It’s probably not fair, but there’s a realistic scenario in which Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel finds himself on the hot seat by the end of the 2026 season.

With the disappointment of a 21-point loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores still lingering, it’s possible that a lackluster showing in 2026 — a 6–6 season, for example — could result in Heupel’s seat getting warm.

Former Vols defensive lineman Daniel Hood joined The Sports Source this week and was asked whether he thinks Tennessee will see any major head-coaching changes among its top athletic programs in the near future.

Hood noted that he doesn’t anticipate any changes, but he could see a scenario in which Heupel ends up on the hot seat by the end of the 2026 season.

“The only one that I was even considering, with this SEC schedule that [Tennessee] just went through, if Tennessee goes 6-6 or 5-7 — which is possible with that (nine game SEC) schedule — I think Josh Heupel could be on the hot seat at the end of the year,” said Hood.

It seems crazy to suggest that Heupel, who has been Tennessee’s most successful football coach since Phillip Fulmer found success on Rocky Top in the 90s and early 2000s, should be worried about his seat getting warm.

But at least one Vols insider — VolQuest’s Austin Price — thinks the pressure to win in 2026 will impact Heupel’s approach to adding a transfer quarterback to Tennessee’s roster this offseason.

“I would also tell you….if Josh Heupel knew that 2027 was guaranteed, I think he probably rolls with the guys (George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon) he has on campus,” said Price earlier this week on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will. “But look at James Franklin. He went from No. 2 in the country to out of a job in about three weeks. Life comes at you fast in this game — especially in this era where people are just so impatient. And so I think for Josh Heupel, he has to look at that and balance what gives him the best chance and the most realistic chance to win next year.”

Josh Heupel shouldn’t have to worry about being on the hot seat

Two things can be true when it comes to Heupel’s job security at Tennessee:

1. Hood is probably right that a 6-6 or 5-7 season in 2026 will put Heupel on the hot seat.
2. Heupel shouldn’t be on the hot seat because of one bad season.

This is unfortunately where college football is right now. A large number of fans and media have no patience. So the focus of the sport is now on winning a national championship every year instead of developing young talent. And that’s a problem.

College football has essentially turned into travel ball. It’s all about winning as quickly as possible, development be damned.

The best thing for Tennessee in 2026 would be to start rising redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or rising true freshman Faizon Brandon at quarterback. But the ceiling for a team led by an inexperienced quarterback obviously wouldn’t be very high.

So instead of using a developmental approach in 2026 that could make Tennessee a championship contender in 2027, Heupel has to focus on what will bring the most wins in 2026, rather than what’s best for the development of his roster.

Everybody wants to win. And that’s always the ultimate goal. But this “playoff or bust” mentality that’s currently engulfing college football isn’t sustainable. It’s not what’s best for the players (or anyone involved in the sport). That’s why fans should give Heupel some grace in 2026 and allow him to build the program the right way. It may mean some lean years when the roster is young, but it would lead to a healthier football program overall.

I mean, do you really want to run off a guy who has won three of his last four against Florida and two of his last four against Alabama over a 6-6 season?

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