So, what does Heupel need to do to have longer term employment?
First thing is to keep players from bolting, good luck with that. He should get a pass on 2021, normally, so anything between 5-7 and 7-6 would be excused. Maybe the team will be exciting offensively. But by 2022, he will have to show some progress, right?
9-4 or something, a decent bowl game? Maybe 8-5 doesn't get him fired of course, even 7-6, but folks get antsy.
By 2025, I'd opine, the Vols need to beat the lesser teams and at least look competitive with the better teams.