Final: Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17
The Buckeyes advance and will take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, the first round wrapped up with three lopsided results on Saturday.
Penn State took care of business in Happy Valley to start the day, using two early pick-6s to pull away with a 38-10 win against an overmatched SMU. Later, in Austin, No. 5 Texas had its way with No. 12 Clemson in a 38-24 game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. The nightcap was even more one-sided, with No. 8 Ohio State pulling away from No. 9 Tennessee in a 42-17 win.
What was the reason for all the blowouts? Line play was one key that stood out in each matchup.
The quarterfinals matchups are now set, and on paper there should be some much more competitive games.
The Buckeyes advance and will take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Ohio State DOMINATES Tennessee 😤 pic.twitter.com/qzg5ehGsxM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 22, 2024
Well the Vols have found the end zone again on a short run by Nico Iamaleava.
The bad news for them is that there's just 2 minutes left in the game.
OSU 42, Tennessee 17
The teams have traded punts and the Vols have it back at their own 12-yard line with 7 minutes left in the game.
Now it's TreVeyon Henderson with his second TD of the game. The veteran RB breaks through the line for a 24-yard touchdown run to extend the Buckeyes' lead.
OSU 42, Tennessee 10
ANOTHER ONE! pic.twitter.com/f8RPD0uLf3
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
The Vols are going to need to start adding up the points quick to get back into this one.
The Buckeyes are pouring it on now. Quinshon Judkins just capped off a 9-play, 81-yard drive with a short touchdown run.
OSU 35, Tennessee 10
Quinshon Judkins punches it in from one yard out to extend Ohio State’s lead to 35-10! pic.twitter.com/oniZjVHUE1
— The Sports Place (@offsportsplace) December 22, 2024
The Buckeyes are moving the ball and eating a lot of clock with the run game now.
The Vols looked like they were considering going for it on fourth and short at midfield, but they opt to kick it away instead.
It's Ohio State ball with 6:04 left in the third quarter.
It's Jeremiah Smith AGAIN! The freshman phenom caught another beautiful pass from Will Howard on a fade into the corner and the Buckeyes have re-established themselves in this one.
OSU 28, Tennessee 10
Freshman Jeremiah Smith's second touchdown of game extends OSU's lead! pic.twitter.com/eEOuUhp0JV
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 22, 2024
It's a quick possession to open the third quarter for the Vols. They were trying to establish the run game on that drive and it didn't work out too well.
Will Tennessee keep it rolling and deliver the biggest comeback in College Football Playoff history?
Buckeyes kicker Jayden Fielding had a shot at extending the lead as time expired, but his 56-yard try wasn't close.
The Vols have finally found the end zone with just 20 seconds left in the first half after a short run by Nico Iamaleava.
OSU 21, Tennessee 10
Tennessee gets back into it 👀 pic.twitter.com/qdxxNaBZ0M
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
Tennessee is past midfield now with just under 2 minutes left in the opening half.
Tennessee is going to have a shot at eating into the Buckeyes' lead before halftime after holding strong and forcing a punt.
Tennessee's drive fizzled out after the penalty and the Vols had to settle for a short field goal by Max Gilbert.
OSU 21, Tennessee 3
The Buckeyes had an interception but a Tennessee defender was given a roughing-the-passer penalty after landing on Nico Iamaleava.
The Vols are inside the red zone after the controversial penalty.
Ohio State has the INT wiped off for roughing the passer pic.twitter.com/9YlS6fQrgJ
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
Now it's Tennessee's turn to deliver some chunk plays. Nico Iamaleava just found 2 different receivers for long gains and the Vols are past midfield.
Will Howard was trying to find Jeremiah Smith for another touchdown but the freshman wasn't able to hold onto the ball and Tennessee's Will Brooks made a spectacular play to get a foot down in the end zone for the pick.
After a short review, the call on the field of an interception stands. What a play by Brooks!
Very close here. Lets see what the call is. pic.twitter.com/p3ROXbg1OX
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
The Buckeyes were facing a fourth-and-3 at midfield when Jeremiah Smith caught a crossing route and made a nice move to extend the drive.
It's been all Buckeyes early in this one.
Total yards so far...
Ohio State: 205
Tennessee: -3
Nico Iamaleava made consecutive first downs with his legs, but Ohio State's defense firmed up when it needed to and the Vols punt it back to the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes are off to a flying start in Columbus. The latest score comes via the legs of TreVeyon Henderson, who bolted around the edge for a 29-yard touchdown run.
OSU 21, Tennessee 0
THREE DRIVES AND THREE OHIO STATE TOUCHDOWNS! pic.twitter.com/DAEnGJAGSb
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
The Buckeyes are driving for another score. They're inside the UT 30 after a long pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka.
The Buckeyes are cooking with gas early in Columbus! Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka on a deep pass to get inside the UT 5-yard line and then Quinshon Judkins finished things off from there with a short run.
OSU 14, Tennessee 0
A PERFECT START FOR THE BUCKEYES pic.twitter.com/AWVcqAJIvb
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2024
The Vols can't get anything going with their opening possession and punt it right back to the Buckeyes.
Who else but Jeremiah Smith to get things started for the Buckeyes! Will Howard dropped in a perfect deep ball and the freshman phenom comes down with it for a 37-yard touchdown!
OSU 7, Tennessee 0
Jeremiah Smith. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/J6LbEnsVhT
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 22, 2024
The Buckeyes are nearing the red zone now after a long pass from Will Howard to TreVeyon Henderson.
We are underway in Columbus. The Buckeyes will have the ball first. You would think it's a Tennessee home game with how loud the Vols fans are as this thing gets going.
Here's where we stand with three playoff games in the books:
For the CFP nightcap we head to Columbus, where Tennessee fans are making their presence known:
Rocky Top thunders throughout Ohio Stadium. It’s remarkable. More than 30,000 Tennessee fans expected. pic.twitter.com/zEeYA1JRUy
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 22, 2024
The Longhorns earn a spot in the quarterfinals, where they'll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
TEXAS TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS 🤘 pic.twitter.com/B14wm9I1Ox
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 22, 2024
Arch Manning fumbles the snap and fails to convert what would have been the game-clinching first down for the Longhorns. One last gasp for the Tigers here.
Texas is methodically moving the chains and keeping the clock moving.
We're at the 2-minute timeout and the Longhorns still have the ball. This one is all but over.
The Tigers get stopped on two straight runs at the 1.
Massive stop for Texas, which takes over with 7:24 to play.
THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY 💪🤘#HookEm | #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/sEqkIAvG2F
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 22, 2024
Cade Klubnik is throwing it all over the yard and he's led the Tigers inside the 5-yard line, but Clemson just burned a timeout before facing a 3rd and goal.
Longhorns RBs today:
Jaydon Blue: 12 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs
Quintrevion Wisner: 12 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs
Jaydon Blue unleashes a 77-yard TD run!
Instant answer for the Longhorns, who are right back to a 2-TD lead.
JAYDON BLUE WITH THE IMMEDIATE ANSWER 🤯
📺: TNT / MAX pic.twitter.com/Qqgxz6YTBN— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 22, 2024
Cade Klubnik finds T.J. Moore in the end zone on a 4th and 6 pass. The clutch play makes it a one-score game. We've got a ballgame here in Austin early in the 4th!
Texas 31, Clemson 24
ONE. SCORE. GAME.
📺: TNT / MAX pic.twitter.com/7N2zfrs5sS— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 21, 2024
A Longhorns drive makes it into Clemson territory by Quinn Ewers throws incomplete on 4th and 2.
Clemson takes over with a chance to cut further into the lead.
Texas turns it over on Downs pic.twitter.com/VHUPMJ8jbw
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 21, 2024
That happened fast. Two big pass plays and the Tigers are in the end zone.
Cade Klubnik fired it to Jarvis Green for a 25-yard score, and Clemson has life!
Texas 31, Clemson 17
KLUBNIK TO GREEN FOR THE TD 🙌
📺: TNT / MAX pic.twitter.com/czEDExLTFt— Bleacher Report CFB (@BR_CFB) December 21, 2024
Cade Klubnik took an ugly sack, fumbling it away before his teammate eventually recovered, and that pretty much killed another drive for the Tigers.
Texas gets it back.
Only so many more chances for Clemson to try to get back into this game.
This pass attempt from Cade Klubnik 😳 pic.twitter.com/Y3wUaS1Zfp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 21, 2024
Bert Auburn hits from 22 yards to extend the Longhorns' lead.
Texas got near the goal line after a PI call, but unable to get into the end zone.
Manning had already entered the game earlier for a handoff, but this time he drops back to pass and ends up scrambling for a first down on a 3rd-and-1 play.
Texas receives the 2nd-half kickoff and will try to extend its lead here.
The Texas offense is putting on a clinic so far. Can Clemson do anything to stop it in the second half or are we looking at a third straight playoff blowout?
Quinn Ewers fires it to Gunnar Helm for a 19-yard TD toss. Big answer for the Longhorns following the turnover. And they extend their lead right before halftime.
Texas 28, Clemson 10
Texas finds the end zone again right before the half! pic.twitter.com/KwtZwQGsf9
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) December 21, 2024