KNOXVILLE — Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel took issue last Monday when a reporter phrased Saturday night’s game against Kennesaw State as a “tuneup” for the Volunteers.
Rest assured, Heupel will not hear that same label this week.
The Vols wound up routing the Owls 42-9 inside Neyland Stadium to set the stage for this Saturday’s clash in Knoxville against No. 1 Texas. The Longhorns claimed the top spot after their 24-23 comeback victory over previous No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12, with their other two victories coming at the expense of fellow Lone Star State programs Texas State and UTSA.
Tennessee opened with decisive victories over Furman, 56-9, and Georgia Tech, 45-24, but it’s nothing but Southeastern Conference foes the rest of the way for these two UT programs.
“I like the results, and I like that we’re getting better every week,” Heupel said late Saturday night. “This football team should enjoy this win briefly tonight and start getting prepared tomorrow. On Monday, we will come in and see the reality of who we were on the tape and how we need to get better.”