Volunteers Coordinators, Players Talk Up CFP With Ohio State

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Head coach Josh Heupel and the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) are preparing for a first-round College Football Playoff game at the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten Conference) on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. Eastern at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Volunteers defensive coordinator Tim Banks, offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, wide receiver Bru McCoy and defensive back Will Brooks all had some thoughts on how they feel leading into the game and what to expect.

Defensive Coordinator Banks on Preparation

"The way we get ready, or our process so to speak, is our process," Banks said. "Kids are always excited to play the game, and I think that's what I love about this team. They just want to play. They want to put the ball down and have an opportunity. It starts with Ohio State this weekend and it's going to be a challenge for us. Just the way those guys have approached this game has been very consistent with who we have been all year."

It is going to be a tough battle as Tennessee ranks fourth nationally in yards against per game and Ohio State ranks first nationally in the same category.

Halzle Talks Up Vols' Mentality

"Talking with Coach Heupel, you recruit at a high level to go to the playoff and try to win a championship," Halzle said. "Well, we are in this thing, so we can't stop forgetting what the main thing is—which is going these next four weeks, playing at a high level and giving ourselves a chance to win. The mentality from this whole staff is that we are here for a reason and that reason is to go win the game on Saturday night."

The Volunteers, looking to pull off a major upset, enter the contest with the Buckeyes currently favored by 7.5 points.

Brooks, McCoy Discuss Tennessee's Focus

"We all kind of try to treat it as a normal game," Brooks said. "It's in the back of our head, we know it's a playoff game, but doing the ordinary at a really high level is going to be why we see success in this game, so that's where our focus is at."

"We play a lot of big games throughout the season," McCoy said. "I think this one with the implications of everything—you still try to treat it just like any other game but just heighten your level of understanding that this is the College Football Playoff."

The Volunteers will look to go into a very hostile environment, in a night gam,e and win to go into the CFP quarterfinals.