At least, that’s what the Volunteers’ pregame attire would suggest.
Cameras captured several players from the ninth-ranked Vols (10-2) enter pregame warmups shirtless at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio — seemingly to dispel the narrative they will be adversely affected by the cold temperatures ahead of the College Football Playoff first-round game at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2).
The temperature on the field was 25 degrees ahead of the 8 p.m. ET matchup, which will determine who advances to play No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Day.
A few minutes later, the players put on their shirts. According to a rule change passed in 2020, the NCAA requires players to wear shirts that display their jersey numbers during pregame warmups. According to the NCAA, ‘Players without their numeral readily visible must leave the playing enclosure.’
But the message had been sent: The Vols won’t be scared away by the weather in Columbus, in the biggest game of their season so far.