The 2024 college football season likely has not gone how Ryan Day and Ohio State have wanted it to, with the Buckeyes limping into the College Football Playoff having missed out on the Big Ten championship and losing a fourth straight game to Michigan.
On Saturday, the Buckeyes have a chance to move past those disappointments when they host Tennessee in the final CFP first-round game, which will finalize the quarterfinal round of the playoff.
With a win at Ohio Stadium, Ryan Day and Co. will secure their first CFP victory since the 2020 college football season. It will also advance the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl, where they will rematch vs. No. 1 Oregon, the only other team to beat Ohio State (10-2) this season. The ultimate goal from there — as it is every year — is the national championship.
But Ohio State, the 8 seed in the final CFP rankings, can’t look past Tennessee, the 9 seed, which enters with an identical 10-2 record. The Vols have won the only other prior meeting between the two teams, as Peyton Manning led Tennessee to a 20-14 win vs. Eddie George and the Buckeyes in the 1996 Citrus Bowl.
Can Ohio State get one back vs. Tennessee, in a game with even higher stakes?
REQUIRED READING:How can Ohio State football beat Tennessee? 3 keys for first-round CFP game
Follow along for live updates, scores, highlights and more from Saturday’s first-round CFP game:
This section will be updated when the game begins.
Vols score their first points of the second half on Iamaleava’s 2-yard rushing touchdown, his second score of the night.
Ohio State leads 42-17 with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State pulls its starters, with backup quarterback Devin Brown entering the game. Brown, interestingly enough, is actually in the transfer portal.
Sign of the times in college football.
Buckeyes take 42-10 lead on Henderson’s 24-yard touchdown run.
It’s time for Tennessee to start warming up the busses. Ohio State is going to rematch No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals.
That touchdown might be the final straw for the Vols, as Ohio State takes a 35-10 lead on the 1-yard touchdown run by Judkins.
Howard has been sensational, with 311 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-28 passing.
Buckeyes doing a nice job containing Tennessee, who’s leaning on Iamaleava in the quarterback run game. Ohio State takes over on its own 19-yard line after the punt, looking to blow this game open with 6:04 left in the third quarter.
Howard throws a gorgeous pass to Smith for a 22-yard touchdown, as Smith found himself in a 1-on-1 situation again and burnt his defender to give Ohio State a 28-10 lead.
Smith is up to six receptions for 102 yards with two touchdowns on the night.
Ohio State stops Tennessee on third-and-7, as the Buckeyes pick up a tackle for loss to push the Vols back to fourth-and-12.
OSU takes over on its own 35-yard line for its first possession of the second half.
Jayden Fielding lines up for a 56-yard field goal before halftime, but can’t convert the kick.
Ohio State leads 21-10 at halftime.
Ohio State allows a touchdown with 20 seconds before halftime, as Iamaleava punches in a 2-yard rushing score on the designed quarterback run.
Tennessee ends the half with 10 unanswered points, cutting into Ohio State’s 21-10 lead.
Tennessee receiver Squirrel White was shown on the broadcast heading to the locker room early with a noticeable limp. It’s unclear what the injury was, but Tennessee will hope to have one of its most explosive receivers back for the second half.
Howard throws a screen pass to Egbuka on third-and-1, but Tennessee stuffs the try and forces an Ohio State punt.
Tennessee regains possession on its own 21-yard line.
Ohio State holds Tennessee to a field goal, which the Vols make from 36 yards.
Ohio State leads 21-3 with 6:39 left until halftime.
Ohio State dials up the pressure and forces Iamaleava to throw an interception, but Davison Igbinosun’s catch is negated by a roughing the passer penalty on Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Tennessee reaches the red zone after the 15-yard penalty.
Howard attempts a throw to Smith in the end zone, but the pass is tipped and caught by Tennessee’s Will Brooks.
Not an ideal play for Ohio State, who gives Tennessee some life as it was close to going up 28-0.
Howard passes to Smith for a 10-yard gain on fourth-and-4, keeping the chains moving.
Ohio State is driving and returns from a TV timeout on Tennessee’s 37-yard line. Buckeyes looking to take a commanding 28-0 lead in the second quarter.
Ohio State allows Tennessee to get a first down for the first time but ultimately keeps the Vols from gaining momentum and forces another punt.
A score here would put the Buckeyes, already up 21-0 after a quarter, in tremendous position. Ohio State has outgained Tennessee 205-16 in the first quarter.
Ohio State is 3 for 3 on scoring drives, as TreVeyon Henderson punches in a 29-yard touchdown with 3:27 left in the first quarter.
Buckeyes drive 58 yards on seven plays in 3:22 of game time. Howard is up to 9 of 11 passing for 154 yards with a touchdown before the first quarter is over.
Ohio State has outgained the Vols with 191 yards to Tennessee’s -6 yards so far. That’ll play.
Ohio State is absolutely dominating early, as it forces another three-and-out deep in Tennessee’s own territory. JT Tuimoloau sacked Iamaleava on second-and-11 to move the Vols back to third-and-23 before the punt.
Buckeyes take over with good field position on their own 42-yard line.
Buckeyes offense has had a perfect start, as Quinshon Judkins plunges in a 1-yard touchdown to give Ohio State a 14-0 lead.
Tennessee and Nico Iamaleava have dug themselves an early hole.
Howard is having a ton of success airing it out in the first quarter, as he throws back-to-back passes for 18 yards and 40 yards to Smith and Emeka Egbuka, respectively.
Howard is up to 5 of 6 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown already with 9:26 left in the first quarter.
Nice start for the Buckeyes, who force a three-and-out after scoring the first touchdown of the game.
Ohio State takes over on its own 32-yard line, looking to take a commanding lead early.
Jeremiah Smith is him. Will Howard throws a gorgeous pass to Smith, who comes down with a 37-yard touchdown in a 1-on-1 situation.
Buckeyes take a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Ohio State loses the coin toss, and Tennessee defers. Buckeyes offense getting started first.
Here we go.
Tennessee fans traveled to Columbus in full force for the CFP game, with orange sticking out in the stands throughout Ohio Stadium. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reports more than 30,000 Tennessee fans are expected, which projects to be one of the largest road contingents ever at The Shoe.
The Vols are trying to set the tone in Columbus, as numerous players came out for pregame warmups without shirts on. Mind you, it’s currently 25 degrees before kickoff.
It was a clean sweep for Ohio State on “College GameDay” Saturday morning, as each of the five panelists chose the Buckeyes over the Vols.
Ohio Stadium is decked out in College Football Playoff decals for the Buckeyes’ game against Tennessee on Saturday:
Ohio State and Tennessee will play at 8 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium in Columbus for a first-round College Football Playoff matchup. The winner plays No. 1 Oregon in the CFP quarterfinals on New Year’s Day.
REQUIRED READING:How Ohio State football has prepared for winter weather ahead of its first home CFP game
The Buckeyes vs. Vols game will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Chris Fowler(play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will have the call from the booth, while Holly Rowe will serve as the sideline reporter.
The game can also be streamed on the ESPN app or Fubo, the latter of which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers select users a free trial.
REQUIRED READING:Dwelling on Michigan loss could spell doom for Ohio State football against Tennessee
Here is how national media are picking Ohio State vs. Tennessee:
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Dec. 19
This section will be updated.
According to hourly forecasts for Columbus, Ohio from Weather.com, it will be 24 degrees at 8 p.m. ET, the scheduled kickoff time for Ohio State-Tennessee on Saturday. The forecast calls for partly cloudy weather with a 1% chance of rain.
* Denotes Big Ten game
** Denotes CFP ranking
* Denotes SEC game
** Denotes CFP ranking
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