The idea of Josh Heupel replacing Brent Venables at Oklahoma is already stirring strong emotions, especially among Tennessee Volunteers fans. And understandably so. Heupel has transformed Tennessee’s football program, lifting it from years of mediocrity to College Football Playoff contention. With that kind of trajectory, the notion of him suddenly jumping ship—especially to his alma mater—feels like a betrayal to Vols faithful who have bought into his long-term vision for Knoxville.
Yet, this scenario is not entirely unfounded. Heupel is a legendary figure at Oklahoma, having led the Sooners to a national title as a quarterback in 2000. Those roots run deep. With Brent Venables potentially coaching on borrowed time—especially if the Sooners stumble in their first season in the SEC—it’s not outlandish to think Oklahoma might turn to a familiar face to restore the program’s glory. Longtime Oklahoma journalist Berry Tramel recently added fuel to the fire by suggesting on the *Saturday Down South* podcast that Heupel would “be the first call” if a coaching vacancy opened up.
From Oklahoma’s perspective, reaching out to Heupel would be logical. He’s an alum, a proven offensive mind, and he knows how to win in the SEC. Heupel has also proven his ability to rebuild and develop a program, taking Tennessee from SEC doormat to national relevance in just a few seasons. That’s exactly the kind of leadership Oklahoma may be looking for if the Venables experiment fails.
However, whether Heupel would actually entertain such a move is another matter. He’s currently under contract through 2029 with Tennessee and is among the highest-paid coaches in college football. More importantly, he has full support from the administration, boosters, and fans. The Vols have invested heavily in their program, both financially and culturally, and Heupel is the face of that movement. The recent loss of quarterback Nico Iamaleava to UCLA for 2025 stings, but Tennessee’s recruiting remains strong, and their facilities and resources are top-tier.
Leaving all that behind for the uncertainty at Oklahoma, where expectations are sky-high and the pressure cooker of the SEC is just beginning to heat up, may not be appealing. Even with family ties to Norman, Heupel might not want to step into a potentially volatile situation when he already has something special brewing in Knoxville.
In the end, while the speculation may make for exciting offseason talk, Tennessee fans can rest (mostly) easy for now. Until there’s an actual vacancy in Norman—and Heupel expresses even the slightest interest—this remains a what-if scenario. Still, it’s a reminder of how quickly coaching landscapes can shift in college football, and how no program is immune to poaching—even when things are g
oing well.
