Every ‘College GameDay’ prediction for Ohio State-Tennessee

On December 22, 2024By Littum

Ohio State is looking to make a serious statement Saturday.

The Big Ten juggernaut will host an SEC team in December. It’s the kind of game fans usually only get to see simulated in “College Football 25,” but thanks to the 12-team College Football Playoff, it’s now a reality.

The Tennessee Vols (10-2, 6-2 SEC) visit Ohio Stadium to take on the Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in a game that has an air of desperation about it beyond the normal must-win -atmosphere of a playoff game. There’s no real word on whether or not Ryan Day is coaching for his job, but with a 1-3 record in the College Football Playoffs and four straight sweeps to hated rival Michigan, there’s a distinct possibility that the coach gets a little warm around the collar.

That said, there is a lot of football left this year, starting with Saturday’s showdown. Will Howard and the Buckeyes are still in the mix for the program’s first national championship since 2014. Saturday’s game is for a chance to play Oregon in the Rose Bowl, a possible revenge game for the Buckeyes. But they’ll have to get through Josh Heupel and the Vols’ stout defense first.

Ohio State-Tennessee picks for ‘College GameDay’: Who picked Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk

Desmond Howard: Ohio State
Nick Saban: Ohio State
Pat McAfee: Ohio State
AJ Hawk: Ohio State
Lee Corso: Ohio State
Kirk Herbstreit: Abstained from voting