Tennessee coach Josh Heupel didn’t spend much time pretending Auburn and Kennesaw State are the same problem. He did, though, acknowledge the part that matters most: the familiarity helps a little.
On Monday, Heupel was asked whether knowing Alex Golesh’s offense gives the Vols an edge against Auburn in the same way knowing Jerry Mack’s scheme helped against Kennesaw State. His answer was measured, but clear.
The coaching overlap matters some. The personnel gap matters more.
“I think there’s some similarities in what Jerry Mack and Alex and Auburn are doing. There’s going to be a lot of differences as well based off of personnel.
Like you get to a place, you recognize the personnel and then how do you put those guys in a position to be successful? Both quarterbacks (are) mobile.
This one, they’re going to use in the quarterback-run game a lot more than what we saw from Kennesaw," Heupel said.
That quarterback mobility is one of the links Heupel sees between Auburn and Kennesaw State. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown and Owls quarterback Rickie Collins have each run for three touchdowns this season. Brown has the bigger gain on the ground, with 235 rushing yards to Collins’ 187.
Golesh and Mack both spent time on Tennessee’s staff in 2021 and 2022. Golesh served as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
Mack was the running backs coach. Heupel originally called plays himself before eventually giving more control to Golesh, who later left for the USF head coaching job during the 2022 cycle.
Mack moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same role before landing at Kennesaw State.
Tennessee’s defense enters this matchup after turning in a strong showing against both Kennesaw State and Texas. Against Mack’s offense, the Vols allowed 42 total yards over a seven-drive stretch after the opening Kennesaw State possession.
Last weekend in a 20-17 home loss to Texas, Tennessee held the Longhorns to a 25% conversion rate on third down, with Texas facing an average of nine yards to go on those snaps. Tennessee also sacked Arch Manning six times.
That kind of pressure could matter again, especially with Auburn dealing with what has been a makeshift offensive line rotation. Tennessee’s defensive front has the chance to make life miserable on the Plains.
The matchup also sets up a difficult test for Auburn’s defense. Under DJ Durkin, the Tigers were not sharp enough against Vanderbilt to suggest they’re ready for the kind of day Tennessee can bring. Heupel’s veer-and-shoot offense can carve up a defense in a hurry, especially when the Vols have the right personnel to run it the way he wants.
Auburn’s problems on fourth down are another concern. The Tigers allowed Vanderbilt to convert four of five tries in that situation, and that is exactly the kind of opening Tennessee can exploit if it gets chances on Auburn’s side of the field.
For Heupel, this is more than just another game plan. It is a chess match against a former protégé, and it will be the second such battle he has had this fall. Whether the result looks anything like the first one remains to be seen.
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