Ohio State downed Tennessee 42-17, sets up Rose Bowl rematch with No. 1 Oregon

Will Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17 Saturday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game, setting up a New Year’s Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl.

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson each rushed for two touchdowns as the Buckeyes (11-2) gave their fans an early Christmas present that should quell some of the clamor after a devastating fourth straight loss to Michigan three weeks ago.

Howard finished 24 for 29 for 311 yards, his second 300-yard game of the season. Smith had six catches for 103 yards, the sixth freshman to have over 100 receiving yards in a CFP game.

Eighth-seeded Ohio State scored on its first three drives while forcing three straight Tennessee punts. The ninth-seeded Vols (10-3) finally got on the board with a second-quarter field goal and touchdown, but couldn’t generate anything in the second half before getting a meaningless touchdown late in the game.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 14 for 31 for 104 yards and rushed a career-high 20 times for 47 more.

The 473 yards gained by Ohio State were the most surrendered by the Tennessee defense all season.

The game-time temperature was 25 degrees and falling in the first college football game played in December at 102-year-old Ohio Stadium.

Takeaways

Tennessee: Star running back Dylan Sampson was hampered by a hamstring injury and had just two carries for 6 yards. Receivers Squirrel White and Dont’e Thorton Jr. was also beaten up. limiting the Vols’ offense.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes did what they didn’t do against Michigan: get the ball in bounds and throw deep to their most explosive players.

Next

The Buckeyes advance to a second-round game against Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. They lost to the Ducks 32–31 on October 12.

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