Tennessee will make its first appearance in the College Football Playoff since the CFP format was introduced one decade ago. The Vols will play Ohio State in the first round in a controversial decision from the CFP committee to give the Buckeyes home-field advantage over Tennessee.
It is the next step in Tennessee football's evolution in the Josh Heupel era, which has seen 37 wins in Heupel's four seasons on Rocky Top. That includes two double-digit win seasons, an Orange Bowl win, a Citrus Bowl win, and now a trip to the College Football Playoff.
The Tennessee social media team was ready to hype up Vol Nation after the official announcement that the Vols will be in the Playoff and head to Columbus to play Ohio State in the first round with a hype video from the start of the Huepel era that will give any Tennessee fan chills.
Put the ball down#GBO | @CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/EFEdbAWq1q
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 9, 2024
Tennessee fans were hoping for some fireworks in Heupel's fourth season at Tennessee. Five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is taking over the reins of the offense, and the Vols are hoping to take an outside shot at making the CFP.
Little did the country know that Tennessee would immediately insert itself in the Playoff picture with ranked wins over North Carolina State and Oklahoma early in the season. Wins over rivals Florida, Alabama, and Vanderbilt follow this. The Vols have won ten games in the regular season for the second time in three years.
It's safe to say that the Vols are ready to go to work and can't wait to "put the ball down" and go play. Tennessee and Ohio State are scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM ET on ABC as the headliner game of Saturday.