Josh Heupel hoping his Rocky Top reset helps No. 20 Tennessee meet high expectations

Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel is taking steps to revamp his No. 20 team in hopes of meeting high expectations. After an underwhelming season and a disappointing loss in a bowl game, Heupel fired his defensive coordinator and brought in Jim Knowles, who previously had success against Tennessee in the 2024 College Football Playoff.

He also hired Derek Owings as the new strength coach. Tennessee's offense, which ranked sixth nationally in scoring last season, is expected to remain strong, but they will need a new starting quarterback. Freshman George MacIntyre and transfer Faizon Brandon, ranked No. 3 by 247Sports, are the top options, both standing at 6-4 and 225 pounds.

The Vols have a solid offensive line returning five starters and added more talent through transfers Ory Williams and Donovan Haslam. On the defensive side, the team will rely on the run game and faces challenges with a thin edge rusher after losing their top player. With the first game against Furman on Sept. 5, Heupel and his staff will be working to implement the changes and see if they make a difference.