A few days back, ESPN College GameDay host Kirk Hebstreit was all about teasing the Week 11 College GameDay location. Not just this. Herbstreit kept the college football fans on the edge, hinting that Patrick Mahomes could be the celebrity guest picker. This time, he came up with a sharp message only for the Tennessee Volunteers. Not just for now, but for the next century, he feels that no one other than Josh Heupel deserves to savor the head coaching throne in Knoxville. 

From his Nonstop with Kirk & Joey podcast, he shared a clip on X on November 3. Kirk Herbstreit kept things sharp and straight, “I heard some nonsense from Tennessee fans about, ‘Josh Heupel’s gotta go! Ugh! Everybody’s gonna, whoever loses has gotta go.’ Man, bulls—! Have you thought about where Tennessee’s football program was before Josh Heupel got there? Off the field issues, drama…You should be just like, lock Josh Heupel and his staff down for a 100 years.” 

He has won on the road more frequently and against better competition than most SEC coaches. Since Heupel rolled into Knoxville in 2021, the Vols have been road warriors, tied for the third-most SEC wins over ranked teams away from home, behind only Georgia and Alabama. Moreover, regarding conference road trips, only five programs have fared better. But someone just does not want to live in the past. 

Before Kirk Herbstreit, John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel wasn’t exactly handing out gold stars to Heupel. He called out the Vols’ failure to stop Oklahoma’s John Mateer and what he’s long branded a “pedestrian” offense under Ben Arbuckle. After all, it’s the same unit that could not move the chains against the Texas Longhorns or the Ole Miss Rebels. 

Tennessee’s offense came out firing, stacking up 255 yards and 17 first downs in the first half. However, they couldn’t turn that production into points. Costly mistakes told the story instead, with three turnovers, a pair of second-quarter interceptions, and a missed field goal stalling their momentum. That’s when analyst Richard G. West tweeted, “Rumors in the Tennessee AD office this morning of a potential Josh Heupel buyout.” 

Significantly, Tennessee handed Heupel a significant raise to $9 million per year in January 2023, along with an extension through the 2028 football season. If the Vols fire him without cause, they would be paying him 100% of his remaining salary, which is equivalent to $37.5 million. The fact that the ground beneath Heupel gets all heated up, LSU might make the most of the golden opportunity. 

The LSU smoke surrounding Josh Heupel’s future

When Heupel showed up in 2021, Tennessee was smoldering. Fast forward to 2025, a 43-18 record and a 2024 Playoff appearance later, and the Vols have found something rare in Knoxville, stability. Forget Tennessee fans turning up the ‘fire’ demands. LSU fans came up with something interesting. On November 2, James LSU tweeted, “Via Tennessee message board: Heupel to LSU smoke is real (post has now been taken down).” It came with some serious tea.

The Volquest post, now deleted, came from a Vols message board claiming, “The LSU stuff is real. They have talked and his attorney is involved.” If that was not enough, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman spiced things up. He came up with inside news, claiming, “An SEC head coach with an explosive offense is intriguing some ADs looking for a new coach.” But will Heupel be ready to take up Kelly’s hot seat, given the political hoopla in Baton Rouge?

Not only did Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry snatch recruiting powers from AD Scott Woodward, but he also fired him. He has kept things straight and sharp for Kelly’s predecessor, “And the question becomes is like, do we need $100 million to lure a coach?… My biggest concern is the fans because those fans in there are all taxpayers, and a lot of those fans over there didn’t go to LSU. They just enjoy LSU football, and I want to see a great winning team.”

However, there is one coach who might be standing in the middle of whichever path Josh Heupel wishes to take. Talking about Tennessee, Richard G. West tweeted, “The only name being thrown out there is Lane Kiffin as a replacement. Kiffin has referenced many times how much he misses Tennessee.”

On the other hand, LSU alum Ryan Clark came with a demand for Jeff Landry: “Keep Verge [Ausberry] as AD, and go get Lane Kiffin!! Rise from the ashes Tigers!! #GeauxTigers.” After Kirk Herbstreit’s comments, we’ll see if Tennessee decides to give Josh Heupel the flowers he deserves and keeps him locked in.