Tennessee Has A BIG Josh Heupel Problem...

The Tennessee Vols are 5-1, but the latest Big Orange Podcast asks whether the current state of the program is actually good enough. Zach Ragan and Charlie Burris discuss the growing debate among Tennessee fans after the Vols escaped Arkansas and look at the bigger questions surrounding Josh Heupel, the offense and Tennessee's roster construction. Tennessee finally won in Fayetteville for the first time since 2001, but the victory did little to quiet concerns about the offense. That has created a split among Tennessee fans. Some believe the Vols are 5-1, ranked in the top 15 and still firmly in the College Football Playoff race, so fans should simply enjoy the wins. Others believe Tennessee's offense is nowhere near good enough for a program in Year 6 of the Josh Heupel era. Zach and Charlie argue that both sides have a point. Heupel has undeniably brought Tennessee back to a much higher level of football after two decades of inconsistency. But the guys also believe it is fair to question why Tennessee's offense looks the way it does in Year 6, particularly after the program has invested heavily in its roster. The quarterback situation is at the center of that discussion. Tennessee entered the season with two young quarterbacks in Faizon Brandon and George McIntyre rather than bringing in a proven veteran. The guys argue that Heupel's approach to the transfer portal and quarterback recruiting deserves serious scrutiny, especially because Tennessee has had more success with experienced transfer quarterbacks than with developing young quarterbacks. The Vols also continue to have questions along the offensive line. Zach and Charlie believe Tennessee should have addressed the position more aggressively and question whether Heupel has been too loyal to his coaching staff in areas that have needed improvement. That leads to the larger question: Is Tennessee doing enough to maximize a roster that reportedly costs around $40 million? The guys discuss how the transfer portal and NIL have changed roster construction and why programs spending at that level cannot afford to consistently have major weaknesses. They also discuss Tennessee's lack of consistent offensive edge. Jim Knowles' defense has brought a different level of physicality and intensity to the Vols, but the guys question whether that same edge exists consistently on offense. That doesn't mean Tennessee's season is over. Far from it. The Vols are 5-1, and if they can somehow beat Alabama, they could put themselves in the driver's seat for a College Football Playoff berth. But Tennessee has to improve. Zach and Charlie explain why it is possible to appreciate what Heupel has accomplished while still believing that the Vols' current offensive performance is not good enough. Is Josh Heupel the problem? Does Tennessee need major changes on offense? Should the Vols change their approach to the transfer portal? And can Tennessee still make the playoff with its current quarterback situation? The guys break it all down on the latest Big Orange Podcast. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Tennessee for Tennessee Volunteers football news, analysis, recruiting updates, game reactions and Big Orange Podcast episodes throughout the 2026 season. 00:00 Tennessee is 5-1 so why are fans upset? 01:00 The Tennessee fanbase is split 02:30 Is 5-1 good enough? 04:00 Josh Heupel deserves credit 05:30 Tennessee's offense is still a problem 07:00 Year 6 of the Heupel era 08:30 Heupel's biggest roster mistake 10:30 Tennessee's $40 million roster 12:00 The quarterback situation 13:30 Should Tennessee have added a veteran QB? 15:00 Tennessee's transfer portal approach 16:30 The offensive line problem 18:00 Tennessee needs more of an edge 19:30 Jim Knowles changed the defense 20:30 Can Tennessee still make the playoff? 21:30 Alabama changes everything 22:30 What Tennessee needs to fix 23:30 The Vols' ceiling Make A to Z Sports your preferred source on Google: https://google.com/preferences/source... Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more VOLS coverage: https://atozsports.com/nashville/volu... Facebook:   / volforlifetn   Twitter: https://x.com/BigOrangePod Instagram:   / atozsportsvols   TikTok:   / atozsportsvols   #TennesseeVols #TennesseeFootball #Vols #JoshHeupel #BigOrangePodcast