The Tennessee Vols are still facing criticism following their 25-point loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff last month.

While Ohio State’s dominant performance against Oregon in the quarterfinals highlights their strength, the loss to the Buckeyes says more about Ohio State’s prowess than it does about Tennessee. Still, that hasn’t stopped some opposing coaches from taking shots at the Vols.

An anonymous Big Ten coach recently made a comment to *The Athletic* about Tennessee’s performance in the cold temperatures in Columbus against Ohio State. “They (Ohio State) looked like they came out to beat the crap out of Tennessee, and Tennessee looked like they wanted to get the hell out of the cold,” the Big Ten defensive backs coach said. “That was Ohio State remembering they have more weapons than everybody else and cutting their guys loose.”
There’s no denying it was cold in Columbus during the Vols’ loss to the Buckeyes, with subfreezing temperatures, but it’s hard to attribute Ohio State’s dominant win to the weather. The Vols appeared well-prepared for the cold, and quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a Southern California native, showed tremendous toughness despite taking several hard hits from Ohio State’s defenders. At one point, Nico’s helmet was even cracked, yet he continued to battle through the adversity, proving his resilience on the field.

Anonymous coaches aren’t the only ones taking jabs at the Vols. Fox Sports announcers Gus Johnson and Jimmy Jackson also took a shot at Tennessee during the Michigan State vs. Ohio State basketball game on Friday. They suggested that the Vols were “ready to get on the bus” due to the cold weather in Columbus.
If it had been 75 degrees during Tennessee’s game against Ohio State, the outcome would likely have been the same. The Buckeyes just look unstoppable right now. The idea that the cold weather played a role in Tennessee’s loss is simply low-hanging fruit for those eager to throw shade at the SEC. It’s an easy narrative for critics, but it doesn’t account for Ohio State’s sheer dominance.