Josh Heupel gives hilarious response when asked about Lane Kiffin’s return to Knoxville

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Jul 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Football is just about here, and Tennessee’s schedule is absolutely loaded this fall. The Volunteers will welcome Texas, Auburn and Alabama to Neyland Stadium, but no game will have as much spice as the LSU contest on November 21st.

Yes, Lane Kiffin will make another trip to Neyland Stadium. Kiffin, who coached at Tennessee for exactly one season in 2009 before bolting for USC, left Ole Miss this offseason for the LSU job. Kiffin returned to Neyland Stadium on the opposite sideline back in 2021, leading the Rebels to a controversial win over Tennessee.

The story following that one wasn’t about the game at all though, it was about frustrated Tennessee fans tossing various things at Kiffin on the sideline. The mustard bottle and golf ball jokes have been flowing ever since, and Josh Heupel even got in on the fun today at SEC Media Days.

Finally some fire from SEC Media Days on Day 1!

"I certainly hope that our fans haven't cooled off, whether it's the grocery stores stocked up on mustard, or the sportis stores that they've got reinforcements on the golf balls, hopefully Knoxville is ready for his arrival"… pic.twitter.com/DQiqYEKpCc

— Michael Cauble (@Cauble) July 20, 2026

Tennessee hasn’t played LSU since the Volunteers went down to Baton Rouge and thumped the Tigers in 2022. Kiffin, armed with one of the most expensive rosters in all of college football, will be walking into massive expectations this fall. A late November trip to Knoxville will hopefully have plenty on the line for both sides. Either way, it’s sure to be entertaining.

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