COLUMBUS, Ohio — Coach Josh Heupel would not a lot look after the narrative that No. 7 Tennessee, with its checkered historical past over the previous 15 years, is content material simply to have reached the School Soccer Playoff.
HT Picture
The fourth-year coach is aware of that mindset will not work dealing with a crew like No. 6 Ohio State, which is within the playoff for the sixth time and has probably the greatest rosters within the nation.
“If you’re just happy to be there, it’s going to be a quick cup of coffee,” Heupel said.
Ohio State , a top-five team for most of the season, is still reeling from a fourth straight loss to archrival Michigan. A loss to the Volunteers will only add to calls from fans for coach Ryan Day to be fired.
So, Ohio State will be seeking redemption in the first-round game Saturday night in the frigid Horseshoe. As quarterback Will Howard put it, it’s a chance to “right the wrongs.”
Day is stressing that the eighth-seeded Buckeyes should be right here.
“Once you get into the playoffs, it’s a brand new start,” he mentioned. “And I think that’s what our guys have recognized now, the fact that they’ve earned the opportunity to play in the playoffs.”
Ninth-seeded Tennessee hasn’t won a national championship — or an SEC title, for that matter — since 1998, the year after Peyton Manning left. It got even rougher with the firing of Philip Fulmer after the 2008 season. with a string of disappointing seasons, a revolving door of coaches and NCAA violations.
Now the Vols get a shot at a national title thanks to the newly expanded 12-team playoff. The winner of the first-round game will travel to the Rose Bowl to face top-ranked Oregon, which beat Ohio State by a point in a shootout back on Oct. 12.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Heupel said of facing the program’s next step. “But now it’s about, ‘What are you going to do with the opportunity?’” Within the trenches
Ohio State has needed to reshuffle its offensive line a number of instances within the second half of the season as a consequence of accidents.
The Buckeyes misplaced beginning left sort out Josh Simmons in opposition to Oregon. His alternative, Zen Michalski, went down the subsequent recreation. The most important blow got here in late November when Seth McLaughlin, the eventual winner of the Rimington Award given to the perfect heart, tore an Achilles tendon.
McLaughlin’s absence was conspicuous as Ohio State struggled to run inside in opposition to Michigan. Tennessee has probably the greatest defensive strains within the nation, led by finish James Pearce Jr., a possible first spherical NFL draft choose, and a pair of 300-pounders inside in Bryson Eason and Omari Thomas.
“They’re fifth nationally in each scoring and whole protection, the No. 1 third-down protection within the nation, No. 1 red-zone protection within the nation,” Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. “So., we’re playing a formidable defense coming in here.” Orange invasion?
Tennessee fans have been working hard to get more than the 3,500 tickets allotted to the university for the game at the ‘Shoe.
Running back Dylan Sampson won’t be surprised to see plenty of Tennessee fans for the Volunteers’ first game in the state of Ohio, let alone in the historic stadium and its first game in the month of December.
“That’s what I expect from Tennessee fans,” Sampson mentioned. “And, you know, I can’t wait to get out there and see a whole bunch of orange.”
Heupel expects it, too, based on what he’s seen in his four seasons coaching at Tennessee.
“It’s a nice short drive up there, and Christmas is right around the corner,” Heupel mentioned. “It’s a great Christmas present.” Opportunistic Vols
Tennessee has had a knack for making big plays when backed up inside its own 20. The Vols forced turnovers at the goal line or in the end zone four times this season. All-SEC cornerback Jermod McCoy had an interception in the end zone to help key the win over Alabama and another against Vanderbilt. He has a team-leading four picks on the season. In the spotlight
The ESPN “Sport Day” crew will go to Columbus for its pregame present main as much as the 8 p.m. playoff recreation. It is going to be the fifth time this yr Sport Day has been on campus and the 63rd time total, courting to Sept. 28, 1996. The present may even be at Notre Dame earlier than the Irish clashes with Indiana on Friday evening earlier than the drive east to Columbus.
Sports activities Author Teresa M. Walker contributed.
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