Tennessee

Josh Heupel: Tennessee will be ready for cold weather at Ohio State in CFP game

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2024

Josh Heupel: Tennessee will be ready for cold weather at Ohio State in CFP game

Josh Heupel said his Tennessee football team is ready to play in cold conditions at Ohio State in a College Football Playoff game.

That’s easy for him to say.

Heupel grew up in South Dakota. And he routinely wears shorts to the Vols’ outdoor practices, even in November and December.

But cold temperatures are already a storyline for when No. 9 seed Tennessee (10-2) plays No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2) in a first-round game on Dec. 21 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) in Columbus, Ohio.

On Sunday, Heupel was asked during ESPN’s “College Football Playoff Selection Show” about his Vols playing in cold conditions.

“Yeah, you know a week ago we played in 30-degree weather (at Vanderbilt),” Heupel said. “This isn’t the Deep South. We get some colder weather. We practice in the mornings. We’ll be outside during the course of our preparation.

“We’ll be ready to handle the elements when we get up to Columbus, Ohio.”

On Nov. 30, Tennessee won 36-23 at Vanderbilt in its regular-season finale. It was 41 degrees and sunny at kickoff, but temperatures dipped into the low-30s by the end of the game.

Columbus, Ohio has a colder climate than what Tennessee is accustomed to playing in for SEC games. However, it’s not that different.

For example, when the CFP bracket was announced on Sunday afternoon, it was 55 degrees in Knoxville and 51 degrees in Columbus. The wind chill likely will challenge the Vols the most.

Expect the questions about cold weather to focus on quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a native of Long Beach, California.

74 years ago, Tennessee won big game in single-digit temperatures

By the way, don’t expect this game to break the record for coldest Tennessee football game.

On Nov. 25, 1950, Tennessee beat Kentucky 7-0 in single-digit temperatures in Knoxville.

About 45,000 fans braved frigid conditions at Shields-Watkins Field. Knoxville hit a record low of 12 degrees the day before the game. It dropped to 5 degrees hours before kickoff, which still stands as the coldest November day recorded in Knoxville.

Snow was shoveled off the field, but the game was still sloppy. The teams combined for 20 punts, 18 turnovers and only 17 first downs in the Vols’ 7-0 win.

Tennessee won a share of the national title that season with an 11-1 record, including a 20-14 win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee

Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap

Published

11 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.

ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”

In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.

The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.

ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.

This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.

Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.

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Tennessee

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Published

24 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.