Josh Heupel reacts to ESPN's prediction that Tennessee will go 8-4 in 2023
A year ago, ESPN's Football Power Index predicted that the Tennessee Vols would go 7-5 in 2022. The Vols ended up going 11-2. This year, ESPN's Football Power Index predicted that Tennessee will finish the 2023 regular season with an 8-4 record. On Wednesday, Vols head coach Josh Heupel traveled to Nashville for the second […]
A year ago, ESPN's Football Power Index predicted that the Tennessee Vols would go 7-5 in 2022.
The Vols ended up going 11-2.
This year, ESPN's Football Power Index predicted that Tennessee will finish the 2023 regular season with an 8-4 record.
On Wednesday, Vols head coach Josh Heupel traveled to Nashville for the second stop on Tennessee's "Big Orange Caravan tour. While in Nashville, Heupel joined 104.5 The Zone's 3HL for a live interview.
Heupel was asked about ESPN's prediction that Tennessee will go 8-4 in 2023. ESPN's FPI also gives the Vols just a 2.5 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff. In true Heupel fashion, the UT head coach didn't appear to care one bit about ESPN's preseason prediction.
"I don't believe in any of the preseason stuff," said Heupel. "We're not planning on losing, you know what I mean? You don't work this hard to do that. So let's go line them up and play them."
You have to love that mentality if you're a Vols fan. Heupel isn't interested in setting a goal of 10 or 11 wins. Repeating last year's success isn't good enough. Heupel wants to go 15-0 and bring a natty back to Knoxville.
I don't know if he'll be successful, but one thing is certain — no team has ever "accidentally" won a national championship. Tennessee has the right mindset entering the 2023 season to make something special happen.
