Tennessee football is heading to Columbus for its first ever College Football Playoff game. The nine-seed Vols are facing an eight-seed Ohio State team that’s as talented as any team in the playoffs. The winner advances to the Rose Bowl and the loser’s season comes to a close.
Each week, the RTI team will provide game predictions for Tennessee’s matchup.
We move on to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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Ric Butler
The excitement level raised when Tennessee men’s basketball made the Elite Eight at the beginning of the year. The hype only grew as Tennessee capped off the academic year with a National Championship in baseball in late June. But the excitement and hype seem to be hitting a fever pitch as Tennessee football heads into its first-ever College Football Playoffs. While I know most people (including myself) would rather see the game in Neyland Stadium, it’s almost poetic that the Vols are going to a national contender to try to continue putting their stamp on an incredible year for Tennessee Athletics. I expect Columbus to be painted orange, too.
Ohio State’s roster is as good as it gets in college football. The Buckeyes have a capable quarterback, elite wide receivers, and an extremely stout defense. All three of those aspects are going to be difficult for Tennessee to slow down, to say the least. But there are some holes based on injury. One of those places is on the offensive line. Can Tennessee’s front seven be as disruptive as they have been all year? If so, I see Tennessee winning the battle in the trenches on that side of the ball. If not, I see the Vols struggling like they did against Georgia and giving time for OSU to find those receivers downfield.
Dylan Sampson is going to have to be the engine he’s been all season but this is a quarterback’s game. Nico Iamaleava has to be good for the Vols despite the weather and conditions. He’s been playing his best football of the season as of late so my expectations for No. 8 have been raised heading into the postseason.
Like I’ve said a handful of times this season, everything in my head has me wanting to pick the opposition. Ohio State is an uber-talented team that could be looking for vengeance after losing to Michigan. Tennessee could fall flat on the road, which we’ve seen before. But I’ve purposely been bold with my picks this year and I can’t just quit on that now, right? If Tennessee is going to win, the defensive line has to create havoc and the Vols have to win the rushing game to keep the ball moving and keep it away from Howard and Chip Kelly’s offense. Tennessee has to win a tough red zone battle, too. I don’t know the combination of ingredients that will lead to a Tennessee win once the whistle blows, but I’m taking the bold pick and the upset.
Prediction: Tennessee 23, Ohio State 20
Jack Foster
Ric kicking things off with an upset pick is going to make my prediction less interesting. Spoiler alert! But seriously, let’s take a look at the reasons why national media is primarily picking Ohio State.
Nico Iamaleava is a California kid and will struggle in the cold. Possibly. But what about the fact that the majority of December has been in the 30s and low 40s in Knoxville? He’s practicing every day in it. While he could struggle more than usual in the elements, I don’t think it will be detrimental to Tennessee.
Plus, Tennessee can and will lean on the ground game against the Buckeyes, which brings me to debunking another belief about this game. Ohio State is a Big Ten team, playing at home in ‘football weather,’ right? These SEC schools traveling north to play in the elements against more physical, big-bodied teams will have their work cut out for them, right?
Well, what if I told you Tennessee is more of a Big Ten team than Ohio State. The Vols rely on the run more. They’re better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they like to pound you and get out of there with a low-scoring win. That’s Big Ten football. Ohio State isn’t and hasn’t been a prototypical Big Ten team for quite some time. The Buckeyes rely on speed, big plays and out-scoring you. Just so happens Ohio State plays awful offenses the majority of the year.
Sure, the Penn State game comes to mind when the Nittany Lions did not get into the end zone (although they were close multiple times). And sure, Indiana basically had one good drive against Ohio State. But I don’t see Ohio State bullying Tennessee like they did Indiana, and I’m going to trust Josh Heupel more than James Franklin to have a good plan in a big game.
Lastly, the home game advantage will be noticeable to an extent but how much? A ‘Tennessee Takeover’ has been the buzz on social media, and Ohio State fans may be looking ahead to a Pasadena trip.
If Will Howard and the Ohio State wide receivers are playing lights out, and Tennessee’s tackles aren’t holding up, it will be difficult for Tennessee to win. But I’m putting my money on Tennessee’s defensive line to make Howard very uncomfortable, Dylan Sampson to have a big day, and Iamaleava to play clean. Tennessee wins in an extremely close, low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Tennessee 20, Ohio State 17
Ryan Schumpert
The outside goal for Tennessee football entering the 2024 season was simple. Make the College Football Playoffs. Check. But inside the Volunteer program they had their sights set higher. That starts on Saturday by defeating an Ohio State program that’s been one of the nation’s best over the last decade.
The challenge is a significant one. Ohio State is as talented as any team in the country and its defense has been pretty stout all season long. The Buckeyes have the best pass rush of any team in the playoffs and a talented secondary. A run defense that was susceptible in its two losses this season is where Tennessee’s offense could possibly find the upper hand.
But as talented as Ohio State is, they’re not a perfect team. The Buckeyes offensive line is extremely banged up and has struggled to run between the tackles against teams with strong defensive lines. The strength of Tennessee’s defense is its defensive front and they should be able to bottle up the Buckeyes’ rushing attack. That would put the game in the hands of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. Ohio State has an incredibly talented receiver core but Howard has been pedestrian all season long.
I just can’t shake the similarities between this game and the Georgia game. Ohio State is also a flawed team with a shaky offensive line. Tennessee’s defensive front should control the game. But the Buckeyes are the more talented team and they’re playing at home. I see many paths to a Tennessee victory. The Vols pulling the upset would not surprise me at all, but my head says Ohio State bounces back from the Michigan loss and defends home field.
Ohio State 24, Tennessee 20
One Response
Great insights. Often people who cover one team find it hard to avoid overestimating that team — in part because they have a shallow knowledge of the opponent. But these are really sharp, sure to be proved accurate assessments of the team of these writers cover as their profession.