The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field was announced on Sunday. No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will host No. 9 seed Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) on Dec. 21 in the first round.
Kickoff between the Vols and Buckeyes is slated for 8 p.m. EST at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (ABC).
Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media and discussed the Vols’ first-round matchup.
“Certainly excited about being in the playoff, and obviously playing a great program that’s had a ton of success in recent history, but throughout their program history, certainly what they’ve done on the field this year,” Heupel said. “Excited that we get an opportunity to play an elite program like that. As we get ready here, understand what it’s going to take to go on the road and play really good football against a great football team.”
Heupel also discussed preparing to play in cold weather.
“Not sure what the temperature will be up there at night,” he 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 have got to be able to handle anything that comes at them, whether 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.”
PHOTOS: Tennessee-Ohio State football series through the years
