Paul Finebaum explains why Josh Heupel is under pressure entering Week 1

After a difficult offseason, the regular season is finally here for the Tennessee Volunteers. For head coach Josh Heupel, it’s exciting to turn things over to actual games, even if analysts like Paul Finebaum still think there’s a lot of pressure on him in Week 1.

Finebaum explained on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning that after losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the Volunteers are going to be tested right away against a good Syracuse team. That means that Heupel will immediately have questions to answer.

“I think another coach that’s playing a tricky game is Josh Heupel,” Paul Finebaum said. “Tennessee’s had another offseason like Auburn with Nico leaving, a lot of people wondering. This was a Playoff team last December. We’re going to have to remind people that a lot of times, but Syracuse is coming off a big year. I feel pretty comfortable with [Joey] Aguilar at Tennessee, but I also think that’s a game that you better keep your eyes on.”

After taking Tennessee to the College Football Playoff, Josh Heupel saw his quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, look for an increase in NIL. He wasn’t able to force the school’s hand, though, and instead decided to transfer. That forced the Volunteers to bring in their own transfer addition with Joey Aguilar.

At the time, Heupel was largely credited as doing the right thing and navigating the Iamaleava situation as well as possible. Finebaum, in particular, praised Heupel. At the time, he said that Tennessee made the right call and that “I don’t know of a college football coach who is more secure than Josh Heupel.” At the same time, Finebaum also set the bar lower for Tennessee in 2025 because of the move.

Josh Heupel does have a track record of success now at Tennessee. Since getting to Knoxville in 2021, Heupel is 37-15. That’s included two double-digit win seasons, a trip to the College Football Playoff, and a memorable win over Alabama. That, at the same time, raised expectations.

Tennessee opens the season with a neutral-site game against Syracuse in Atlanta. The Orange are coming off a season where they went 10-3. Syracuse has its own turnover, but that’s not easing into the regular season either.

Josh Heupel sets expectation for Tennessee’s identity entering 2025 season

After the offseason, Tennessee is going to have a new look from last season. With that, Josh Heupel has set a new expectation for the team’s identity.

“Leadership, accountability, and then we get to playing, the effort and attitude that we approach every day with. The consistency of ultimately what our fans are going to see on Saturdays. But to do that, you’ve got to be consistent every single day. That’s what I expect from our guys, and what I think I’m going to get,” Heupel said.

“Be where your feet are at I think it’s really important here through training camp. And through that, if you are where your feet are at, you’re going to drain everything out of it. That’s all of it. The practice field, it’s in the meeting room, it’s recovery. All the things that ultimately go into them being their best. And collectively, if you do that, you’re going to take big steps forward. And every team in the country, at this point, has got to take big steps.”