Josh Heupel has completely rejuvenated the Tennessee football program in his four years on Rocky Top. He has won 37 games in his four seasons, including two double-digit win seasons and a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Despite his recent success and his ability to continue building the football program to its highest level since the Phillip Fulmer era, Heupel has dropped outside the top five in the SEC football coaches' ranking, at least according to Grok.
Grok is Elon Musk's AI model that rivals ChatGPT. Saturday Down South asked Grok to rank the SEC's football coaches, and the results were mostly spot on.
According to Grok, Georgia's Kirby Smart is the best coach in the SEC. Smart has won two national championships at Georgia and is the only head coach in the SEC to win a national title.
Texas' Steve Sarkisian, Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, LSU's Brian Kelly, and Alabama's Kalen DeBoer follow Smart to round out the top five.
Heupel is No. 6 in the rankings, right outside the top five. Grok credits Heupel's ranking outside the top five with his inability to win against other top teams.
"Why: Heupel's 38-14 record at Tennessee, including a 2024 CFP berth (10-3), reflects a remarkable revival. His high-octane offense is a strength, but consistency against top teams remains a question."
This has been the most prevalent issue, with Tennessee struggling to win on the road. Every season, Tennessee has lost a game it probably shouldn't have on the road. Arkansas in 2024, Florida and Missouri in 2023, South Carolina in 2022, and Florida in 2021.
If Tennessee can get over that hump in road games against inferior opponents, the Vols could be a threat to win the SEC in the near future. Until then, they will continue to be a fringe SEC Championship and College Football Playoff team.
To round out the top ten, the coaches behind Heupel are Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, Texas A&M's Mike Elko, South Carolina's Shane Beamer, and Kentucky's Mark Stoops.
Tennessee is currently in the middle of spring practice as they prepare for the 2025 Orange and White Game on April 12.