Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

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Tennessee football fans are wondering what happened to coach Josh Heupel’s electric offense.

They believe poor offensive line play and bad coaching decisions are at the heart of it after the 13th-ranked Vols lost 20-17 to No. 1 Texas on Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium. Many fans unleashed their frustration and then asked relevant questions at the loss.

Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) plays Auburn (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN) at Neyland Stadium. Before turning the page, let’s answer those fan questions in the Vols mailbag.

When will Josh Heupel be held responsible for not reaching next level?

Fans are rightfully upset because it seems like Tennessee is either good on offense or defense but never both in the same season. That’s why the Vols went 8-5 last season and could be headed for a similar record this season.

If that happens, there will be some heat on Heupel. But UT is only one-third through this season.

I’m not sure how Heupel could be held responsible during the season. His contract runs through the 2029 season, and his buyout after this season would be about $21 million.

Why did Josh Heupel run out the clock before halftime?

In retrospect, you’d like a do-over on any offensive possession. But I had no problem with the decision to run out the clock. UT was backed up to its own 25-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining and facing third down. And nothing was working offensively.

If this was the Hendon Hooker-led tempo offense in 2021-22, go ahead and push the ball downfield. But it isn’t that offense.

Why didn’t Josh Heupel attempt a field goal in second quarter?

Heupel should have kicked the field goal with 1:59 remaining in the second quarter. Points were hard to come by, and UT’s offense struggled mightily. It had a better chance to score on Cooper Ranvier’s leg.

It would’ve been a 51-yard field goal attempt by Ranvier, which was on the edge of his range. At Louisville last season, Ranvier was 2-for-5 from 50 yards or more. He made a 50-yarder against Virginia and 51-yarder against Clemson. At UT, he is 4-for-4 on field goals this season with a long of 43 yards.

Heupel addressed that decision: “We got confidence in (Ranvier), but (we considered) where it was at (and) the wind. We felt like we had a good (offensive) play.”

Faizon Brandon’s pass on fourth-and-7 was incomplete. Heupel made the wrong call.

Are you concerned that Faizon Brandon isn’t turning the ball loose?

Yes. He’s been careful with the ball. He doesn’t take risks. He doesn’t force passes into tight windows. And that was a wise approach to start his career.

But Brandon hasn’t thrown an interception, in part, because he hasn’t taken enough risks. At some point, he needs to let go of that fear and let the ball go. Competitive SEC games are a good place to start.

Should we consider Texas’ big NIL budget in this result?

No one knows the exact NIL budget of college football teams because they’re not available to the public. The Athletic relied on sources to get estimates. It determined that Texas has the No. 3 NIL budget and Tennessee is at No. 9. That’s probably in the ballpark.

If so, a 20-17 loss is in line with that NIL spending. However, the more pertinent barometer is how those schools spent their NIL money. And that’s also difficult to gauge since we don’t know specific pay of players.

Is the offensive line improving in any area?

Not yet. But it’s too early to judge trajectory. Tennessee has only played two Power 4 opponents, a bad Georgia Tech team and top-ranked Texas. More games will determine if any unit is getting better.

Which offensive linemen had the worst performances?

Pro Football Focus grades give a general idea of player performance. In the Texas game, it gave right tackle Jesse Perry a poor grade in pass blocking. He had played well this season, but this was a bad matchup.

It gave guard Sham Umarov and center Sam Pendleton poor grades in run blocking.

What did Josh Heupel mean by bad chip protection?

Chip blocks are when a running back or tight end hits the side of an edge rusher to support an offensive lineman before releasing into their receiving route. It’s not a double team, but it can have a similar effect if done well.

Heupel criticized UT’s execution of “chip protection.” Pro Football Focus gave running back DeSean Bishop a terrible grade for pass blocking, so that was probably the source of Heupel’s criticism.

Was the offensive line overhyped this offseason?

In the preseason, I asked, “Have we fallen into a trap by praising Tennessee’s offensive line?” My point at the time was that UT had its worst rushing season in 2025, and that the offensive line was not considered dominant.

So why would we assume this offensive line would be dominant simply because it’s experienced? I wasn’t fully convinced of that argument, but I might’ve been on to something.

Is there an upside to a close loss to a No. 1 team?

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit was very effective, especially in the front seven.

Arion Carter was active and made 11 tackles. Xavier Gilliam had two tackles-for-loss. Tyree Weathersby had 2.5 sacks. Amare Campbell had two tackles-for-loss. The Vols sacked Arch Manning six times. There’s a lot of like on defense.

How did this game impact UT’s outlook on defense?

It showed that UT can win with defense against comparable opponents – that is, teams outside the top 10. That might remind us of the 2024 team that made the College Football Playoff with a dominant defense and elite rushing offense.

But this 2026 team has a lot to prove to play to that level. Perhaps its upcoming October stretch will reveal that.

Is this team fixable, or just another 8-5 season?

It depends on how UT responds to the positives and negatives of a close loss to a really good team. Last season, UT nearly beat Georgia. But that was the peak of its season.

You gave Faizon Brandon a D grade. Wasn’t that too harsh?

No. Brandon gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s a freshman. He showed tremendous toughness. And his pass protection let him down for much of the game.

But Brandon was ineffective in the passing game. He was indecisive. He didn’t see open receivers. He didn’t take chances. He’s judged by the results, and they weren’t good.

Plus, I grade quarterbacks considering all my past grades. I’ve seen C-level performances, and they were better than that.

Was Tennessee’s crowd volume low? Seemed that way on TV.

No. It was loud. I’m not sure if the TV broadcast captured that. But the Checker Neyland crowd was on its feet and raucous when it had reasons to be.

The game affected the volume, though. UT rarely held momentum long, and it didn’t score an offensive TD until the last two minutes. The fans did all they could.

How has Ethan Davis’ injury limited tight ends?

Ethan Davis’ season-ending injury will impact this team all season. If he had played this game, he would’ve been a useful target for Brandon. And his presence would’ve given the Vols more flexibility on offense.

Will Faizon Brandon be able to move past this loss?

Brandon is a mature, even-keeled player. Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle praise the way that he immediately applies coaching points. They’ll tell him to correct mistakes and grow from this experience, and I’m sure he will. Auburn is a winnable home game, and he’ll focus on that.

Should George MacIntyre get a few plays for a change of pace?

No. There was a quarterback competition, and Brandon won it. George MacIntyre is a talented quarterback, but he’s a passer. Brandon is a passer and runner. Swapping them probably takes more away from the offense than adds to it.

Did President Trump cause any problems in the game?

Air Force One closely buzzed the tower of Neyland Stadium, which caught everyone’s attention. That was eye-opening. Trump waved to the crowd and got an ovation. Members of the White House press corps crowded the sideline, so that was new. But that’s about it.

What will NFL scouts think of Colin Simmons’ behavior on penalty?

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons was penalized for “simulating using the restroom” after sacking Brandon. When the replay was shown, that was the loudest laughter I’ve ever heard in a press box.

NFL scouts review everything, including excessive celebrations and a lack of discipline. But Simmons had a school-record five sacks, which is what matters most. His penalty will be forgiven. His draft stock rose with that performance.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Tennessee football fans are wondering what happened to coach Josh Heupel’s electric offense.

They believe poor offensive line play and bad coaching decisions are at the heart of it after the 13th-ranked Vols lost 20-17 to No. 1 Texas on Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium. Many fans unleashed their frustration and then asked relevant questions at the loss.

Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) plays Auburn (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN) at Neyland Stadium. Before turning the page, let’s answer those fan questions in the Vols mailbag.

When will Josh Heupel be held responsible for not reaching next level?

Fans are rightfully upset because it seems like Tennessee is either good on offense or defense but never both in the same season. That’s why the Vols went 8-5 last season and could be headed for a similar record this season.

If that happens, there will be some heat on Heupel. But UT is only one-third through this season.

I’m not sure how Heupel could be held responsible during the season. His contract runs through the 2029 season, and his buyout after this season would be about $21 million.

Why did Josh Heupel run out the clock before halftime?

In retrospect, you’d like a do-over on any offensive possession. But I had no problem with the decision to run out the clock. UT was backed up to its own 25-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining and facing third down. And nothing was working offensively.

If this was the Hendon Hooker-led tempo offense in 2021-22, go ahead and push the ball downfield. But it isn’t that offense.

Why didn’t Josh Heupel attempt a field goal in second quarter?

Heupel should have kicked the field goal with 1:59 remaining in the second quarter. Points were hard to come by, and UT’s offense struggled mightily. It had a better chance to score on Cooper Ranvier’s leg.

It would’ve been a 51-yard field goal attempt by Ranvier, which was on the edge of his range. At Louisville last season, Ranvier was 2-for-5 from 50 yards or more. He made a 50-yarder against Virginia and 51-yarder against Clemson. At UT, he is 4-for-4 on field goals this season with a long of 43 yards.

Heupel addressed that decision: “We got confidence in (Ranvier), but (we considered) where it was at (and) the wind. We felt like we had a good (offensive) play.”

Faizon Brandon’s pass on fourth-and-7 was incomplete. Heupel made the wrong call.

Are you concerned that Faizon Brandon isn’t turning the ball loose?

Yes. He’s been careful with the ball. He doesn’t take risks. He doesn’t force passes into tight windows. And that was a wise approach to start his career.

But Brandon hasn’t thrown an interception, in part, because he hasn’t taken enough risks. At some point, he needs to let go of that fear and let the ball go. Competitive SEC games are a good place to start.

Should we consider Texas’ big NIL budget in this result?

No one knows the exact NIL budget of college football teams because they’re not available to the public. The Athletic relied on sources to get estimates. It determined that Texas has the No. 3 NIL budget and Tennessee is at No. 9. That’s probably in the ballpark.

If so, a 20-17 loss is in line with that NIL spending. However, the more pertinent barometer is how those schools spent their NIL money. And that’s also difficult to gauge since we don’t know specific pay of players.

Is the offensive line improving in any area?

Not yet. But it’s too early to judge trajectory. Tennessee has only played two Power 4 opponents, a bad Georgia Tech team and top-ranked Texas. More games will determine if any unit is getting better.

Which offensive linemen had the worst performances?

Pro Football Focus grades give a general idea of player performance. In the Texas game, it gave right tackle Jesse Perry a poor grade in pass blocking. He had played well this season, but this was a bad matchup.

It gave guard Sham Umarov and center Sam Pendleton poor grades in run blocking.

What did Josh Heupel mean by bad chip protection?

Chip blocks are when a running back or tight end hits the side of an edge rusher to support an offensive lineman before releasing into their receiving route. It’s not a double team, but it can have a similar effect if done well.

Heupel criticized UT’s execution of “chip protection.” Pro Football Focus gave running back DeSean Bishop a terrible grade for pass blocking, so that was probably the source of Heupel’s criticism.

Was the offensive line overhyped this offseason?

In the preseason, I asked, “Have we fallen into a trap by praising Tennessee’s offensive line?” My point at the time was that UT had its worst rushing season in 2025, and that the offensive line was not considered dominant.

So why would we assume this offensive line would be dominant simply because it’s experienced? I wasn’t fully convinced of that argument, but I might’ve been on to something.

Is there an upside to a close loss to a No. 1 team?

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit was very effective, especially in the front seven.

Arion Carter was active and made 11 tackles. Xavier Gilliam had two tackles-for-loss. Tyree Weathersby had 2.5 sacks. Amare Campbell had two tackles-for-loss. The Vols sacked Arch Manning six times. There’s a lot of like on defense.

How did this game impact UT’s outlook on defense?

It showed that UT can win with defense against comparable opponents – that is, teams outside the top 10. That might remind us of the 2024 team that made the College Football Playoff with a dominant defense and elite rushing offense.

But this 2026 team has a lot to prove to play to that level. Perhaps its upcoming October stretch will reveal that.

Is this team fixable, or just another 8-5 season?

It depends on how UT responds to the positives and negatives of a close loss to a really good team. Last season, UT nearly beat Georgia. But that was the peak of its season.

You gave Faizon Brandon a D grade. Wasn’t that too harsh?

No. Brandon gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s a freshman. He showed tremendous toughness. And his pass protection let him down for much of the game.

But Brandon was ineffective in the passing game. He was indecisive. He didn’t see open receivers. He didn’t take chances. He’s judged by the results, and they weren’t good.

Plus, I grade quarterbacks considering all my past grades. I’ve seen C-level performances, and they were better than that.

Was Tennessee’s crowd volume low? Seemed that way on TV.

No. It was loud. I’m not sure if the TV broadcast captured that. But the Checker Neyland crowd was on its feet and raucous when it had reasons to be.

The game affected the volume, though. UT rarely held momentum long, and it didn’t score an offensive TD until the last two minutes. The fans did all they could.

How has Ethan Davis’ injury limited tight ends?

Ethan Davis’ season-ending injury will impact this team all season. If he had played this game, he would’ve been a useful target for Brandon. And his presence would’ve given the Vols more flexibility on offense.

Will Faizon Brandon be able to move past this loss?

Brandon is a mature, even-keeled player. Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle praise the way that he immediately applies coaching points. They’ll tell him to correct mistakes and grow from this experience, and I’m sure he will. Auburn is a winnable home game, and he’ll focus on that.

Should George MacIntyre get a few plays for a change of pace?

No. There was a quarterback competition, and Brandon won it. George MacIntyre is a talented quarterback, but he’s a passer. Brandon is a passer and runner. Swapping them probably takes more away from the offense than adds to it.

Did President Trump cause any problems in the game?

Air Force One closely buzzed the tower of Neyland Stadium, which caught everyone’s attention. That was eye-opening. Trump waved to the crowd and got an ovation. Members of the White House press corps crowded the sideline, so that was new. But that’s about it.

What will NFL scouts think of Colin Simmons’ behavior on penalty?

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons was penalized for “simulating using the restroom” after sacking Brandon. When the replay was shown, that was the loudest laughter I’ve ever heard in a press box.

NFL scouts review everything, including excessive celebrations and a lack of discipline. But Simmons had a school-record five sacks, which is what matters most. His penalty will be forgiven. His draft stock rose with that performance.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Tennessee football fans are wondering what happened to coach Josh Heupel’s electric offense.

They believe poor offensive line play and bad coaching decisions are at the heart of it after the 13th-ranked Vols lost 20-17 to No. 1 Texas on Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium. Many fans unleashed their frustration and then asked relevant questions at the loss.

Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) plays Auburn (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN) at Neyland Stadium. Before turning the page, let’s answer those fan questions in the Vols mailbag.

When will Josh Heupel be held responsible for not reaching next level?

Fans are rightfully upset because it seems like Tennessee is either good on offense or defense but never both in the same season. That’s why the Vols went 8-5 last season and could be headed for a similar record this season.

If that happens, there will be some heat on Heupel. But UT is only one-third through this season.

I’m not sure how Heupel could be held responsible during the season. His contract runs through the 2029 season, and his buyout after this season would be about $21 million.

Why did Josh Heupel run out the clock before halftime?

In retrospect, you’d like a do-over on any offensive possession. But I had no problem with the decision to run out the clock. UT was backed up to its own 25-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining and facing third down. And nothing was working offensively.

If this was the Hendon Hooker-led tempo offense in 2021-22, go ahead and push the ball downfield. But it isn’t that offense.

Why didn’t Josh Heupel attempt a field goal in second quarter?

Heupel should have kicked the field goal with 1:59 remaining in the second quarter. Points were hard to come by, and UT’s offense struggled mightily. It had a better chance to score on Cooper Ranvier’s leg.

It would’ve been a 51-yard field goal attempt by Ranvier, which was on the edge of his range. At Louisville last season, Ranvier was 2-for-5 from 50 yards or more. He made a 50-yarder against Virginia and 51-yarder against Clemson. At UT, he is 4-for-4 on field goals this season with a long of 43 yards.

Heupel addressed that decision: “We got confidence in (Ranvier), but (we considered) where it was at (and) the wind. We felt like we had a good (offensive) play.”

Faizon Brandon’s pass on fourth-and-7 was incomplete. Heupel made the wrong call.

Are you concerned that Faizon Brandon isn’t turning the ball loose?

Yes. He’s been careful with the ball. He doesn’t take risks. He doesn’t force passes into tight windows. And that was a wise approach to start his career.

But Brandon hasn’t thrown an interception, in part, because he hasn’t taken enough risks. At some point, he needs to let go of that fear and let the ball go. Competitive SEC games are a good place to start.

Should we consider Texas’ big NIL budget in this result?

No one knows the exact NIL budget of college football teams because they’re not available to the public. The Athletic relied on sources to get estimates. It determined that Texas has the No. 3 NIL budget and Tennessee is at No. 9. That’s probably in the ballpark.

If so, a 20-17 loss is in line with that NIL spending. However, the more pertinent barometer is how those schools spent their NIL money. And that’s also difficult to gauge since we don’t know specific pay of players.

Is the offensive line improving in any area?

Not yet. But it’s too early to judge trajectory. Tennessee has only played two Power 4 opponents, a bad Georgia Tech team and top-ranked Texas. More games will determine if any unit is getting better.

Which offensive linemen had the worst performances?

Pro Football Focus grades give a general idea of player performance. In the Texas game, it gave right tackle Jesse Perry a poor grade in pass blocking. He had played well this season, but this was a bad matchup.

It gave guard Sham Umarov and center Sam Pendleton poor grades in run blocking.

What did Josh Heupel mean by bad chip protection?

Chip blocks are when a running back or tight end hits the side of an edge rusher to support an offensive lineman before releasing into their receiving route. It’s not a double team, but it can have a similar effect if done well.

Heupel criticized UT’s execution of “chip protection.” Pro Football Focus gave running back DeSean Bishop a terrible grade for pass blocking, so that was probably the source of Heupel’s criticism.

Was the offensive line overhyped this offseason?

In the preseason, I asked, “Have we fallen into a trap by praising Tennessee’s offensive line?” My point at the time was that UT had its worst rushing season in 2025, and that the offensive line was not considered dominant.

So why would we assume this offensive line would be dominant simply because it’s experienced? I wasn’t fully convinced of that argument, but I might’ve been on to something.

Is there an upside to a close loss to a No. 1 team?

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ unit was very effective, especially in the front seven.

Arion Carter was active and made 11 tackles. Xavier Gilliam had two tackles-for-loss. Tyree Weathersby had 2.5 sacks. Amare Campbell had two tackles-for-loss. The Vols sacked Arch Manning six times. There’s a lot of like on defense.

How did this game impact UT’s outlook on defense?

It showed that UT can win with defense against comparable opponents – that is, teams outside the top 10. That might remind us of the 2024 team that made the College Football Playoff with a dominant defense and elite rushing offense.

But this 2026 team has a lot to prove to play to that level. Perhaps its upcoming October stretch will reveal that.

Is this team fixable, or just another 8-5 season?

It depends on how UT responds to the positives and negatives of a close loss to a really good team. Last season, UT nearly beat Georgia. But that was the peak of its season.

You gave Faizon Brandon a D grade. Wasn’t that too harsh?

No. Brandon gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s a freshman. He showed tremendous toughness. And his pass protection let him down for much of the game.

But Brandon was ineffective in the passing game. He was indecisive. He didn’t see open receivers. He didn’t take chances. He’s judged by the results, and they weren’t good.

Plus, I grade quarterbacks considering all my past grades. I’ve seen C-level performances, and they were better than that.

Was Tennessee’s crowd volume low? Seemed that way on TV.

No. It was loud. I’m not sure if the TV broadcast captured that. But the Checker Neyland crowd was on its feet and raucous when it had reasons to be.

The game affected the volume, though. UT rarely held momentum long, and it didn’t score an offensive TD until the last two minutes. The fans did all they could.

How has Ethan Davis’ injury limited tight ends?

Ethan Davis’ season-ending injury will impact this team all season. If he had played this game, he would’ve been a useful target for Brandon. And his presence would’ve given the Vols more flexibility on offense.

Will Faizon Brandon be able to move past this loss?

Brandon is a mature, even-keeled player. Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle praise the way that he immediately applies coaching points. They’ll tell him to correct mistakes and grow from this experience, and I’m sure he will. Auburn is a winnable home game, and he’ll focus on that.

Should George MacIntyre get a few plays for a change of pace?

No. There was a quarterback competition, and Brandon won it. George MacIntyre is a talented quarterback, but he’s a passer. Brandon is a passer and runner. Swapping them probably takes more away from the offense than adds to it.

Did President Trump cause any problems in the game?

Air Force One closely buzzed the tower of Neyland Stadium, which caught everyone’s attention. That was eye-opening. Trump waved to the crowd and got an ovation. Members of the White House press corps crowded the sideline, so that was new. But that’s about it.

What will NFL scouts think of Colin Simmons’ behavior on penalty?

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons was penalized for “simulating using the restroom” after sacking Brandon. When the replay was shown, that was the loudest laughter I’ve ever heard in a press box.

NFL scouts review everything, including excessive celebrations and a lack of discipline. But Simmons had a school-record five sacks, which is what matters most. His penalty will be forgiven. His draft stock rose with that performance.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football fans rip Josh Heupel decisions, Faizon Brandon pass protection

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos