Tennessee Football Enters Crucial Offseason with Coaching Carousel Looming Large
After an 8-4 finish to the 2025 season - including a 4-4 mark in SEC play - Tennessee heads into the offseason with a clear sense of urgency. The Vols didn’t notch a single win over a ranked opponent, and while the losses came against quality teams, the lack of a signature victory leaves plenty to prove heading into 2026.
Josh Heupel and his staff now face a pivotal stretch. The good news?
There’s talent on the roster and a foundation to build on. The challenge?
A tougher schedule that includes a nine-game SEC gauntlet and a non-conference trip to Georgia Tech. That’s not exactly a soft landing for a team looking to take the next step.
But here’s where things get interesting - and potentially favorable - for Tennessee. Four of their nine SEC opponents in 2026 will be breaking in first-year head coaches. In a league where continuity often separates contenders from pretenders, that’s no small detail.
Let’s break it down:
- Auburn hired Alex Golesh, who’s no stranger to Knoxville. He spent two seasons as Heupel’s offensive coordinator before taking the head job at South Florida.
Now, he returns to Neyland Stadium, this time on the opposing sideline. It’s a reunion that adds a layer of intrigue, especially considering Golesh helped lay the groundwork for Tennessee’s offensive identity.
- LSU made the splashiest hire of the bunch, bringing in Lane Kiffin to replace Brian Kelly. Yes, that Lane Kiffin - the one who bolted from Tennessee after just one season back in 2009.
His return to Neyland is guaranteed to be electric, if not outright chaotic. Kiffin brings offensive firepower and SEC experience, but he’ll be tasked with retooling a roster that underachieved in 2025.
- Arkansas turned to Ryan Silverfield to replace Sam Pittman. Silverfield, who previously led Memphis, takes over a Razorbacks program that’s been searching for consistency. He’ll have his work cut out for him in the SEC West - and especially in his road trip to Knoxville.
- Kentucky joined the coaching carousel late Sunday night, parting ways with Mark Stoops after 13 seasons. The Wildcats haven’t named a replacement yet, but whoever takes over will inherit a program in transition. That matchup, too, will come with its share of unknowns.
And it’s not just the SEC opponents. Tennessee’s non-conference slate includes a visit from Kennesaw State on September 19.
The Owls could also be dealing with coaching turnover, as head coach Jerry Mack is reportedly in the mix for the Tulane job. That’s another potential first-year coach on Tennessee’s 2026 schedule.
Now, it’s worth noting that in the transfer portal era, the advantage of facing a first-year coach isn’t what it used to be. Rosters can be flipped in a matter of months, and staff continuity isn’t as critical when you can reload overnight. Still, there’s something to be said for program stability - and Tennessee has that in Heupel, who’s entering his sixth season in Knoxville.
And if history tells us anything, Heupel’s teams have thrived in these matchups. Since taking over in 2021, Tennessee is a perfect 6-0 against first-year SEC head coaches. That includes wins over Shane Beamer (South Carolina), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt), Billy Napier (Florida), Brian Kelly (LSU), Kalen DeBoer (Alabama), and Jeff Lebby (Mississippi State).
So while 2026 brings a steeper climb, the Vols may have a few footholds to help them along the way. The SEC is always a grind, but Tennessee’s stability - combined with some well-timed coaching changes across the league - could give them a real shot to make noise.
Now the question becomes: can Heupel and company capitalize? The offseason starts now, and the margin for error just got slimmer.