The Buckeyes dominated the first round of the College Football Playoff against Tennessee with a decisive 42-17 victory, leading to the Vols' most lopsided defeat of the season. The Ohio State assault began early, racking up a 21-0 lead in the first quarter as reported by WBIR. Meanwhile, Tennessee struggled to match Ohio State's pace with the Vols' performance underwhelming their massive fan turnout at the Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State's quarterback Will Howard connected with All-American wide receiver Jeremiah Smith for an opening 37-yard touchdown. Tennessee, in contrast, struggled to make ground on their first possessions, failing to put points on the board until the second quarter, according by WREG. A field goal by Max Gilbert finally got the Vols on the scoreboard, trailing the Buckeyes by a considerable margin.
Despite a brief interlude of competitive spirit, when Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava managed a rushing touchdown following a key interception by Will Brooks, the Buckeyes controlled the game throughout. Ohio State widened the gap further in the third quarter, making it 28-10 with an adept pass game that was a constant thorn in the side of the Tennessee defense, as observed by WBIR.
This loss wraps up a historical season for Tennessee, who finished 10-3, making their first-ever college football playoff appearance. The season's end was marked by this game, which also served as Ohio State's first December home game and Tennessee's inaugural road battle against a Big 10 team, per details from WSMV. Going forward, Tennessee's challenge will be to leverage their newfound CFP experience into a stronger bid in the next season, while Ohio State advances to face an undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
