Tennessee Vols Josh Heupel has turned down a jaw-dropping $9 million offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes
In one of the most dramatic and telling moments of the 2025 college football offseason, Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel has reportedly turned down a massive $9 million annual offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes, reaffirming his commitment to the program he rebuilt and the fanbase that has rallied behind him since day one.
According to multiple high-level sources familiar with the situation, Ohio State made a full-court press to lure Heupel to Columbus following the unexpected resignation of head coach Ryan Day, who stepped down after a third straight loss to Michigan and mounting pressure from boosters and university leaders. The Buckeyes’ offer, described as “jaw-dropping,” would have made Heupel one of the top five highest-paid coaches in the nation—yet he declined.
Heupel’s decision to stay in Knoxville sends a loud and clear message to the college football world: Tennessee is home, and the job he’s doing on Rocky Top is far from finished.
Since arriving at Tennessee in 2021, Heupel has orchestrated one of the most compelling program turnarounds in modern college football. He inherited a roster depleted by transfer departures, a program under NCAA scrutiny, and a fanbase running low on patience and hope. But what Heupel brought was clarity: a fast, fearless offensive identity, a culture of accountability, and a blueprint for long-term success.
In just four seasons, he has:
- Delivered Tennessee’s first 11-win season in nearly 20 years
- Defeated both Alabama and Florida, ending multi-year losing streaks to each
- Won the 2022 Orange Bowl over Clemson
- Restored Tennessee to top-10 national prominence
- Built elite recruiting pipelines, especially at quarterback and offensive line
- Created a culture where players thrive in the classroom and the community
Most importantly, Heupel has reconnected the program to its roots—tough, passionate, and proud—and returned belief to the fanbase.
Ohio State’s interest in Heupel was no surprise to insiders. With Michigan now riding a three-game win streak over the Buckeyes and Day’s teams failing to win the Big Ten since 2020, the pressure to find a proven winner was immense. Heupel fit their profile: innovative, program-builder, offensive mastermind, and someone with big-game pedigree.
The Buckeyes reportedly made contact with Heupel’s representatives shortly after Day’s resignation and moved swiftly, offering a $9 million annual deal, elite facilities access, full staff control, and an unprecedented NIL and recruiting budget—signaling just how highly they valued him.
For a lesser coach, it would have been impossible to ignore.
But for Heupel, it wasn’t just about money or prestige. It was about unfinished business.
Heupel’s decision to stay at Tennessee is more than just a headline—it’s a reflection of the culture he’s helped build.
In a statement released by Tennessee athletics, Heupel said:
“Tennessee took a chance on me when things weren’t easy here. This program, this fanbase, this community—it means something to me and my family. I came here to build something lasting, and I’m not leaving until we’ve finished the mission.”
That mission? A College Football Playoff appearance, and ultimately, a national championship. Tennessee has come agonizingly close in recent years, including a narrow miss in 2024, when the Vols finished 11–2 and just outside the expanded playoff bracket.
With a top-tier recruiting class signed, quarterback Jake Merklinger returning, and one of the SEC’s most dynamic defenses, 2025 may represent Heupel’s best shot yet at reaching the mountaintop.
The response in Knoxville was immediate—and emotional.
Social media exploded with #HeupelForever hashtags, “Thank You Coach” graphics, and fans pledging donations to the Volunteer Club NIL collective in gratitude. Tennessee students gathered outside Neyland Stadium to celebrate, and even rival fans tipped their hats at Heupel’s rare loyalty in an era where money often reigns supreme.
Athletic Director Danny White, who originally hired Heupel at UCF and brought him to Tennessee, called it “a defining moment” for the program.
“Josh Heupel embodies everything Tennessee stands for—integrity, intensity, and loyalty,” White said. “This isn’t just about turning down a job offer. It’s about choosing Tennessee. Choosing family. Choosing legacy.”
Boosters have already signaled their appreciation as well. Sources say Tennessee is finalizing a new deal for Heupel that will likely raise his salary to the $8 million per year range, with expanded staff salaries and enhanced NIL infrastructure.
Heupel staying in Knoxville has ripple effects beyond the 2025 season:
- Recruiting Stability: Tennessee’s 2025 and 2026 classes remain fully intact, with several elite prospects reaffirming their commitments after the news. High-profile commits like OL Deacon Schmitt and WR Zion Cooley posted on social media, “Coach is staying. So am I.”
- SEC Momentum: As the Vols face off against a brutal SEC schedule—including road games at Georgia and LSU—Heupel’s steady hand is exactly what’s needed. His return signals to the rest of the league that Tennessee is not going anywhere.
- National Respect: Turning down a blue-blood like Ohio State? That gets attention. Tennessee’s identity as a national contender is now backed by a head coach who could have left—but didn’t.
- Legacy Building: Heupel is poised to become one of Tennessee’s all-time great coaches. With 34 wins in his first four seasons and a .750 winning percentage, he’s already on a trajectory that places him among legends like Phillip Fulmer and Johnny Majors.
Meanwhile, Ohio State is back to the drawing board. Sources indicate that top targets now include:
- Dan Lanning (Oregon)
- Mike Vrabel (NFL, Titans/Buckeyes alum)
- Luke Fickell (Wisconsin)
- Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
But losing out on Heupel stings. It signals that not every coach will be swayed by brand or money—and that the Tennessee job is once again elite.
In an era defined by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and mega-contract coaching moves, Heupel’s decision is both rare and refreshing.
It tells players, recruits, and fans: culture still matters. Relationships still matter. And building something, not just inheriting it, still carries weight.
“Coach believed in us when nobody else did,” said Vols offensive lineman Cooper Mays. “He’s stayed true to who he is from day one. That means everything to us.”
Josh Heupel had every reason to take the call from Columbus. Every offer, every dollar, every luxury was there. But in the end, he chose Tennessee.
Not just the job. Not just the paycheck. He chose the fight, the mission, and the orange-clad faithful who packed Neyland when the program was crawling back to relevance.
And for that, he’s no longer just a successful coach on Rocky Top—
He’s a Tennessee legend in the making.
Heupel stays. The mission continues.
And the rest of college football has officially been put on notice.
