As Tennessee wraps up its 2025 regular season, the rumor mill has been swirling with talk of head coach Josh Heupel potentially being in the mix for the vacancy at Penn State. But according to a well-connected college football insider, that speculation doesn’t appear to hold much weight.
Chris Low, a veteran reporter with deep ties in the college football world, addressed the chatter on a recent podcast appearance. And his message was pretty clear: don’t count on seeing Heupel in Happy Valley anytime soon.
“I’ve not heard Josh’s name at Penn State among anybody that I believe or trust,” Low said. “I think it’s a popular name to throw out there.”
And it makes sense why Heupel’s name would surface. He’s had success.
He’s proven. And when a high-profile job like Penn State opens up, those kinds of coaches naturally enter the conversation.
But Low made a point to highlight the kind of hire Penn State might be looking for - someone established, someone who can bring stability to a program that’s seen its fair share of turbulence in recent years. He referenced Florida’s coaching carousel and Auburn’s recent hire of Alex Golesh - their fourth head coach in seven years - as cautionary tales of what happens when programs can’t find the right fit.
For Tennessee, Heupel might already be that fit. And more importantly, he seems deeply committed to the challenge he’s taken on in Knoxville.
“Tennessee is a good enough job, and he has done enough and done a lot of the heavy lifting,” Low said. “Does he want to go and start that heavy lifting again at a place where you win nine games, 10 games, and it’s not going to be enough?”
That’s the heart of the conversation. Heupel has built something at Tennessee - and while the 2025 season didn’t end the way Vols fans hoped, there’s no question he’s elevated the program since his arrival.
This year’s campaign closed on a sour note, with a rough 45-24 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium. The Commodores went on a 31-3 run to finish the game, handing Tennessee an 8-4 overall record, including 4-4 in SEC play. It was a turbulent season, no doubt, especially coming off a chaotic offseason that tested the program’s depth and direction.
Still, Heupel’s body of work speaks for itself. In five seasons at the helm, he’s compiled a 45-19 record (24-16 in the SEC).
He’s delivered two 10-win regular seasons, including a 2024 campaign that saw the Vols punch their ticket to the expanded College Football Playoff as the 9-seed. Tennessee’s run ended in Columbus, where they fell to eventual national champion Ohio State in the opening round - but just getting there was a major step forward for the program.
And when it comes to rivalry games, Heupel has more than held his own. He’s undefeated against Kentucky (5-0), has a winning record against Florida (3-2) and Vanderbilt (4-1), and has split games with Alabama (2-3). Georgia, led by Kirby Smart, remains the one major hurdle he hasn’t cleared yet.
Heupel is under contract through January 2030, with a $9 million annual salary - not counting bonuses and incentives. That’s the kind of long-term commitment that signals Tennessee’s belief in his vision and leadership.
So while his name might pop up in conversations about big-time job openings, there’s no strong indication he’s looking to start over. He’s done the hard work of rebuilding Tennessee, and there’s still unfinished business in Knoxville. For now, it looks like Heupel is staying put - and the Vols are still his project.