Josh Heupel: Buckeyes’ skills ‘as good as you can see’

“First I just want to thank our fans. I don’t know what the actual number was that showed up, but it was a bunch of orange that decided to make the trip and I appreciate them. Disappointed for them, disappointed for our team and everything we had put into it since last January that we didn’t train and play better in this early.”

On not being able to keep up against the Buckeyes throughout the game:

“There wasn’t a phase of the football game where we were functioning the way we were supposed to early in the game and, you know, came back and made a few plays at the end of the second quarter to tighten it up and, you know, It just didn’t work well enough at the beginning of the third quarter, so, and that’s a credit to them, but just didn’t do what you need to do on the road against a really good football team, so disappointed on all those counts.”

“Ohio State played really well. Coming into it, you know, I thought their ability on both sides of the ball was as good as you’re going to see. You know, defensively, you know, they led the country or was top five in virtually every category.”– Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel

On Ohio State’s fast start to begin the game:

“Yeah, you know, defensively, first series, got a chance to get off the field, end up with a game penalty, something that’s going to happen during the game. You know, had a couple of busts in coverage, and, you know, they made some plays as well and that’s going to happen against a good team, but what we didn’t do is, you know, come back and find a way to get on the right side of it defensively, offensively, that’s everyone.”

On UT’s inability to get its offense into a rhythm:

“We didn’t separate at times and it was a combination of a lot of different things. You know, early on, the first couple of series, we just got behind the chains and weren’t able to put a third down, you know, and then compile that with what was happening on the other side of the ball.

On the mood in the Vols’ locker room:

“A ton of disappointment in our locker room for everyone who’s invested. There’s so much work that goes into it, but absolutely disappointed with, you know, the performance tonight for our fans. The amount of people that traveled, but it’s every week. It’s 365 days a year, so disappointed for them, absolutely.”

“Ohio State played really well. Coming into it, you know, I thought their ability on both sides of the ball was as good as you’re going to see. You know, defensively, you know, they led the country or was top five in virtually every category.”

They did a good job tonight, you know. We weren’t effective against the run early and you know we got to the quarterback early and you combine those two things and you struggle offensively.