The next step in the program included a College Football Playoff appearance. Tennessee came close in 2022, but it was not able to come through. With a new format, the Vols did as they needed to clinch their first appearance in the CFP.
“This is something that our players have worked towards since last January,” Heupel said. “And again, you earn the right to be in a game like this. Proud of what we’ve done throughout the course of the regular season. The new season starts here and there was an expectation inside of our program to earn the right to play in a game like this in the postseason. So a lot of excitement here, but also understand that we’re getting ready to go play a great team and we gotta be at our best.”
With conference championship games taking place over the weekend, Tennessee took care of business where it needed to in the regular season to not have to stress over results. The Vols handled Vanderbilt in a win-and-in scenario to unofficially clinch a playoff spot, but now it all is official. A 10-game SEC slate prepared Tennessee for this opportunity.
“We play in a great conference and play elite programs really throughout the course of the season,” Heupel said. “And understanding that, again, this is a great opportunity. And when you get into the postseason, you’re playing in a game like this, you got to do the ordinary things at a really high level. You got to do it consistently for four quarters. It’s not about some magical play that is gonna be the difference in the football game. It’s about the fundamentals, technique, eye discipline, playing within the structure of what you’re doing in any three phases of the game that takes you to the ability to go make plays. And it’s all about the preparation and lead-up. Those are the same messages that our guys hear throughout the season. It’s been what this group has done. They’ve earned the right to play in a game like this. Now it’s about our preparation and making sure that we’re at our best when we get there.”
Preparation
Tennessee’s official schedule concluded over a week ago. Since then, the Vols have been in an awkward phase where there is another game to be played, but a faceless opponent still to be determined. Now that it is official, Tennessee can prepare for the opponent. In the month of December, the weather is now key.
“During the course of the lead-up to kickoff, we’ll be outside as much as we possibly can,” Heupel said. “Typically the temperatures, at some point during this preparation will mirror what we think we’ll have on Saturday night up there. We typically get outside unless something’s not right with the grass fields, as far as wet, damp, frost, whatever it might be.”
Knoxville is not a notoriously cold destination, but it also is not to the extremes that weather in the north can reach. Heading to Columbus, the Vols have an added element to prepare for.
“Not sure what the temperature will be up there at night,” Heupel said. “Know it won’t be sunny and 85. 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 got to be able to handle anything that comes at them. That’s weather, it’s outside distractions. 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.”
Early Ohio State preview
That next team on the schedule is now Ohio State. The Vols found out around noon ET on Sunday, and Heupel began answering questions around 3 p.m. ET — meaning much of the scouting remains to be conducted. Still, the Buckeyes will present a challenge that Heupel is aware of.
“The little that I’ve had an opportunity to watch via the season, a Saturday afternoon you’re watching football or today getting a chance to digest the tape,” Heupel said. “This is a roster that’s full of elite players and coached extremely well. They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re physical, 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.”
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