Tennessee heads into the third Saturday in October with plenty on the line, and Josh Heupel made it clear the Vols know exactly what kind of test is waiting.
The No. 14 Volunteers are set for a matchup with No.
6 Alabama, with both teams coming in at 5-1. Heupel called it a “great opportunity” against a team that is playing well in all three phases, and he pointed to the size of the challenge without trying to dress it up.
The stakes are obvious, with College Football Playoff and SEC implications hanging over the game.
Heupel also pushed Tennessee fans to get ready for kickoff, encouraging them to take advantage of “half priced half happy hour and get hydrated for the football game on Saturday afternoon.”
On the injury front, Heupel said, “We'll find out here through the week. So, we get on the grass tomorrow and we'll work towards Saturday.”
Quarterback play was another major topic, and Heupel said the extra reps have mattered. “It certainly helps.
It helps everybody. The more reps you get, the better prepared you are.
You know what I mean? Having gone through the looks and made those throws.”
He praised the quarterback’s performance, saying, “Yeah. I thought he was decisive with the football.
He was going to the right spot. Made some plays.
Did some things inside of the pocket that were really positive. You know the third down makes a guy miss, keeps his eyes down the football field.
Collectively as a group we got to do a better job taking care of the football. We got to play smarter and not make it more difficult on ourselves to pre-nap penalties whatever it might be.
So, a lot to clean up collectively as a group but he did a good job.”
As for Alabama, Heupel said the Tide have become more efficient running the ball, while the quarterback has been “a dynamic player” who throws efficiently, piles up yards, and can hurt defenses with his legs. He also noted Alabama can still push the ball downfield if a defense loses track of its responsibilities.
Defensively, Heupel described Alabama as “big, strong, physical up front” with an active second level, and said they have made it difficult to run the football while also forcing turnovers and getting their hands on plenty of passes.
Heupel had positive things to say about one of Tennessee’s own offensive pieces as well, saying, “Yeah, I think his best football is still ahead of him. Anticipated him being in playing a bigger role than he did a year ago.
Just maturity, growth, understanding of what we're doing offensively. Ethan goes down, that role is going to, we knew it was going to continue to increase.
He's done a really good job in the pass game but has done a good job without the ball in his hands as well. And feel like he's playing really well.”
Tennessee’s offense has room to sharpen up after last week, and Heupel didn’t hide that. “Well, in general, we had some opportunities to make some plays down the field.
Did at times didn't. There are some things in the run game that we got to be better at.
The five down look isn't something that we haven't seen previously before, but all in all, I think the biggest thing offensively for us is how do we not change the situation on our own and that's, you know, missed assignment, its penalties, where we're playing behind the sticks.”
When asked about what makes the run game work, he said, “Efficiency, it's blocking, its guy making the guy miss. It's a combination of all guys doing their job at a really high level.”
He also added that the ground game does not always show immediate results. “Well, sometimes the run game, it doesn't just pop right off the bat. There's a totality to the run game, the physical nature of the game, too.”
Heupel said he likes the way Radarious has played, even if the ball has not always gone his way because of coverage or game situations. He also addressed a replay question, saying, “On the coach's footage, it looked like it was close. You know, the official threw the hat right away when he thought he identified it.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Heupel said two players who saw snaps last game should get more opportunities. “Yeah, continuing to grow and develop. Both those guys got some snaps the other day and you know, just the flow of the game. it played out the way that it did but anticipate those guys playing this Saturday.”
He also said a previous play could help build confidence: “Yeah, I think he was confident before he made that play. But it can certainly continue to spur that on.”
Along the offensive line, Heupel acknowledged Tennessee has work to do even though the group did enough to win last week. “Yeah, some the continuity, yes.
There are some things that we got to do better up front. There's things Nic has got to do better, but holistically, it was good enough to get a win.
We're going to need to be better up front in this one.”
He emphasized that the defense must stay sound against Alabama’s physical attack. “Yeah.
Gap integrity, block destruction, tackling fundamentals all go into to how you play. So, you got to be consistent in that.”
And when it comes to the chess match from week to week, Heupel said opponents usually make adjustments, but not wholesale changes. “I think there's, always, you know, week to week some subtle tweaks that, coordinators going to throw in there off of what they're seeing. Less extravagant departures from structure than maybe in the previous years.”
In Other News...
Tennessee Faces One Huge QB Decision Before Alabama Arrives
Josh Heupel still has not said who will get the first snap at quarterback when Tennessee meets Alabama, and that uncertainty hangs over everything the Vols are doing this week. George MacIntyre helped sharpen the conversation with a steady first career start against Arkansas, showing the kind of composure and willingness to attack downfield that can matter in a big-game setting.
MacIntyre finished 18 of 29 for 247 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, a line that reflected both the promise and the risk that come with leaning on a young passer. Faizon Brandon is still working back from injury and had been less effective in recent games, so Tennessee enters one of its biggest games without a clear answer at the sports most important position. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Be Missing The Weapon Tennessee Feared Most
Alabamas passing game may be heading into Saturdays matchup with Tennessee without its most productive target. Ryan Coleman-Williams is not expected to play because of head and leg injuries, and coach Kalen DeBoer said the receiver is also dealing with a knee issue as the Tide work through the week.
For a Tennessee defense already bracing for a major SEC test, the injury status matters because Coleman-Williams has been Alabamas leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season. DeBoer indicated the receiver is expected to be week-to-week after the Tennessee game, leaving the Vols to prepare for a version of Alabama that may look a little different than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Will Notice What Alabama Just Lost After That Game
Ryan Coleman-Williams may be the latest Alabama receiver to miss time after taking a hit in the loss to Georgia, and that matters beyond Tuscaloosa because Tennessee is now staring at a Crimson Tide passing game that could look different in a hurry. Coach Kalen DeBoer said the receiver is unlikely to play against Tennessee after dealing with multiple injuries, including issues to his leg and head, and Alabama is planning to evaluate him week to week.
For Tennessee, the bigger picture is the ripple effect. Alabama may turn to a committee at wide receiver if Coleman-Williams is out, which changes how the Tide can distribute touches and how much pressure the Volunteers can put on the rest of that group. It is one more variable to track before a matchup that already carries plenty of edge, especially for a Tennessee defense trying to sort out what version of Alabama shows up after the Georgia game. [Read more 🡒]