Josh Heupel gives biggest takeaway from what he learned in playoff loss to Ohio State

Tennessee made its first ever appearance in the College Football Playoff last season as the No. 9 seed with a 10-2 record. The ‘Vols were sent to Columbus for a First Round matchup at Ohio State, where things quickly went south.

Josh Heupel‘s team fell into a 21-0 deficit before the end of the first quarter, quickly ending Tennessee‘s promising season. Although it kept pace with the Buckeyes over the final three quarters (Ohio State won the final three quarters 21-17), the ‘Vols fell 42-17.

Heupel gave his biggest takeaway from what he learned in that playoff loss at this week’s SEC Media Days event in Atlanta, GA.

“Ultimately we wanted to coach and play a lot better and get a different result,” Heupel said. “Everything that you go through, you learn things from and for us as a football team being able to handle that moment and prepare, play and coach better. Some of the tools that we need in our tool belt as well ultimately comes down to us being better on that night and in the lead up to that game.”

In that matchup, the Buckeyes drove 75 yards on their opening possession for six, capped off by a 37-yard passing touchdown from Will Howard to Jeremiah Smith. Tennessee quickly went three-and-out, allowing yet another Ohio State touchdown drive. Now trailing 14-0, another Volunteer three-and-out and another Buckeye touchdown put Tennessee in a hole it could not climb out of.

Josh Heupel gives update on Tennessee quarterback battle

Tennessee‘s starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who passed for just 104 yards and 0 touchdowns in the loss, however is no longer with the program after surprisingly announcing his transfer to UCLA in the offseason. Heupel gave an update on the quarterback battle on Tuesday.

“We will have a competition at the quarterback position,” Heupel said. “Three guys inside of that room — really proud of what they’ve done. Joey [Aguilar] since he got there in May. [Jake] Merklinger and George MacIntyre— what those two guys have done since they’ve been on campus. But I’m really proud of the steps they’ve taken through the summer and how they’ve developed relationships and rapport with the guys around them. Their ability to compete in a positive way with eachother in the meeting room and on the field. Their ability to have leadership traits and continue to grow in that.”

Last season at App State, Aguilar passed for 3,003 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for a program that finished with a 5-6 record. Merklinger attempted nine passes as a freshman last season, totaling just 48 yards. MacIntyre, who is an incoming freshman, was tabbed as On3’s No. 15 ranked quarterback in the Class of 2025.

“I’m really excited to get on the field with those guys,” Heupel continued. “We’ve found a way to win with different quarterbacks in my career on the offensive side of the ball and we’re gonna find a way to win with the guy that earns the starting spot as we go through training camp here in August.”

The new look Tennessee Volunteers open their 2025 schedule on August 30 against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game.