Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s name was mentioned on Thursday by SEC Unfiltered’s Chris Phillips in connection with the LSU Tigers job.

LSU is in the market for a new head coach after firing Brian Kelly earlier this month.

Phillips suggested that Heupel would “at least entertain the conversation” if he were approached by LSU.

“A really interesting name, guys, is Josh Heupel over at Tennessee,” said Phillips on 104.5 The Zone’s Cover 2. “That was a name that I’ve heard. And seriously, they (LSU) think they can get him. And again, don’t shoot the messenger here, but I’ve heard that potentially, Josh Heupel would at least entertain the conversation — he’s thought about leaving Knoxville. So, I’m not saying it’s going to happen. What I’ve been told is there’s an understanding in the industry that for the right job, Josh Heupel would be willing to leave. So again, take it for what it’s worth.

“I think the timing could line up,” added Phillips. “Especially if LSU was calling and seriously offering him that gig. I think it’s at least something you’ve got to think about if you’re Heupel. So, it was interesting to hear that name. I’m not saying that he leaves. But when you think about expectations, the Tennessee fans, and trying to match those expectations — listen, they don’t want to go 8-4 anymore. But it’s hard to get to the playoffs every single year, like I think most Vol fans want. So it’s a little bit easier down in Baton Rouge. And again, that’s not a dig on Tennessee at all. That’s just a fact.”

Vols Insider Brent Hubbs shares his thoughts on Josh Heupel, LSU, and the coaching carousel

VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs, arguably the top go-to insider when it comes to Tennessee football, appeared on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Friday and was asked about the Heupel/LSU rumors that popped up this week.

“Well, first of all, Lane Kiffin left in the middle of the night, so anything is possible,” said Hubbs. “And that’s how you have to view this in covering a program as a beat guy. If you say nothing is possible, [that] there’s no chance, then the next thing you know….who knows what happens? Do I think Josh Heupel will be the coach at Tennessee next year? I do. That’s what I believe. Is his name going to pop up on boards? I mean, yeah, we’ve seen it. We’ve seen it on some of the LSU boards. We’ve not seen it on some of the LSU boards.

“The thing about the LSU hot boards is, where are those guys getting information from? Who’s in charge at LSU? Who would be your sources to say, ‘Here’s your top three or four candidates for the job.’ And I’m not knocking those guys (reporters). I’m just saying their subscribers and their listeners — everybody’s asking for candidates…..we don’t know what’s going on in that situation in terms of who’s making decisions and all of those things. Agents are obviously always trying to get their coach’s name out there and those types of things. So again, I would say you never say never in this business and in this world. But I don’t think Josh Heupel is going to be LSU’s next coach. That’s my feeling as of today.”

“But you’re dumb in this business, if you work in this business, to say absolutely no chance,” continued Hubbs. “Because, as you mentioned, Tony Vitello ended up (with the San Francisco Giants), Bill Belichick is at North Carolina. I mean, there are crazier things that have happened in the coaching circle, and there’s a lot of good jobs open right now. How deep is the candidate pool for those guys? I think that’s the other thing. Everybody knows Florida is going after Lane Kiffin. That’s who they want. Where do they go if they don’t get Lane Kiffin? Are they going to go back down to the Sun Belt level and get an unproven commodity at the Power Four level? I mean, that didn’t work (with Billy Napier). Typically, you do something the opposite of what you’ve just done. If you have a defensive-minded coach, you generally go get an offensive coach. If you have an offensive-minded guy, you go get a defensive guy. If you have a finesse coach, you go get a physical guy. That’s what you’re trying to figure out with all these jobs that are open — who lands where? Because there’s a lot of different chess pieces to move around.”

The truth is that you can never predict outcomes in coaching searches with 100 percent certainty. You never know what might tempt a coach to take another job. Those decisions often involve factors that aren’t visible to fans and media.

Unfortunately for college football fans, specifically Tennessee fans in this case, if you have a good coach, you will have to deal with stuff like this every offseason. And because of some of the crazy things we’ve seen in college athletics in recent years — like Vitello leaving Rocky Top for MLB, Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame for LSU, or Bill Belichick taking the job in Chapel Hill — fans simply have to hold their breath until the dust settles on the coaching carousel each winter.

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