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Rocky Top Today
By the People, for the People
Vols Head Coach Details Key Differences in Spring Scrimmages
Tennessee's Josh Heupel discusses how the team handled added crowd noise and simulated road conditions in the second scrimmage.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:35pm
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Heupel's emphasis on simulating road conditions during spring practice prepares the Vols for a challenging 2026 schedule.Rocky Top TodayTennessee head coach Josh Heupel highlighted key differences between the Vols' first and second spring scrimmages, noting that the team introduced crowd noise and simulated playing on the road in the second session. Heupel praised the offense's and defense's improvements in communication, technique, and overall execution compared to the initial scrimmage.
Why it matters
As Tennessee prepares for a challenging 2026 road schedule that includes games at Georgia Tech, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt, Heupel is using spring practice to get the team accustomed to handling the challenges of playing away from Neyland Stadium.
The details
Heupel said the Vols 'introduced crowd noise this week' and 'simulated playing on the road' in the second scrimmage, which he felt helped the quarterbacks, offensive line, and defense operate more effectively compared to the first session. He noted improvements in areas like communication, technique, and fundamental execution across all three phases of the team.
- The first spring scrimmage took place on March 26.
- The second spring scrimmage occurred on Thursday, April 3.
The players
Josh Heupel
The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team.
What they’re saying
“I thought the quarterbacks, operationally, did a lot better job from day one to today. Same thing, offensive line, the communication, silent count. I think defensively, some of the things that we've added, I thought they grasped it really quickly and handled it well.”
— Josh Heupel, Head Coach
“Practice is really important. This is as close as you get to true game day. All the coaches on the sideline. You got to operate. So you want to see how they function and operate. You want to see how they handle a positive play, how they handle one that doesn't go their way too.”
— Josh Heupel, Head Coach
What’s next
The Vols will hold their annual Orange & White Game on April 11 in Neyland Stadium, giving fans a chance to see the team's progress in a game-like setting before the 2026 season kicks off.
The takeaway
Tennessee's spring practice focus on simulating road game conditions will be crucial as the Vols face a challenging 2026 schedule that features several high-profile away matchups. Heupel's emphasis on improving communication, technique, and overall execution across the roster should pay dividends as the team prepares to compete in a tough SEC landscape.
