And I’m not just referring to its 26-10 victory over Alabama in its most recent home game on Oct. 17. That performance was measured in decibels as much as points.
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UT fans made so much noise that its stadium is being recognized as the nation’s loudest college venue.
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel high-fives Tennessee offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. (70) during a football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 17, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel high-fives Tennessee offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. (70) during a football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 17, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel shakes hands with Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre (12) after a college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 10, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel celebrates with Tennessee offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. (70) after winning a college football game between Tennessee and Auburn at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 3, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel walks off the field after the loss to Texas during a college football game on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel chats with Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) during Tennessee’s college football game against Kennesaw State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Sept. 19, 2026.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel after a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Sept. 12, 2026.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel during a Tennessee football game against Furman at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 5, 2026.
(Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel makes a face after Tennessee is called offsides during the 2025 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Dec. 30, 2025.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel and athletic director Danny White celebrate after defeating Florida in an NCAA college football game on November 22, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel checks on Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman (87) and he is tended to during an NCAA college football game between New Mexico State and Tennessee on November 15, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel takes a picture with his son, Jace Heupel, before a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on November 1, 2025.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel points to the running clock while yelling at the referees for a timeout during a college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel high fives Tennessee running back Star Thomas (9) after the Vols defeated Mississippi State in overtime at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Sept. 27, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel walks off the field after the loss to Georgia in an NCAA college football game on September 13, 2025, Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel speaks after the Aflac Kickoff Game between the Volunteers and Syracuse held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 30, 2025.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason (20) hugs Josh Heupel during senior day ceremonies before the start of the NCAA college football game against UTEP on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Knoxville News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel after a NCAA football game between Tennessee and Kentucky in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
(Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Josh Heupel exits the field after winning a game between Tennessee and Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel celebrates after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
From right, Josh Heupel, Nico Iamaleava, and Bru McCoy at the Morgan Wallen concert at Neyland Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel slaps hands with Tennessee offensive lineman Lance Heard (53) after the win over NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic NCAA College football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Charlotte, NC.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel with his players during the NCAA college football game against Missouri on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in Columbia, MO.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and players celebrate during a football game between Tennessee and UTSA at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Tennessee defeated UTSA 45-14.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel pleads with an official during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel and Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) celebrate after winning the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel yells to an official during a game between Tennessee and Missouri in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022.
(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel during Tennessee’s game against Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is swarmed by fans storming the field after Tennessee defeated Alabama 52-49 in Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.
(Jamar Coach/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Kirk Herbstreit and Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during ESPN’s College GameDay show held outside of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. The college football pregame show returned to Knoxville for the second time this season for No. 8 Tennessee’s SEC rivalry game against No. 1 Alabama.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and his children Jace and Hannah before Tennessee’s game against Ball State in Neyland Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel congratulates Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after a play during football game between Tennessee and Ball State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel talks with head ball coach Steve Spurrier after an awards ceremony for the Steve Spurrier First Year Coach Award given by the Football Writers Association of America, held at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, in Gainesville, Feb. 21, 2022. This is the first year of this award and there were co-winners, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer and Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel.
(Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel disputes a call during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel throws the football to his son Jace before a football game against South Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel speaks with Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel high-fives fans after defeating Kentucky 45-42 at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel celebrates a touchdown by Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel disputes a call during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel high fives players after a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel greets fans during the Vol Walk ahead of a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.
(Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel walks off the field after his in win the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
New Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel speaks during a basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kansas Jayhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, January 30, 2021.
(Caitie McMekin/Pool via News Sentinel)
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Josh Heupel, Tennessee football coach in his sixth season with the UT Vols
Josh Heupel arrives in Knoxville on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
You know what happens when a fan base gets a reputation like that?
Answer: It tries to get even louder.
Tennessee 27, Kentucky 20: The Wildcats have a better record and a higher national ranking than the Vols. Moreover, Kentucky is clearly headed in the right direction under first-year coach Will Stein.
But history tells us that Tennessee is always the wrong direction for Kentucky football, which has lost 38 of the previous 41 games in the series.
South Carolina 31, Texas A&M 23: Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, aka Hot Seat Beamer, was predictably exuberant after a 42-25 victory over Oklahoma.
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“Nobody in the SEC has been able to do what we did – a big win followed by another big win,” he told reporters.
South Carolina also is the only SEC team to lose games by blowing 17- and 16-point leads this season. But that’s ancient history.
In fact, the Gamecocks have had three consecutive “big wins.” A victory over disappointing Texas A&M will count as a “little win.”
Florida 26, Oklahoma 20: The Gators and Sooners are coming off bad losses. But that’s not all they have in common.
Both teams should be ecstatic that they don’t have to contend with South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
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He accounted for five touchdowns in South Carolina’s 38-19 victory over Florida on Oct. 10. Three weeks later, he accounted for another five touchdowns in a 42-25 victory over Oklahoma.
Auburn 30, Arkansas 19: If you’re looking for excitement, don’t go near this matchup.
Excitement for Auburn is quarterback Byrum Brown running over somebody. Excitement for Arkansas is not getting run over by anybody.
LSU 31, Alabama 17: The Tide have won 13 of the past 15 games in this series. But you don’t need that much history to know how this game will turn out.
Just check what happened to Alabama on Oct. 17. Tennessee’s defense dominated the Tide from start to finish.
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Alabama could have just as much trouble against LSU’s defense, which has allowed only 44 points in five games at Tiger Stadium.
Mississippi State 20, Vanderbilt 18: Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby spent most of last week trying to decide whether AJ Swann or Billy Puckett should be his starting quarterback.
In fact, neither one is a good option, as the 31-3 loss to Texas proved.
The Bulldogs have scored only 18 points in their past three games as they struggle to replace injured quarterback Kamario Taylor. He was being mentioned in the same sentence with Heisman before suffering a season-ending injury.
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Vanderbilt has problems of its own, including a penchant for penalties (nine per game).
But rather than dwell on the negatives, please note that both teams have good kickers.
Georgia 27, Ole Miss 23: If Bulldogs fans belabor comparative scores, they should be terrified at the possibility of facing the Rebels on the road.
A week after Auburn upset Georgia, Ole Miss beat the Tigers by 30 points.
But comparing scores can leave you spinning in circles. For example, Florida beat Ole Miss by 28 points. And Georgia just beat the Gators by 19 points.
Rather than get caught up in numbers, I prefer to focus on motivation. And what’s more motivating than revenge?
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Ole Miss knocked Georgia out of the College Football Playoff last season.
Missouri 23, Texas 20: Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning routinely takes a beating from critics. But he took a physical beating in a victory over Mississippi State.
Beating aside, he didn’t throw an interception. That’s progress, especially since he has a habit of throwing deep into double coverage.
Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons isn’t a running threat like Manning. But he protects the football.
Simmons has thrown 16 touchdown passes but only two interceptions.
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Record: 69-16 (.812), 56-29 (.659) against the spread.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
