Tennessee Players Make Bold Statement, Warm Up Without Shirts at Ohio State for CFP First-Round Matchup
The Tennessee football team is unfazed by chilly weather.
At least, that was the impression during the Volunteers’ pregame preparations.
Cameras caught several players from the ninth-ranked Volunteers (10-2) taking part in pregame warmups shirtless at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This bold move seemed to challenge the belief that they might struggle in the cold as they faced off against No. 8 Ohio State (10-2) in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The temperature was recorded at 25 degrees on the field prior to their 8 p.m. ET game, crucial for deciding who advances to meet No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Day.
Shortly thereafter, the players put their shirts on. A change in rules in 2020 requires NCAA players to wear shirts showing their jersey numbers during warmups, stating that “Players not displaying their numbers must exit the field.”
Nonetheless, the message was clear: The Volunteers are ready to face the cold weather in one of their most important games of the season.