Josh Heupel hand-waves Tennessee going for style points vs. Missouri

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel defends his decision to run up the score on Missouri.

It may not have been the most ethical thing to do, but Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel had a good reason to run up the score on a woebegone Missouri team: You gotta get them style points to impress the College Football Playoff Selection Committee any way you can do it!

This was a controversial decision to put up even more points on a Missouri defense that could not stop a nosebleed. Tennessee needed a miracle that did not happen to win the SEC East. With Georgia clinching the division crown with a win over Mississippi State in Starkville later on Saturday night, Heupel did what he had to do to put his Vols team in the best position to impress.

Optically, it was a terrible look to rub it in Missouri’s face like this, but Tennessee still did it anyway.

Tennessee football: Josh Heupel defends decision to run up the score on Mizzou

There are a few factors in justifying this. One, the second-team players where out there running the Vols offense, so they are going to need all the reps they can get. Joe Milton III made a big-time throw to get Tennessee into a goal-to-go situation, so why not reward their efforts? Two, style points will help get Tennessee into the playoff. And three, it is Missouri’s job to stop them anyway.

To be quite frank, it does not serve Heupel to be wishy-washy over his decision-making processes. He must be remain adamant that he made the best decision for his team. It may not land well with Missouri fans, or other college football fans for that matter, but Heupel’s team is one of nine that could still make the playoff entering Week 12. Plus, why not lean into the dark side a bit with this?

Ultimately, Tennessee is the only team still in the playoff mix that does not control its own destiny. The Vols need Georgia to win the SEC, and probably do so unblemished at 13-0. They also need for two of the three Power Five champions coming out of the ACC, the Big 12 and the Pac-12 to be undeserving, as the winner of The Game between Michigan and Ohio State is certainly getting in.

If Tennessee would have beaten Georgia, they would not have to shamelessly go for style points.

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