Tennessee players silence the "cold weather" narrative surrounding the team

It's 25 degrees in Columbus, Ohio, for Tennessee's first-round matchup against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Tennessee has been doubted for the past two weeks, mostly because of the weather in Ohio. 

It's cold, yes, but that doesn't mean anything to Tennessee, which practices every morning in the mountains. It will be the coldest game Tennessee has played this year and in program history. 

Don't tell the Tennessee players that, though. Several Vols players came out during warmups without a shirt to prove to anyone doubting their ability to acclimate to the weather and its factor in Saturday's game.

The weather doesn't seem to impact the players throughout warmups as they prepare for their first game in the College Football Playoff era. 

It doesn't seem to impact Tennessee fans' willingness to show up for the Vols on the road. Tennessee fans have shown up in impressive numbers for a road game that is five or more hours for most fans.

The players don't care, the fans don't care, they are ready to put the ball down and go play in enemy territory. Tennessee's defense headlines the Vols' run to the CFP this year as one of the best defensive units in the country. 

If Tennessee is going to beat Ohio State, it will have to rely on the run defense to shut down the Buckeyes' offense, giving the offense a chance to catch a spark and take an early lead in a hostile environment in front of thousands of Tennessee fans in the stands.