Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has taken some heat in recent weeks for going with a conservative approach late in a couple of close games.

The Vols have played three SEC games so far this season. All three games have been decided by one possession, and two went into overtime.

Both games that went into overtime — a loss to Georgia and a win over Mississippi State — saw the Vols waste opportunities to end the game late in regulation.

Against Georgia, Heupel and the Vols went with a conservative approach late in the fourth quarter (after a UGA turnover) and decided to kick a field goal to go up eight points.

Georgia then went down the field and tied the game (after scoring a touchdown and converting the two-point attempt). Tennessee had a chance to win the game in regulation, but the Vols missed the game-winning field goal attempt, which sent the game to overtime.

Against Mississippi State, the Vols botched a potential game-winning drive at the end of regulation as Heupel used an odd approach to clock management (the Vols, though, managed to win the game in overtime).

Kirby Smart shows everyone it’s not as easy as it looks to manage end-of-game situations

Oddly enough, Georgia found itself in a situation at the end of its win over Ole Miss on Saturday that was similar to the one Tennessee faced against the Bulldogs earlier this season.

With Georgia leading Ole Miss by five points late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs drove to Rebels’ 24-yard line. But instead of going for it on fourth down, Georgia kicked the field goal to go up eight points — just like Tennessee did against UGA.

The difference for Georgia in their win against Ole Miss was that the Bulldogs’ defense prevented the Rebels from tying the game.

The situations weren’t completely identical, but they were quite similar. And Smart and Heupel both made similar choices.

It all came down to execution. If the Vols stop Georgia, or if Max Gilbert makes the field at the end of regulation, no one is talking about Heupel’s decision to be conservative by kicking the field goal to go up eight.

Admittedly, I’m among those who thought Heupel should’ve been more aggressive at the end of the Georgia game.

But Smart’s decision on Saturday against Ole Miss is a reminder that sometimes decisions work out, and sometimes they don’t. No one bats 1.000 when it comes to in-game decisions in any sport.

So maybe Heupel deserves a little grace for the way he’s handled some of Tennessee’s end-of-game situations this season.

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