Josh Heupel ended the Penn State speculation as soon as it reached him. His name surfaced in several reports once the Nittany Lions opened a high-profile vacancy, and the timing of Tennessee’s late-season slide only fueled the chatter.
After a rough loss to Vanderbilt and growing frustration among the fanbase, outside voices questioned whether Heupel might consider a reset elsewhere. He made his stance clear. Heupel said he is not a candidate at Penn State and emphasized that he remains committed to Tennessee’s climb.
His message focused on building the program higher, not walking away from it. The Vols still have a chance to reach nine wins for the fourth straight year, something only Alabama and Georgia have matched in the SEC across this stretch. That level of consistency is why Heupel believes bigger seasons are still ahead.
“I wouldn’t want low expectations,” Heupel told Chris Low of On3. “That’s part of why I want to be here. We’ll win big.”
NEW: Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel tells @clowfb that he’s NOT a candidate for the Penn State job❌
“I wouldn’t want low expectations. That’s part of why I want to be here. We’ll win big.”https://t.co/cJupe7PBVT pic.twitter.com/3XKPxPRs9t
— On3 (@On3sports) December 1, 2025
Tennessee reached the College Football Playoff under his watch, produced an 11-win campaign in 2022, and ended long droughts against major rivals. But this season also revealed cracks.
The Vanderbilt loss was the breaking point, and the rumors arrived at the worst possible moment. Heupel’s response steadied everything. He reaffirmed the expectations in Knoxville and stated he intends to meet them head-on rather than seek the exit.
Josh Heupel on Tim Banks and Defensive Struggles
The defensive collapse has shifted focus onto coordinator Tim Banks. His unit allowed nearly thirty points per game, matching the struggles from Heupel’s first season. The Vanderbilt game amplified every concern.
Tennessee gave up more than five hundred yards, lost contain on quarterback scrambles, and missed routine tackles in space. It was their worst defensive outing of the year and a symbol of the overall slide.
Banks received a sizeable extension last offseason, and Heupel has never fired an assistant in his head-coaching career. That stability may protect him, but the numbers have stirred pressure.
“There’s been a lot of things that we’ve had to deal with in the beginning (and) middle parts of the season,” Heupel said. “I thought we took some steps during the course of the year. Guys were thrust into some roles probably earlier than you would want.”
Heupel hinted that the problems were not entirely on Banks. He pointed to issues that hit the defense early and never eased. Heupel’s comments suggested patience more than blame.
The evaluation is ongoing, but the tone indicated he understands the circumstances Banks faced. Whether that translates into continuity or structural changes will define Tennessee’s offseason.
Read More:
Who Are Caden Durham’s Parents? Meet the Family Behind LSU’s Star RB
Who Are Joey Aguilar’s Parents? The Family Behind Tennessee’s Promising QB
College Football 2026 Recruiting Class Rankings
2025 Heisman Trophy Odds and Favorites
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
