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Tennessee football: Ranking head coaches on Vols’ 2022 schedule

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel (right) meet at midfield after the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (left) and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel (right) meet at midfield after the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz walks on the field during warm ups before a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg
Missouri Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz walks on the field during warm ups before a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg /

3rd season (4th overall). player. Pick Analysis. Missouri Tigers. Eliah Drinkwitz. 9. 822. Scouting Report

23-13

  • Appalachian State Mountaineers: 2019 (12-1)
  • Missouri Tigers: 2020 to present (11-12)

It seemed as if Eli Drinkwitz was destined to shoot up the rankings last year. He had won the Sun Belt with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in 2019, and he surprised everybody by going 5-5 with the Missouri Tigers in 2020. They entered last year a cusp top 25 team, and initially, they were almost a circled loss for Tennessee football.

However, the opposite happened. After starting the year 2-2 with close losses to the Kentucky Wildcats and Boston College Eagles, they were already looking a bit disappointing. Then the Vols traveled to Columbia to kick off October and absolutely demolished them, winning 62-24.

That was the arrival of UT under Josh Heupel, and it immediately raised concerns around Drinkwitz. Maybe Heupel was the better hire for Mizzou in 2020 after all, as he had spent time as an offensive coordinator there and saw lots of success. Either way, he stumbled to a 6-7 year, which is objectively worse than 5-5 when facing all SEC teams.

Also, Drinkwitz was lucky to be 6-7. He beat South Carolina by a field goal and Florida by one in overtime in November. Losing to the Army Black Knights in a bowl game was embarrassing. That conference title and beating Shane Beamer last year puts him a bit higher, but he may fall.

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