Tennessee is back at Neyland Stadium this weekend, but Josh Heupel isn’t interested in hearing the word “tune-up” attached to Saturday night’s matchup with Kennesaw State.
The Volunteers, off to a 2-0 start, host the Owls on Saturday night in a game that many outside the program may view as a comfortable breather. Tennessee opened as a 35.5-point favorite on DraftKings, and Kennesaw State arrives at 1-1. The Owls have won 11 of their last 14 games and claimed a Conference USA title last season under Jerry Mack, the former Tennessee running backs coach now in his second year leading the program.
But during his Monday press conference, Heupel pushed back hard on the idea that this is anything less than a real game.
“It’s not a tune-up,” Heupel said. “You better show up every Saturday. You look at the scores, media, your family, your girlfriend, whoever; they might wanna pigeonhole you as this, but you decide who you are collectively as a team and as a program.”
Heupel’s delivery made the point land even harder in person, and the message was clear: Tennessee is not treating this week like a formality. That approach fits the way Heupel has handled these matchups since taking over in Knoxville.
According to Tennessee Athletics, “Josh Heupel owns a 23-4 record against non-conference opponents, including a 21-1 mark in the regular season with 20 consecutive regular season non-conference victories. In each of those 22 regular-season contests, Heupel’s teams have put up at least 30 points.”
That kind of track record helps explain why Heupel has little patience for any suggestion that a game like this can be taken lightly. He is 17-0 against opponents with a below .500 record, and while Kennesaw State does not fit that description right now, the standard in the Tennessee building does not change based on the opponent.
The Vols have looked sharp to open the year, starting with a 56-9 win over Furman before beating Georgia Tech 45-24 in Atlanta last weekend. There are still things to tighten up, but Tennessee has handled its first two tests with plenty of margin.
Saturday’s meeting with Kennesaw State will be Tennessee’s final tune-up before SEC play begins next weekend against Texas in Knoxville.
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Kennesaw State redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Kinney is a former Bearden High School athlete, giving the trip to Knoxville a little extra meaning. Kinney has already seen game action for the Owls and has handled both field goals and extra points, so even in a game that figures to draw attention for Tennessees side, there is at least one local name worth keeping an eye on once the ball gets kicked. [Read more 🡒]
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Which Former Vol Delivered Week 1s Biggest NFL Moment
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There was more than one Volunteer footprint across the league, too, as other Tennessee alumni made their debuts or got on the field in season openers. The broader takeaway for Tennessee fans is familiar and encouraging: the programs recent veterans are not just hanging around NFL rosters, they are showing up in roles that matter. Even with one headline moment stealing the spotlight, Week 1 offered a fuller snapshot of how many former Vols are carving out real jobs on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]