2025 was a season to forget for the Tennessee Vols.

After starting off with high promise, it took a detour with the football off the foot of kicker Max Gilbert, which went wide to the right against the Georgia Bulldogs at the end of regulation in a 44-41 overtime loss. It ended with a major whimper, with defensively non-existent losses to Vanderbilt and Illinois to close out the season.

By the time the season was all said and done, Tennessee was 8-5, and Heupel offered words of encouragement for the 2026 season and beyond.

“I wouldn’t want low expectations. That’s part of why I want to be here,” Heupel told On3 Sports’ Chris Low back in early December. “We’ll win big.”

Well, what if Tennessee doesn’t win big in 2026? With an inexperienced quarterback and a tough schedule, another forgettable season record-wise is completely foreseeable.

For ESPN, it’s entirely possible that 2026 could be Heupel’s final one in Knoxville. Well, at lesat that’s how they gauge it among their “wild predictions” for 2026 in their “100 days until Week 0” piece that came out on Thursday.

The four-letter network sees six SEC jobs possibly coming open after 2026, and they mention Heupel and Tennessee and what it might take for that to happen.

ESPN includes Josh Heupel and Tennessee among six SEC jobs that could come open in their ‘wild’ predictions

“This would seem like a high number given the half-dozen jobs that opened in the league a year ago, but dig into the details and it’s not impossible.

“The rumblings in Knoxville have largely been limited to the message board zealots, but what happens to Josh Heupel if Tennessee falters with an inexperienced QB and a tough schedule, and ends up struggling to get to a bowl?”

Honestly, I don’t see it.

First, Tennessee is in the middle of a major sea change on the defensive side of the ball. Jim Knowles is in his first season as Tim Banks’ replacement as defensive coordinator, and it takes time to get your players in place to run a system.

Patience also has to be baked in when you have a super young (but super talented quarterback) like Faizon Brandon and/or George MacIntyre. There will be growing pains. A ballgame might be lost for a young-player-esque mistake. Those things can be improved upon the next season.

Also, have we forgotten where Tennessee football was before Heupel? While 8-5 might be disappointing, it was a good year about 8 years ago, and while that should never be the standard, Heupel has gotten the team to the College Football Playoff, won a New Years Six bowl game, and had Tennessee beating rivals they haven’t in decades.

It could be a tough year this season for Tennessee — or, for all we know, the Vols could rise up and surprise. But either way, don’t expect to see the Vols send Heupel packing after 2026 absent something truly extraordinary.