The Tennessee Vols lost a tough one to the Georgia Bulldogs this week, falling 27-13 in Athens.

Tennessee wasn't expected to beat Georgia this season. But they weren't expected to beat Alabama, either. This essentially went from a game that UT had no shot to win to a game that the Vols had a legit chance to win.

Unfortunately for Tennessee, they could never get anything going against the Bulldogs' elite defense.

But despite the loss, the future is still bright for the Volunteers.

Tennessee has accomplished more this season than anyone expected. And at 8-1, this team still has plenty to play for this season (a College Football Playoff berth is very much in reach still).

Vols head coach Josh Heupel wants everyone to understand that this is just the beginning for this program.

"We're going to play in a bunch of big games," said Heupel during The Josh Heupel Show on Sunday.

“We’re gonna play in a bunch of big games” — Genuine confidence that can’t be faked from Josh Heupel pic.twitter.com/5yS1IdIzo7

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) November 7, 2022

That genuine confidence from Heupel — it's not manufactured confidence — has to be reassuring to Tennessee fans.

It's not that Vols fans are doubting Heupel after the loss to the Bulldogs — Georgia has a great team and Kirby Smart has a five-year head start on Heupel — but it's always nice to hear the leader of the program reiterate the vision for the program.

And Heupel made his vision clear the day he was hired to replace Jeremy Pruitt.

"I promise you that we’re going to embark on becoming what we're capable of becoming as a football program day-by-day and go chase championships and win those championships," said Heupel at his introductory press conference in early 2021.

Chasing championships is exactly what Tennessee is doing under Heupel. And it's only year two. The future is bright indeed.

Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK