Tennessee football fans are concerned after the Vols racked up the most penalties in Josh Heupel’s coaching tenure in a 45-24 win over Georgia Tech.
UT committed 14 penalties, which tied for the most in a single game under Heupel. And it amassed 142 penalty yards, the most of his tenure.
What’s the cause? Can it be fixed? Was it an anomaly that should be ignored?
Penalties served as the most popular topic in the Vols mailbag.
The 18th-ranked Vols (2-0) play Kennesaw State (1-1) on Sept. 19 (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium. Before closing the book on the Georgia Tech game, let’s answer fans’ questions.
Do the penalties point to a big problem?
Potentially, yes, if they continue. But before panicking, let’s put this in perspective from a couple of angles.
First, Heupel’s teams
are usually among the most penalized in college football. UT ranked 106th in penalty yards in 2021; 124th in 2022; 126th in 2023; 119th in 2024 and 70th in 2025. That’s a problem, but it’s not a new problem.
Secondly, the Vols didn’t have a terrible game in terms of penalties. They had a terrible quarter. They were flagged eight times for 97 yards in the fourth quarter, when they held a three-touchdown lead. That left a lasting impression that wasn’t representative of the entire game.
How widespread were the penalties?
UT’s offense was flagged six times and the defense eight times.
Three of UT’s four pass interference penalties were on a single player, reserve safety Tim Merritt, on the same drive. That’s more correctable than if they were spread among the starting secondary throughout the game.
Why does Josh Heupel tolerate unsportsmanlike penalties?
Regardless of his reaction on the sideline, don’t assume that Heupel tolerates those penalties behind closed doors.
That being said, UT’s three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were the most concerning issue. They came during a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter on wide receiver Mike Matthews, safety Dejuan Lane and defensive lineman Ethan Utley.
The Vols were frustrated late in the game. Georgia Tech wouldn’t go away. It was a very physical game in humid conditions, and it went on for almost four hours.
There’s no excuse for losing their composure. But it was mostly condensed into a small pocket of the game, which means it’s preventable.
How did coaches react to the penalties?
Heupel was frustrated by the penalties. He mentioned them numerous times in the opening statement of his postgame press conference, calling them “not up to the standard.”
Rest assured, the other coaches feel the same way. But frustration doesn’t fix the problem.
Were Jim Knowles’ defenses highly penalized in past?
No. In fact, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles actually had some of the least penalized units in college football before coming to UT.
Last season, Knowles was at Penn State, which ranked ninth nationally in fewest penalty yards (37.3 ypg). In 2024, Knowles was at Ohio State, which ranked 16th in fewest penalty yards (40.8 ypg). By comparison, UT averaged between 55 yards and 69 yards each season during Heupel's tenure.
I don’t have the breakdown of penalties by the offense and defense for Knowles' past teams. But those teams were significantly better than UT in terms of total penalties.
What went wrong on the punt block?
Georgia Tech scouted that well and knew punter Jackson Ross’ tendencies. When he rolled to his left, the Georgia Tech rushers met him at the spot of the kick.
It’s particularly frustrating because a traditional punt wouldn’t have been blocked. Ross’ rugby style makes him effective. But in this instance, it made him vulnerable because he held the ball for too long.
Why was Faizon Brandon off target on passes?
The reasons are typical for any freshman quarterback. Georgia Tech pressured Faizon Brandon consistently and confused him with some coverages.
But Brandon didn’t miss many passes. It seems that way because he misfired on the easy short throws. He was 0-of-3 on passes behind the line of scrimmage but 3-of-6 beyond 10 yards. Either way, it was a small sample size. His best trait was restraint because he didn't force risky throws.
Should George MacIntyre play in these competitive games?
Not unless Brandon suffers an injury. George MacIntyre looked like a solid backup quarterback against Furman, and he should play in the second half against Kennesaw State.
But Brandon’s mobility is a skill that MacIntyre doesn’t have. And it remains a difference-maker in UT’s offense, even if that sometimes just means that Brandon turns a potential sack into a moderate gain.
Is there a lingering problem on the offensive line?
This is a tough one because the stats say the offensive line played well. UT rushed for 299 yards, and Brandon was sacked only once. But to the untrained eye, it looked like the running backs and an elusive quarterback deserved much of the credit for those numbers.
Heupel thought the offensive line wore down the defense, and there’s some truth to that. The Vols averaged 5.3 yards per rush in the first half and 7.7 yards per rush in the second half.
But I think it’s fair to be concerned about the offensive line when UT faces better opponents. There's room for improvement, especially in terms of consistency.
Does Faizon Brandon benefit from deep running back rotation?
Brandon benefits from any steady ground game that complements his passing. If that’s accomplished by one running back or three running backs, it still helps him.
But Brandon may be too willing to go the safe route in handing the ball off on run-pass options in some situations. However, it may also seem that way because 2025 quarterback Joey Aguilar often did the opposite.
In time, Brandon will be forced to pass the ball more frequently. For now, his approach is contributing to a very productive rushing attack.
Who is DeSean Bishop’s backup now?
DeSean Bishop is the indisputable bellcow back with 244 yards rushing in two games. But his backup likely will change from game to game.
Tulane transfer Javin Gordon has shown muscle after contact, but he played better against Furman than Georgia Tech. Daune Morris has big-play ability. He rushed for 98 yards against Georgia Tech, including a 47-yard TD run.
Running backs coach De’Rail Sims likes to go with the hot hand, and that could be Gordon or Morris in a given game. Their skillsets are different, so circumstances may also dictate the rotation.
Why have there been so many injuries?
I can’t say for certain that there have been more injuries this season than previous seasons. Keep in mind that most stoppages during the first two games were for minor injuries, and those players returned to the lineup.
Most of the injuries against Georgia Tech were confined to the offensive and defensive lines. That indicates a very physical game, which players confirmed afterward.
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key called out his team’s lack of toughness after Week 1. And it was obvious that his players were going to fight until the end in this one. That forced UT to do the same, which probably contributed to some injuries in those scrums.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football fans ask if penalties are a big problem for Josh Heupel
