Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel responded swiftly when questioned about the potential difficulties of playing in nearly freezing temperatures at Ohio State. He emphasized that his team, the Volunteers, is no stranger to cold weather conditions. Kicker Max Gilbert shared a photo from a recent practice showing light snow falling around him and his teammates. Additionally, Tennessee triumphed over their in-state rival Vanderbilt last month when the kickoff temperature was around 41 degrees, later dipping into the 30s as the day progressed. The Volunteers benefitted from heated benches, portable heaters, and extra layers, contributing to their successful 36-23 comeback victory.
The forecast for Saturday night indicates that temperatures will range from the high teens to low 20s, with a slight chance of snow, as Tennessee prepares for their first-round College Football Playoff clash in Columbus, Ohio. However, since the temperature difference between the valleys of Tennessee and Ohio is minimal, the Volunteers expect the cold conditions to feel quite similar despite traveling 350 miles north to face the Buckeyes. Heupel humorously compared the weather conditions to “a June day in South Dakota,” and expressed confidence that the weather would not impact their performance. He stated, “At the end of the day, when you get between the white lines, weather doesn’t matter. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
This year, the College Football Playoff is introducing first-round games on campus for the first time, creating a new atmosphere with unique weather challenges that teams from warmer climates may not typically encounter during postseason games. Traditionally, the postseason concludes with teams preparing for bowl games in sunny areas, where they look forward to enjoying memorable holidays. While winners of the first-round games will eventually find themselves in warmer locales for the quarterfinals, there is no dissatisfaction about playing in the “ideal” football weather that many student-athletes are familiar with. The cold weather, while requiring additional layers, comes with the opportunity to contend for a national championship.
Similarly, Rhett Lashlee, head coach of SMU, pointed out that the quest for championship football often includes confronting wintery conditions. Lashlee noted that his players’ dreams of an NFL career necessitate an acceptance of adverse weather. “The weather is only going to be an issue if we allow it,” he stated, adding that they expect plenty of cold on the field.
Fans also embrace the wintry conditions, willing to put up with cold hands and feet to support their teams. Earl Brown, a dedicated 75-year-old Tennessee season ticket holder, reminisced about his attendance at 355 consecutive games and mentioned that the temperature would not deter him from being at the stadium, regardless of the weather conditions.
As for the matchup between Penn State and SMU, the forecast predicts low 20s, dropping into the low teens in State College. Lashlee jested about the contrasting warm weather during the team’s workouts in Dallas but assured that recent games in colder conditions have prepared his players adequately. Meanwhile, Penn State will also have to adapt to the chilly bench situations caused by December football.
For Indiana, players and fans will encounter similar temperatures in South Bend, just 200 miles from Bloomington, for their game against Notre Dame. With a forecast indicating a 63% chance of snow, the Fighting Irish are eager to embrace the atmosphere, as shown in their promotional content that features snowy conditions. Indiana quarterback Curtis Rourke, having played in snowy environments before, expressed enthusiasm for the potential of experiencing snow during their game at Notre Dame Stadium. “Snow games are pretty fun,” he remarked, showcasing his excitement for the possibilities that await.
