Josh Heupel Understands Stiff Test Ahead Of Vols

When it was revealed on Sunday that Tennessee and Ohio State would meet in the first round of the College Football Playoff, it was not a surprise to many. There were a number of projections of how things might shake out once the Buckeyes fell in their regular-season finale, and OSU hosting the Vols was one of the more prominent projections.

It will be just the second meeting ever between the two programs. The first came in the 1996 Citrus Bowl as quarterback Peyton Manning led Tennessee to a controversial 20-14 win over Heisman winner Eddie George and the Buckeyes.

This game may be just as close, though the stakes are much higher.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel previewed the matchup with media Sunday afternoon and discussed the playoff buzz around the program and also the respect they have for the Buckeyes.

“Certainly excited about being in the playoff and obviously playing a great program,” Heupel said. “It’s had a ton of success in recent history but throughout their program history and certainly what they’ve done on the field this year. I’m excited that we get an opportunity to play an elite program like that, and as we get ready here, understand what it’s going to take to go on the road and play really good football against great football teams.”

Both teams come into this game with 10-2 records, both having lost two games each in conference play. Tennessee lost on the road at Arkansas and Georgia, while the Buckeyes fell at Oregon and home to Michigan.

When Heupel looks at this Ohio State football team, he sees plenty of challenges.

“The little that I’ve had an opportunity to watch via the season, as in a Saturday afternoon when you’re watching football, or today getting a chance to digest the tape, this is a roster that’s full of elite players and coached extremely well,” he said. “They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and do a great job on special teams too. So for us, understand the quality of the opponent we’re getting ready to play. We’re going to have to play at our best, and need a couple of great weeks of preparation to give ourselves a chance to do that in Columbus.”

Heupel was planning on digging more into Ohio State film on Sunday and then continuing beyond that as the Vols get ready for game preparation. Even without having a full feel for what the Buckeyes bring offensively, football is still won on the line of scrimmage, though everybody knows that Ohio State’s offense generally has something extra as well.

“Looking at them offensively, they’ve got explosive playmakers out on the perimeter. Big, strong, thick, physical offensive linemen. Great skill at the running back position,” Heupel said. “Again, I think in a game like this, the line of scrimmage matters. You’ve got to do a great job against the run. We’re going to have to defend their explosive playmakers out on the perimeter. We’ve got to do a great job of bottling the quarterback up.”

With the Volunteers headed north, there has been talk about how they will be able to handle the weather. Given Ohio State’s loss to Michigan in a frigid Ohio Stadium just over a week ago, the question could also be posed to the Buckeyes. Regardless, Saturday night, December 21, the conditions will be a bit chillier than what Tennessee normally experiences.

“Yeah, I’m not sure what the temperature will be up there at night. I know it won’t be sunny and 85,” he said. “We played in 30-degree weather a week ago. For us, a lot of our practices are in the morning. We’re outside, it’ll be similar temperatures to what you’re going to get up there. Our guys have got to be able to handle anything that comes at them. It’s us getting ready to go be our best 11-on-11 between the white lines, and we’ll be ready to handle that and operate at a high level.”

Tennessee wrapped their regular season with an 11:00 am kick on the road at Vanderbilt. The game-time temperature was 41 degrees. The Commodores led 14-0 with just over 10 minutes left in the first quarter thanks to a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and a Vol turnover deep in their own territory. Tennessee did come back and win the game 36-23, but Heupel knows a 14-0 deficit that early in Ohio Stadium isn’t the start they’ll be looking for.

“Now, it’s about taking advantage of the opportunity that we have,” he said. “The only thing that matters is Saturday night inside of the stadium in Columbus, Ohio. For us, we’ve played in big games. We’ve got to be ready to go handle everything that we’re going to face on that night, but it’s your preparation that takes you to that moment. Being completely invested in what matters in the present is the most important thing day to day.”