Tennessee's Josh Heupel Ranked Second-Best Active FBS Coach by ESPN

Josh Heupel, entering his fifth year as head coach at Tennessee, is widely regarded as one of the top college football coaches, ranked second-best active FBS coach by ESPN behind only Ohio State's Ryan Day. Heupel has led the Volunteers to significant success, including a 10-3 season that secured a College Football Playoff berth and an overall strong record of 65-23 as a head coach. Despite losing star quarterback Nico Iamaleava to UCLA, Heupel continues to recruit effectively and aims for an 11-win season in 2025, with a challenging schedule that includes games against Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma. ESPN analyst Bill Connelly highlighted that Heupel might not receive the credit he deserves for consistently producing top-20 SP+ ratings and revitalizing a historically unstable Tennessee program. While Heupel was humorously ranked low in a playful SEC coaches' fight ranking, his coaching acumen is highly respected, and he is expected to maintain Tennessee's competitive trajectory. His leadership has brought renewed optimism to the Volunteers as they prepare for a demanding 2025 season.