The ghosts of the past have come back to haunt Josh Heupel! The Tennessee Volunteers were on an unlucky streak for years. But with Josh Heupel’s arrival, the team currently stands at a 36-14 record, including this year’s spectacular 9-2. Until Week 12, it was a straight path. Win the last three games, and you’re into the playoffs and the SEC championship game. However, all that went of a toss with a loss against the Bulldogs.

Much was exposed by Kirby Smart’s boys. Some of it on the offensive side of things showed signs earlier as well, but Tennessee’s visit to Athens brought everything out to the public glare as they lost 31-17. Most importantly, it’s about their O-line and how Nico Iamaleava is managing things. Although our guy has heard enough from the experts and analysts, here comes another shot from them directly hitting Nico and Josh Heupel.

On the November 22 episode of Off the Hook Sports, industry insiders humorously took a jab at Josh Heupel for his past mistakes and the lack of recruiting talent. Caleb Calhoun started the discussion by highlighting how Iamaleava’s performance hasn’t been up to the mark…

“I thought Nico was the perfect fit for this offensive system. Now, I’m not so sure from what I’ve seen. I wonder if he might be better in another system. He’s got a tremendous arm, we always talked about Joe Milton’s arm and how you know he could he could kill a receiver hitting him in the head with a pass and and how far he could throw…but I I’m not seeing this guy with the the RPOs. I’m not seeing the running instincts that came to mind when I’m watching him against…I haven’t seen that this season. I still think he’s really talented…he doesn’t seem to be as good a fit in this offense as I thought he would be,” he said.

However, he also took a hilarious dig at the Volunteers HC for his past choices that many left scratching their heads…“Maybe, the fact that Josh Heupel wanted him[Nico] so bad is why we knew he wasn’t a fit. Because this is the same Josh Heupel who thought Joe Milton was a fit for his offense there,” Calhoun said.

Remember how confident Josh Heupel was when he selected Joe Milton for his team? Later, Milton was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. What makes it more dramatic is that Josh Heupel made him start the 2021 season, and his backup was none other than Hendon Hooker. When Milton faced an injury, Hooker took the driving seat and produced numerous solid outings for Tennessee. Later, Hooker was picked up in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Dave Hooker, adding to Calhoun’s point, said, “We wouldn’t know who Hendon Hooker was if Josh Heupel had his way.” John Adams concurred with both Calhoun and Hooker. “He went out of his way to find Joe Milton and bring him to Tennessee. That was, I mean, he saw Hendon Hooker and said, ‘No, I gotta have something better’. And he decided Joe Milton was something better, and we all know better now.”

Analysts here are joking by recalling the same example and connecting it with Nico Iamaleava’s case. And why not? Because the season is about to end, Iamaleava is standing with a poor 65% completion rate for 2,255 yards, 15 TDs and four interceptions so far this season.

In Tennessee’s last game against Georgia, he just had 20 of 33 passing for 167 yards with no touchdowns! That makes sense to what these analysts are pointing at. With Nico Iamaleava on the hot seat, what can be the playoff chances for the Vols?

Tennessee’s CFP hopes: What’s holding them back?

Vols fans must be worried right now, but let’s address the elephant in the room. Tennessee’s sitting at no. 11 in the latest CFP rankings. It stings! Now Greg McElroy revealed it all on the Always College Football Show, and he addressed all the hot topics surrounding Josh Heupel’s team. “If I were Tennessee, I’d be looking at this. I’d say, man, we beat the seventh-ranked team and yet we’re four spots behind them? And if the playoffs started tomorrow, we would be in the field?”

McElroy recalled when Tennessee beat the Bama when they were no. 7. Looking at the current scenario, the Vols are four spots behind Alabama. But McElroy talked on behalf of the committee about why they’re not convinced with the Vols. First, the strength of their schedule; the combined chart of the teams they’ve crushed is 29-41. Compare it to Bama, 45-25, Georgia, 40-30, and Ole Miss, 38-32.

Now comes the real deal. McElroy pointed out that Tennessee’s only victory over a team above .500 is the Crimson Tide. On the other hand, SEC opponents have multiple ranked wins. “That’s what’s holding the committee back. Tennessee has beaten one team with an above-.500 record. that’s bama… With Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama? They have multiple top wins and Tennessee has one.”

So, what’s the way for the Vols now? “There’s not a lot they can do. But if Texas loses to A&M, that could open a door,” McElroy admitted. Well, that’s a pretty pathetic situation that Josh Heupel’s Vols are standing on. Let’s see what happens in their final two games.