road matchup. Tennessee will need to be nearly perfect to pull off an upset in Athens, where Georgia is nearly unbeatable. Can Tennessee’s defense rise to the occasion and slow down Georgia’s powerful offense?
- LSU (Away): LSU is always a difficult place to play, and in 2025, the Tigers are expected to have one of the best teams in the SEC. With a dynamic quarterback under center and a high-powered offense, LSU will challenge Tennessee’s defense in ways that few teams can. The game will likely come down to which offense can execute at the highest level, making it a true test for Heupel’s offensive prowess.
- Florida (Home): Florida is a program that has historically given Tennessee trouble, and the Gators are expected to be back in contention in 2025. This matchup will be crucial for Tennessee’s hopes of staying competitive in the SEC East. While Tennessee’s offense is expected to be explosive, Florida’s defense has been improving, and they will likely look to slow the pace of the game. Heupel will need to ensure his team is prepared for a tough, gritty matchup.
- Auburn (Away): Auburn has been a team on the rise, and playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium is never easy. Auburn has always been known for its unpredictable nature, and this game has the potential to be a trap game for Tennessee. Heupel will need to ensure that his team stays focused and doesn’t let the emotions of playing a road game in the SEC affect their execution.
These five games alone present a formidable challenge for Tennessee, and there are additional SEC matchups that will test Heupel’s ability to prepare his team week after week. The Volunteers will also face off against teams like Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Arkansas, all of whom have become difficult opponents in recent years. While none of these teams are necessarily considered “elite,” each presents its own set of challenges, and Tennessee will need to stay sharp throughout the entirety of the regular season.
Heupel’s Strengths and Weaknesses
As Finebaum pointed out, Heupel has proven himself to be an effective coach, but the 2025 season will test his mettle in ways that previous seasons have not. Heupel’s offensive system has brought Tennessee back into the national conversation. His fast-paced offense, led by a dynamic quarterback and speedy wide receivers, is one of the most dangerous in the SEC. With Tennessee’s ability to score quickly, they have the potential to keep up with high-scoring teams and make life difficult for opposing defenses.
However, the downside of Heupel’s offensive scheme is that it places a lot of pressure on the defense to hold their ground. While Tennessee has made improvements on the defensive side of the ball, they are still not at the level of some of the conference’s top teams like Alabama and Georgia. For Heupel to succeed, he must find a way to balance his offensive strategy with the need for a defense that can get stops and limit big plays. It’s a tough ask, especially when the SEC’s powerhouses are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
One area where Heupel has shown significant growth is in recruiting. While Tennessee has historically struggled to recruit at the level of some of the other elite programs, Heupel has made strides in attracting high-quality players, particularly on offense. This will be key in 2025, as Tennessee will need to rely on their depth and overall talent to survive the grueling schedule. Heupel will also have to develop his younger players quickly, as the competition in the SEC is only getting fiercer.
Finebaum’s Long-Term Perspective on Heupel’s Future
Finebaum has been particularly interested in Tennessee’s ability to sustain success over the long term. In his view, while Heupel has done an impressive job of resurrecting Tennessee’s program, the real test will be whether he can consistently compete for SEC titles and College Football Playoff spots. Finebaum emphasizes that the expectations in Knoxville have always been high, and the fans will demand nothing less than a championship-contending program.
“There’s no doubt that Josh Heupel has brought life back to Tennessee football,” Finebaum said. “But now, the real question is whether he can win at the highest level. Can he consistently beat teams like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU? Can he build a team that can win 10-11 games a year, and be in the conversation for a national championship?”
The 2025 season will be an important year for Heupel in terms of his legacy at Tennessee. If he can navigate the tough schedule, make a run at the SEC Championship, and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, it will solidify his place as one of the top coaches in the country. However, if Tennessee falters, it will raise questions about whether Heupel can sustain the program’s success in the face of relentless competition.
A Defining Season for Heupel and Tennessee
The 2025 season will be one of the most important in Tennessee Volunteers history, and much of that responsibility lies with head coach Josh Heupel. With a grueling schedule ahead, Heupel faces the challenge of not only maintaining Tennessee’s high-powered offense but also finding ways to improve his defense and manage the rigors of SEC competition.
As Paul Finebaum points out, the 2025 season will define Heupel’s future at Tennessee. The expectations are high, and Tennessee fans are eager to see if Heupel can take the next step. With so many difficult matchups on the horizon, it will be fascinating to see how Tennessee performs and whether Heupel can steer the ship toward a successful season.
The upcoming year is a true test of Heupel’s coaching acumen, his ability to adapt, and his capacity to lead Tennessee back to the top of college football. If he can handle the challenges of the 2025 schedule and lead the Volunteers to success, Heupel will have firmly cemented his place as one of the top coaches in the sport. If not, it will be a critical juncture for the program as they look to figure out their path forward. The stakes have never been higher for Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers.
