How a road game against Ohio State provides the Tennessee Vols with a small but important advantage over the Buckeyes
The Tennessee Vols wanted a home College Football Playoff game in Neyland Stadium. Instead, they'll travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a night game on December 21 in the first round of the playoff. It would be easy for Vols fans to feel uneasy about playing one of the best […]
The Tennessee Vols wanted a home College Football Playoff game in Neyland Stadium.
Instead, they'll travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a night game on December 21 in the first round of the playoff.
It would be easy for Vols fans to feel uneasy about playing one of the best teams in the Big 10 on what will likely be cold Ohio Saturday night, but this scenario does provide Tennessee with a small, albeit important, advantage over the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is the team that's facing all the pressure in this game. Tennessee is kind of existing in the background. They're not viewed as a major threat by most folks to win it all. It's a great spot for the Vols to be in since Tennessee is a program that seems to play much better during the Josh Heupel era when they're overlooked/doubted.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, might end up firing head coach Ryan Day if they lose to Tennessee.
Day is already facing heat after losing to Michigan at home in the regular-season finale. If Ohio State loses at home to Tennessee in the first round, the noise is going to get real loud in Columbus this offseason.
If Tennessee loses, it will hurt for Vols fans. And Heupel and his staff will be devastated. But there will still be plenty of excitement surrounding Tennessee football entering the 2025 season. The Vols will have some real momentum going into the offseason.
But if Ohio State loses, the Buckeyes might have to tear it all down and start over with a new coach.
Playing on the road isn't ideal, but neither is playing with a ton of pressure. Ohio State couldn't handle the pressure of beating Michigan. Can they handle the pressure of beating Tennessee?
Maybe. We'll find out on December 21. What we do know, though, is that Tennessee should be the more relaxed team heading into this playoff matchup.
