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Tennessee football: 2021 schedule could give Josh Heupel early momentum

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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On the same day Josh Heupel was introduced as the new head coach of the Tennessee football program, the Vols’ 2021 schedule was revealed by the SEC. One look at that slate gives the Vols a chance to do what Danny White said he wanted to do.

White talked about wanting to make an early splash rather than finding a coach who could be great three years down the road. Given the NCAA investigations and possible probation that’s coming, the early splash could help the program stabilize.

An innovative offensive mind with an easy slate can do just that. Heupel may have defensive issues, but he’s been an offensive genius everywhere. There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that Tennessee football will score points.

What about the schedule itself? Before it was revealed Wednesday, it was already clear that the Vols had a favorable slate. They were going to play eight home games with their non-conference Power Five opponent being the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Ole Miss Rebells being their SEC West opponent.

Although they may lose to Pitt and Ole Miss, those aren’t the toughest draws in a season, and both are at home. More importantly, though, is how the slate lines up. The Vols are positioned to get off to a 3-0 start. Their first game is at home against the Bowling Green Falcons. That’s not a sure win, but you have to imagine UT will be favored in that one.

Pitt comes to town after Bowling Green. Pat Narduzzi’s team returns its top offensive weapons, including its quarterback, but they have to replace their key guys up front on defense from a team that went 6-5 last year. That means this game could be a shootout, and UT has Pitt at home. As a result, there’s a chance the Vols will be favored in this one as well.

If they beat both of those teams, Heupel then gets to face the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, the final team of the 2021 slate added to the schedule today. That one is a game UT could win any year sleepwalking.

Simply put, Tennessee football is in great position to get off to a 3-0 start with a ton of scoring in the process to excite the fan base. Sure, things get way more brutal after that as they visit the Florida Gators and what will be a much-improved Missouri Tigers team.

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In fact, a seven-game losing streak is possible after those first three games, and at this point, losing six out of seven seems likely. The Vols still have to host the South Carolina Gamecocks and Ole Miss Rebels after Florida and Mizzou. Then they visit the Alabama Crimson Tide and Kentucky Wildcats before hosting the Georgia Bulldogs.

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Okay, so that could tank the season. But should we really write off Missouri, South Carolina and Ole Miss as losses? What happens if, with this newfound offense and that early confidence, the Vols shock the world and win those three games. Then they’ll be 6-1 getting set to face Alabama.

Between Bama and Kentucky, they have a bye, so despite having to travel to Lexington, Ky., you can’t ever count them out in that game. What if they shock the world and win that one to get to 7-2 before a sure loss to Georgia?

A combination of confidence, the schedule lining up and a new head coach with offensive flare could have Tennessee football at 7-3 before their final two games against the South Alabama Jaguars and Vanderbilt Commodores, both of which they are expected to win. Could 9-3 be possible in Heupel’s first year, giving him the momentum he needs?

Realistically speaking, the Vols would probably only be favored against Bowling Green, Tennessee Tech, South Carolina, South Alabama and Vanderbilt right now. Pittsburgh and Ole Miss would then be tossup games, and the other five would be considered likely losses with Alabama, Georgia and Florida as sure losses.

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Early on, you can see a range from 4-8 to 9-3. However, two circled wins and a tossup game to start the year could get Tennessee football to 3-0 before things get tough. Just a bit of confidence is often all a team needs to build early momentum, and this schedule allows for that.

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