The 2026 college football season will feature a rare storyline when Auburn’s newly appointed head coach Alex Golesh meets his former mentor, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, on the Volunteers’ home turf.
Golesh spent three years as the Volunteers’ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022, during which he helped orchestrate one of the nation’s most prolific attacks alongside Heupel, who was in his first season as head coach.
That season saw the Tennessee Volunteers lead the country in points per game and total yards, powered by star quarterback Hendon Hooker, and the duo’s scheme produced record‑breaking offensive numbers.
The upcoming Oct. 3 matchup at Neyland Stadium will also see two other former Tennessee assistants — Tim Banks and Kodi Burns — return to the same venue where they once contributed to the Volunteers’ record‑breaking offense.
Heupel’s Outlook
Heupel expressed admiration for the Auburn staff, noting the familiarity and talent that will be on display, and said he is eager to see how the reunion unfolds on the field.
The reunion underscores a broader trend of coaching movement that can reshape conference dynamics, as experienced play‑callers bring their proven systems to new programs and challenge traditional power structures.