A Review of SEC Home Openers in the Heupel Era

Written By Tucker Harlin

Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

#8 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1) takes on Florida (3-2, 1-1) to begin its home SEC schedule in Neyland Stadium Saturday.

The Vols are coming off a brutal road loss to Arkansas, but they are unbeaten in SEC home openers in the Josh Heupel era. Oddly, each of the four SEC home openers will be against the same two teams.

Before I dive into specifics I’ll have you know two of Tennessee’s home openers under Heupel were within two weeks of a bad road loss.

2021: SOUTH CAROLINA 20 @ TENNESSEE 45

Josh Heupel’s first SEC home opener was over before it started.

The offense exploded for 227 first quarter yards and four touchdowns while a defense that struggled in previous outings quickly found its way off the field in each of the first two possession. Momentum only increased with the interception South Carolina threw in the end zone and a fumble it lost in the opening quarter.

The Vols scored 35 before South Carolina could touch the scoreboard and they took a 38-7 lead into the locker room.

Beamer Ball showed some life in the second half, but nothing it did was enough to derail the much anticipated return of the Vols’ Dark Mode uniforms.

Tennessee exited Neyland Stadium with a feel good 45-20 win.

2022: FLORIDA 33 @ TENNESSEE 38

I’ve written extensively about the 2022 Tennessee-Florida game as it remains one of the best college football games I’ve attended.

The Billy Napier ball control offense did a good job keeping Tennessee of the field at the beginning of the game, but Hendon Hooker and the Vols were able to settle in late in the first half. They took a 17-14 lead to the locker room thanks to a 99-yard drive in the two-minute drill executed to perfection.

Tennessee outscored Florida 21-7 from the start of the third quarter up until about midway through the fourth. Florida was about to make a desperate push, and it nearly pulled off the comeback of a lifetime.

The Gators scored a touchdown but failed to convert for two, cutting their deficit to 11. Tennessee didn’t convert on a short fourth down and Anthony Richardson took the Gators down the field in just under a minute and trimmed the deficit to five points and again missed a two-point conversion.

Florida had to go for an onside kick, and in typical Florida fashion against Tennessee, it worked.

The Gators had to drive 47 yards in 17 seconds for the win. Richardson completed his first pass for 14 yards, but that was the only positive on Florida’s last stand.

Richardson’s next pass was incomplete, and his final heave toward the end zone was picked off well short of the goal line.

By no means was Heupel’s second SEC home opening victory an easy one. But experts say a Gatorade bath from Theo Von and Caleb Pressley is among the most relieving and therapeutic feelings in the world.

2023- SOUTH CAROLINA 20 @ TENNESSEE 41

The level of confidence for a win ahead of Heupel’s third SEC home opener went from optimistic to an incredibly high when it was announced Cooper Mays was making his return from injury that morning.

The Vols trailed 10-7 at one point near the end of the first quarter, but the 1:21 they trailed was the only instance they found themselves down all game.

Joe Milton hooked up with Squirrel White for a 50-yard pass right in front of Tony Vitello to set up a 1st and goal at the South Carolina 4. Jabari Small punched it in two plays later.

Winning the middle eight minutes is critical in every football game. Tennessee dominated the Gamecocks in the middle eight of this victory.

Spencer Rattler overshot his receiver on a 3rd and 22 and didn’t see Kamal Hadden behind the play, who proceeded to return the interception 28 yards to the end zone untouched.

Tennessee constructed a 12-play drive to begin the second half that ended in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Warren, taking a 31-10 lead.

South Carolina quickly responded with a 75-yard rush touchdown, but that play alone wasn’t enough to get the Gamecocks back in it. The Vols were victorious in a 41-20 grudge match against the Gamecocks.

Tucker Harlin
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