Josh Heupel previews Tennessee football preparing for final three games
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Tennessee (6-3, 3-3 SEC) has its second and final open date in Week 11 of the 2025 college football season. The Vols are ranked No. 22 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 25 in College Football Playoff rankings.
Tennessee has three games remaining in the regular season against New Mexico State, at Florida and versus Vanderbilt. The Vols are projected to play in the Music City Bowl against Illinois.
Fifth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media Wednesday and discussed the Vols’ open date and preparing for their final three games in the regular season.
“Good work today,” Heupel said. “We have another day tomorrow and then some of the coaches will hit the ground recruiting this week. Big focus is, again, on us during the BYE, how we get better.”
Everything Heupel said during Tennessee’s open date is listed below.
Josh Heupel previews preparing for Tennessee’s final three regular-season football games
On balancing coaching and recruiting duties as a staff during this part of the calendar year
“I think wherever your feet are, and what’s important at that moment, is what you have to be doing. The development of our current players, our preparation for the opponent that we’re playing. For me at times, the projection of the following year in all departments, you’re looking at. It’s a combination of all those things. December has changed a little bit on the calendar, as well. That gives you a little bit more time, potentially in December, as well.”
On playing younger players now versus earlier in the season
“Guys that prove they’re ready to play and play at a really high level, a championship level, they earn the right to play and compete. That’s ongoing throughout the course of the season. These guys have worked really hard. Disappointed in the result on Saturday and a couple other ones during the course of the year for sure, but it’s constant and consistent growth from everybody.”
On the focus of the team during the remainder of the season
“These guys have been consistent in the way they have worked and competed. After the ball game, I said it in the team meeting. I don’t question the practice, the preparation. Disappointed in the result and the results of some plays, but that’s where we have to keep growing. Don’t expect this team to do anything other than compete as we continue to finish this one up.”
On his thoughts on the offensive line’s performance the past few weeks
“From the ball game the other night, first of all, a really good front. You knew that going into it. Multiple in what they do, run stunts, pressures, all of it. There were some things we handled well. Didn’t execute. It might have been one guy, or we’re throwing a tag on that play. There’s some things that we didn’t, where we got beat. And ultimately, that’s us as a group being a little bit better.”
On preference of playing a game of significance or a bye week after a tough loss
“When the players come back, and you get done with the team meeting, it’s time to pick yourself up. As a competitor in this game, at times, there’s going to be a result that you don’t like. Welcome to competing. If I had my wish, after that one, you’d play right away and move on to the next one. As a team, we have a chance to get healthy, get focused, continue to get better and get ready for the last three-game stretch that we have coming down the road.”
On difficulties of players entering the transfer portal prior to the playoffs
“For sure. In today’s landscape, there’s so many more variables than there used to be, which absolutely makes it more difficult.”
On assessing the punt return game over the last few weeks
“There are times during the course of the year where we haven’t won out on the edges, and they forced some fair catches. The other night, we had a couple of opportunities. Didn’t take advantage, didn’t maximize.”
On building off of the defensive growth against Oklahoma
“Defensively, I thought in particular early in the football game, line of scrimmage, on the back end matching things out, being in sync, all seven guys with the rotations. All the communication that goes into that – formation, shift, trade motion – thought they did really well. Second half, there were a few run game (miscues), it’s all quarterback run game where we’re not fitting it the right way on the backside. They had us in one call too. That’s going to happen during the course of a game, but that’s where we can get better.”
On Joey Aguilar’s decision making on run-pass option
“He’s been really good. At times, it’s not going to be perfect, but he’s been really good. There’s a couple of them the other night where we got really good run looks, you know, where we’re throwing it out there. We’ve also hit some big plays off of it. Mike (Matthews) had a big play down the sideline early in the football game.”
On Jermod McCoy’s status
“Jermod’s continuing to get better in his rehab, doing more on the football side of it. We’ll continue to see where he progresses to. I don’t think it’s fair for me to put a timeline on it. You know, had a real injury that he’s been working hard to get back from. He continues to make progress. Great teammate in the way that he’s tried to get himself back.”
On Ethan Davis’ recent production
“I think he’s done a good job in the pass game. Been a big part of it. You look at Kentucky into the first half the other day, did some really good things as he’s gotten back into the physical contract part of it. Continuing to progress, and we thought he played really well early in the year too. There’s just a time frame where he lost all of those reps, those fundamentals and you know, just getting back to that. This is a big week for him, too.”
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Josh Heupel previews preparing for Vols’ final three football games
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