It’s far too early to call Josh Heupel the second coming of Gen. Robert Neyland. However, Heupel is off to a good start. There’s no denying that.
Tennessee’s 34-27 overtime win over Pittsburgh on Saturday was the Vols’ first game in the state of Pennsylvania. That’s far from the only notable aspect of the victory over the Panthers.
Here are some achievements that shouldn’t be taken for granted:
Top Vol
With the win against Pitt, Heupel has more wins against AP Top 20 opponents on the road (two) than Tennessee’s previous three coaches combined. Now, no one is confusing Jeremy Pruitt, Butch Jones or Derek Dooley with an elite coach, so the accomplishment has to be taken into perspective. However, Heupel achieved the feat by beating a tough Pittsburgh team this season and a very formidable Kentucky team, 45-42, in Lexington, Ky., last season.
As for those other guys, Pruitt is coaching for the New York Giants when he’s not at the poker tables. He never beat a top 20 team on the road. Neither did Jones nor Dooley. Jones is trying to re-establish himself as a competent head coach at Arkansas State. Dooley was hired as an analyst at Alabama just like about every other fired coach that needs a career boost. Former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin would have beaten a top 20 team on the road had it not been for the infamous “Mt. Cody” game in Tuscaloosa against Alabama in 2009.
Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer beat 13 teams on the road that were ranked in the AP Top 20 during his 17 seasons as a head coach. Former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors won six such games in 16 seasons.
Tops in the AP era
Heupel has done something that no other coach in college football history has been able to accomplish. Heupel has recorded a road win (non-neutral) over a top 20 team in each of his first two season as a Vol. According to Tennessee’s sports information department, no coach has ever pulled off that feat at any school in the AP era, which began in 1936.
Tough to stop
Receiver Cedric Tillman has proven very adept at making plays against ranked teams. The senior has averaged 7.8 receptions, 135.4 yards receiving and a touchdown per game against ranked teams over the past two seasons. That includes games against No. 17 Pitt this season as well as match-ups against No. 1 Georgia, No. 18 Kentucky, No. 2 Alabama and No. 13 Ole Miss last season.
Ranking Review
Tennessee has achieved its highest ranking in the AP Poll since Oct. 14, 2020 when the Vols were coming off a win against Missouri and were ranked No. 14. The Vols are currently No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
Overtime Overtures
Tennessee became the winningest overtime team in NCAA history with their win over Pitt. The Vols are now 14-9. They were tied with Arkansas in overtime wins before Saturday. The victory also marked Tennessee’s first road win over a top-20, non-conference opponent since defeating No. 6 Miami in 2003.
