Tennessee’s season comes to an end in 1st round of CFP falling to Ohio State, 42-17

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Volunteers season comes to an end after falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 42-17 in the first round of the college football playoffs. The Vols end the season 10-3, making their first college football playoff in program history.

Saturday night’s game is the first ever road game against a Big 10 team and the first ever December game for the Buckeyes inside their home stadium. It’s a stadium, which at least prior to kickoff, has seen plenty of Orange milling around.

UT enters as the No. 9 seed after posting a 10-2 record overall with a 6-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference while the Buckeyes finished 10-2 overall, including a 7-2 record in the Big 10 following a season ending loss to arch rival Michigan.

Tennessee comes into the contest with a non-conference winning streak that sits at 14 games, its longest since winning 27 straight against non-SEC foes from 1969-73. The current streak dates back to a Sept. 1, 2022, season-opening victory over Ball State. The Vols' last non-conference loss was to Purdue in the 2021 Music City Bowl.

Related Coverage: Referee of 2021 Music City Bowl to lead crew in Vols' first round playoff game

The Vols and Buckeyes will meet for the just second time in the storied history of the two programs when they face off on Saturday night. Tennessee won the only prior contest in the series, posting a 20-14 victory in a battle of top-five teams at the 1996 Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

1ST QUARTER

Ohio State start with the ball. On 3rd & 2 for the Buckeyes, Bryson Eason gets charged with a face mask penalty trying to sack the quarterback, Will Howard, giving OSU an automatic first down. The penalty setting up Ohio State for the opportunity to get on the board first. Howard connecting with Jeremiah Smith from 37-yards out. The Buckeyes go up early, 7-0, only shaving 2:14 off the clock.

Tennessee not able to answer back the way they hoped. After two short runs from Nico Iamaleava and Dylan Sampson, it is 3rd & 4 for the Vols. Iamaleava scrambles out of the pocket, but it brought down around the line of scrimmage. The hit hard enough to Iamaleava it cracks his helmet. It is three and out for Tennessee and the Buckeyes takes back over with 10:48 left in the quarter.

Ohio State continues to make a statement early. Howard connects deep with Emeka Egbuka to the Tennessee 6-yard line. That setting the Buckeyes up in prime scoring position again. Quinshon Judkins takes it to the endzone two players later. Ohio State is able to score quickly yet again, 14-0. Just through the first two drives, Howard is 5-for-6 with 124 yards through the air.

The Volunteers trying to take this drive to settle in, but Ohio State’s defense comes out hot. On 2nd & 11, Iamaleava is sacked by Jack Sawyer bringing up 3rd & 23. Iamaleava tries to connect with Squirrel White for a short screen pass to the right, but the pass is batted down. It is another three and out for Tennessee.

Ohio State has already scored more than Tennessee usually gives up in a game (13.9). After throwing it away on the first play, he finds TreVeyon Henderson out to the left and Henderson takes it 10-yards for the first down. On 3rd & 5, Howard throws it to Egbuka for a 16-yard gain. The Buckeyes going three-for-three, scoring every drive thus far. Henderson takes it 29-yards to the endzone. Ohio State takes a 21-0 lead with 3:27 left in the first quarter.

Tennessee has its first positive yards to start the drive. Iamaleava rushes for 14-yards to pick up the first down. On 2nd & 10, JT Tuimoloau batted down another pass as Iamaleava was trying to connect with Miles Kitselman. Iamaleava realizing he needs to use his legs once again, he picks up another first down, but then is sacked by Sawyer the very next play. Iamaleava trying to connect with White up field, looking for a pass interferance on the pass, but Tennessee has to punt for the third time in the quarter.

The Buckeyes take over and are able to convert a first down as the clock winds down. Ohio State with a dominate first quarter as they lead Tennessee 21-0.

2ND QUARTER

Ohio State is still about to move the ball efficiently to start the second quarter. The Buckeyes pick up another first down as Howard completes a pass to Egbuka for 10-yards. Tennessee looks like they might be able to get a stop when a few plays later it is 4th & 4 for Ohio State. The Buckeyes go for it as Howard connects with Smith for a short pass to the left and Smith makes it 10-yards before being brought down. On 3rd & 3, it is Smith catching a pass up for a 10-yard gain. Next play, the Vols able to get a start on defense off of an interception from none other than Will Brooks in the end zone.

The Vols take over on their 20-yard line. Iamaleava able to complete his first pass of the game on 2nd & 6 to Bru McCoy for 21-yards. Next play, Iamaleava connects with White up the middle for another first down for Tennessee. A few plays later, Iamaleava throws it into traffic and it is picked off by Davison Igbinosun, but Tennessee is bailed out as Kenyatta Jackson picks up a penalty for roughing the passer. The Vols are in the red zone for the first time in the contest, and they desperately need to find the end zone. Instead, the Vols settle for a field goal and Max Gilbert gets it through the upright. Ohio State still leads, 21-3 with 6:39 left in the first half.

Ohio State takes over. The Vols in need of a huge stop on this drive, and they deliver. On 3rd & 1, James Pearce runs down Judkins for a loss of one yard. The Buckeyes punt for the first time of the game. The Vols take over needing to get something out of this possession.

On 3rd & 2 for Tennessee, Iamaleava keeps it himself and is brought down right on the line, first down Vols. Peyton Lewis keeps the first downs going for Tennessee on 2nd & 3 as he is brought down at their own 43-yard line. McCoy gets it across the 50-yard line catching a pass from Iamaleava for 11-yards. The Vols continue to march it down field and make it inside the red zone when Iamaleava finds Dont’e Thornton for a 14-yard gain. After Iamaleava keeps it himself two plays in a row, it is first and goal Tennessee. On 2nd & goal, Iamaleava keeps it himself and takes it to the end zone. The Vols keep themselves alive right before halftime as they cut into the lead, 21-10 Ohio State still up.

The Buckeyes take over with :20 left in the first half. Henderson runs it for a 15-yard gain for a first down. Ohio State trying to get in field goal range to extend its lead. Right outside of his range, Jayden Fielding’s field goal attempt is no good. The Buckeyes still lead 21-10.

Tennessee gets the ball to start the second half.

3RD QUARTER

Dylan Sampson and Squirrel White were announced questionable to return to the game starting the second half, both having a lower body injury.

The opening drive of the second half did not last long for the Volunteers. After two short runs from Iamaleava and DeSean Bishop, Tennessee was able to pick up a first down. Bishop is shaken up two plays later and Tennessee eventually punts it away.

Ohio State takes over and starts marching up field. On 3rd & 2, Howard completes a pass to Egbuka for a 7-yard gain before being pushed out of bounds for a first down. Howard continues to connect up field as he finds Gee Scott Jr. for a 26-yard gain and another first down. Next play, Howard connects with Smith in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Buckeyes extend their lead, 28-10.

Tennessee takes back over and Sampson is back in the game. He opens the drive catching a screen pass for a 2-yard gain. On 3rd & 6, Iamaleava continuing to show off his athleticism rushing for eight yards for the first down. On 3rd & 4, Iamaleava tries to connect with Mike Matthews, but the pass is batted down, the fourth pass deflection for Ohio State thus far. Tennessee punts it back to the Buckeyes. The Vols only posting 173 yards of total offense midway through the third quarter.

The Buckeyes start their second drive for the second half with 6:04 to go in the third quarter. On 2nd & 6, Judkins runs it up the middle for a first down. Ohio State converts another first down after Howard connects with Kacmarek two plays later on 2nd & 5. Ohio State ends up in the red zone. Tennessee picks up two penalties back-to-back, having more than 11 players on the field and pass interference. Judkins punches it in from the 1-yard line and Ohio State chipping away at Tennessee, leading 35-10.

Tennessee gets the ball back with 1:18 in the third quarter. On 2nd & 8, Lewis rushes right up the middle for a first down Vols. In the last play of the quarter, Iamaleava is sacked by Sawyer for a loss of eight yards going into the last 15 minutes of the game.

4TH QUARTER

To start the fourth quarter, Ohio State has 422 yards of total offense while Tennessee is only posting 175 yards. The Volunteers hoping to close the gap in the fourth quarter.

On 3rd & 14, Iamaleava rushed up the middle for an eight yard gain. The Vols are going for it on fourth down, hoping to keep their hopes alive. Iamaleava looks for Chris Brazzell up field, but the throw is off target as Tennessee turns it over on downs on the Tennessee 39-yard line.

Ohio State looks to add some insurance, as the game is already going very much in its favor. On 3rd & 1, Howard runs it up the middle for six yards, stopped right outside of the red zone. Howard’s pass to Gee Scott is incomplete on 1st & 10. Next play, Henderson breaks free up the middle and takes it easily into the end zone. The Buckeyes making a statement, extending its lead 42-10 with 10:53 left in the ballgame.

The Vols take over and Iamaleava tries to create something up field, but the pass falls incomplete intended for Brazzell. On 2nd & 10, Iamaleava is sacked by JT Tuimoloau, he fumbles the ball, and is recovered by Sampson. It is a three and out for Tennessee.

The Buckeyes take over with 9:45 left in the contest. Ohio State’s backup Devin Brown comes in under center to start the drive. It is three and out for the Buckeyes as they punt it away shaving a little over two minutes off the clock.

Iamaleava trying to get the ball up field fast, but three incomplete passes in a row and it is three and out for Tennessee after Iamaleava goes deep to Mike Matthews on 3rd & 6.

It was more of the same for Ohio State on it’s next drive as they introduce another quarterback, Julian Sayin. Another quick three and out for the Buckeyes as Tennessee takes back over.

The Vols look to do something with five minutes left in the ball game. After its third first down of the drive, Tennessee makes it inside of the red zone as Lewis runs to the right for a 23-yard gain to the OSU 9-yard line. Iamaleava has been a competitor all game as he takes it up the middle on 3rd & 2 for his second touchdown of the game and only his third of the season. Ohio State still leads, 42-17 with under two minutes to go.

In the end, the Buckeyes advance to the quarterfinals to face Oregon in the Rose Bowl after taking down the Volunteers in the first round of the college football playoff, 42-17.

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