University of Tennessee Athletics
Josh Heupel Named To 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
July 09, 2026 | Football
ATLANTA - Entering his sixth season at the helm of Tennessee football, head coach Josh Heupel has been recognized as one of 20 coaches on the 2026 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced Thursday.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
This year's watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. taking into consideration each program's Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2026 season.
Heupel is one of six SEC coaches on the preseason watch list. He has guided the Vols to a 45-20 overall record, representing the program's winningest five-year stretch since 2000-04 (47). Tennessee was 29-31 in the five seasons prior to Heupel taking over.
Heupel is entering his ninth season overall as an FBS head coach. He has won 72.3 percent of his games (73-28), which ranks 10th nationally among active FBS head coaches (min. three seasons coached). The 73 victories during that span (2018-present) are tied for fourth nationally among active FBS head coaches.
"The Dodd Trophy has long recognized the qualities that define exceptional leadership in college football through its three guiding pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity," said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. "Those three principles are at the heart of this award, and we look forward to following this outstanding group of coaches as they compete and lead their programs throughout the upcoming season."
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will then be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
This year's watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. taking into consideration each program's Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2026 season.
Heupel is one of six SEC coaches on the preseason watch list. He has guided the Vols to a 45-20 overall record, representing the program's winningest five-year stretch since 2000-04 (47). Tennessee was 29-31 in the five seasons prior to Heupel taking over.
Heupel is entering his ninth season overall as an FBS head coach. He has won 72.3 percent of his games (73-28), which ranks 10th nationally among active FBS head coaches (min. three seasons coached). The 73 victories during that span (2018-present) are tied for fourth nationally among active FBS head coaches.
Off the field, Tennessee has shattered its fall semester GPA five straight years under Heupel. Tennessee produced program semester records for GPA in the fall of 2025 (3.26) and the spring of 2026 (3.28). The fall of 2025 saw the Vols produce a program-record 80 SEC Academic Honor Roll recipients, which was second among SEC teams.
"The Dodd Trophy has long recognized the qualities that define exceptional leadership in college football through its three guiding pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity," said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. "Those three principles are at the heart of this award, and we look forward to following this outstanding group of coaches as they compete and lead their programs throughout the upcoming season."
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will then be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
Bret Bielema, Illinois
Jeff Brohm, Louisville
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Mario Cristobal, Miami
Spencer Danielson, Boise State
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Sonny Dykes, TCU
Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Jedd Fisch, Washington
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Willie Fritz, Houston
Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Brent Key, Georgia Tech
Dan Lanning, Oregon
Lincoln Riley, USC
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Kirby Smart, Georgia
Brent Venables, Oklahoma
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