An 11-win season sure did a lot to change the perception – not to mention the compensation – of Tennessee coach Josh Heupel.

This time a year ago, some offseason lists had Heupel pegged in the bottom half of their ranking of SEC coaches. There was an explanation for that. Heupel had just one season of Power Five coaching experience – the Vols finished 7-6 in 2021 – and it remained unclear at that time how he stacked up with some of the conference's top dogs.

No more.

Heupel and his Vols earned victories last season over Alabama's Nick Saban, Clemson's Dabo Swinney and LSU's Brian Kelly. That's a who's who list of college football coaches.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams debate where they'd slot Heupel in a ranking of SEC coaches.

They quibble over where they'd rank Heupel, but they are in consensus that he's a top-five SEC coach.

When was the last time Vols fans could rationally make the claim that Tennessee employed a top-five coach in the nation's best conference? Not anytime recently.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

An <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2022/12/31/joe-milton-orange-bowl-tennessee-football-quarterback-clemson/69738559007/" aria-label="Link 11-win season">11-win season</a> sure did a lot to change the perception – not to mention the compensation – of Tennessee coach <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/01/24/josh-heupel-contract-terms-tennessee-football-sec-coaches-2023/69807253007/" aria-label="Link Josh Heupel">Josh Heupel</a>.
This time a year ago, some offseason lists had Heupel pegged in the bottom half of their ranking of SEC coaches. There was an explanation for that. Heupel had just one season of Power Five coaching experience – the Vols finished 7-6 in 2021 – and it remained unclear at that time how he stacked up with some of the conference's top dogs.
No more.
Heupel and his Vols earned victories last season over Alabama's Nick Saban, Clemson's Dabo Swinney and LSU's Brian Kelly. That's a who's who list of college football coaches. On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> debate where they'd slot Heupel in a ranking of SEC coaches.
They quibble over where they'd rank Heupel, but they are in consensus that he's a top-five SEC coach.
When was the last time Vols fans could rationally make the claim that Tennessee employed a top-five coach in the nation's best conference? Not anytime recently.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

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