"Controlling what you can control": Josh Heupel explains how Tennessee will make its case for a spot in the College Football Playoff

Josh Heupel has led Tennessee to a pretty impressive run in the 2024 season. The Volunteers have suffered just one loss so far this season, which makes them a potential contender for the SEC title and places them for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

With the first CFP rankings set to be released next week, Tennessee is among the teams under consideration. Josh Heupel voiced his opinion on how the Vols will make a case for the playoffs ahead of the Week 10 game against Kentucky.

“You make your case by going and controlling what you can control, which is your performance on Saturdays,” Heupel said Monday at his press conference.

“Your preparation takes you there. We’re halfway through the conference schedule. There’s a ton of football left.

“If you’re worried about the end result, you’re going to make the mistakes you can’t afford on the way to the end. And for us, being present, being in the now, preparing in a great way, continuing to grow as a football team … Our best football is still out in front of us, and we have to go chase that.”

Josh Heupel shares the challenge of playing Kentucky

Coming off an open week, Tennessee welcomes Kentucky to the Neyland Stadium this weekend. Josh Heupel analyzed the challenges he expects from the Wildcats while opening his weekly media availability session on Monday.

“This week we got to continue our preparation as a football team, and get ready to go play our best football,” Heupel said on Monday. “You look at Kentucky, it’s a group that, defensively, playing extremely well.

“You just look at them statistically, defensively we got to do a good job following formations, motions and control the line of scrimmage, quarterback run game being a part of that as well.

"And for our special teams, they got a dynamic returner, they can change the game and got to do a great job against him,” he added.

While Kentucky has lost its last three games, they were able to force a win against Ole Miss earlier in the season with their defensive resilience.

With the Volunteers’ slow start on offense in the first half of SEC play, the Wildcats will fancy their chance of an upset.

Without a doubt, a win is crucial for Josh Heupel's team on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Volunteers have a few more hurdles to jump before the end of the regular season, as they are scheduled to face Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt in SEC.