COLUMBUS, OH – The College Football Playoffs are here.
After both achieving 10-2 regular-season finishes this past fall, Tennessee and Ohio State will clash in Columbus, OH, on Saturday night in a first-round playoff matchup.
The 8-seed Buckeyes will host the 9-seed Volunteers at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC.
Follow along with Rocky Top Insider’s live thread covering the scoring plays and big moments from the game on Saturday:
CURRENT SCORE: Fourth Quarter – Ohio State 42, Tennessee 10
Live tweets on X -> https://twitter.com/RockyTopInsider
More from RTI: Watch as Tennessee’s Band Fires Up Rocky Top For a Roaring Crowd in Columbus
Pregame
Tennessee will kick to start the game.
FIRST QUARTER
Ohio State Drive 1: Touchdown Buckeyes – OSU 7, UT 0
- 5 plays, 75 yards
- 2:14 TOP
- Will Howard tosses a 37-yard touchdown pass for the first points of the game. Tennessee had a look at fourth down early on but the ball moved forward on a facemask penalty.
Tennessee Drive 1: Punt – OSU 7, UT 0
- 3 plays, 7 yards
- 1:58 TOP
- Tennessee can’t get anything going off the bat and goes 3-0 to start the game.
Ohio State Drive 2: Touchdown Buckeyes – OSU 14, UT 0
- 5 plays, 68 yards
- 2:39 TOP
- Ohio State punches in a 1-yard score from Quinshon Judkins. Buckeyes are winning the explosive play battle early on.
Tennessee Drive 2: Punt – OSU 14, UT 0
- 3 plays, -18 yards
- TOP: 1:20
- Things for Tennessee are completely ice cold. Colder than the temperature in Columbus. QB Nico Iamaleava is constantly under pressure.
Ohio State Drive 3: Touchdown Buckeyes – OSU 21, UT 0
- 7 plays, 58 yards
- TOP 3:22
- Three straight touchdowns for OSU to start the game. Nightmare start for Tennessee.
Tennessee Drive 3: Punt – OSU 21, UT 0
- 7 plays, 22 yards
- TOP: 2:38
- Tennessee moves the sticks for the first time in the game but things still slow to a hault. Bad outlook for the Vols.
Second Quarter
Ohio State Drive 4: INTERCEPTION – OSU 21, UT 0
- 12 plays, 60 yards
- TOP: 5:47
- Tennessee’s Will Brooks comes up with a great interception in the back of Ohio State’s endzone to prevent more points from the Buckeyes and give the Vols something to work off of.
Tennessee Drive 4: FIELD GOAL GOOD – OSU 21, UT 3
- 9 plays, 62 yards
- TOP: 3:23
- Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert knocks through a 36-yard attempt to get the Vols on the board after Brooks’ interception. Small sign of life.
Ohio State Drive 5: Punt – OSU 21, UT 3
- 3 plays, 8 yards
- TOP: 2:16
- Tennessee’s defense forces its first OSU punt of the day.
Tennessee Drive 5: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – OSU 21, UT 10
- 16 plays, 79 yards
- TOP: 4:03
- Nico Iamaleava is a one-man show for the Vols, leading a 79-yard touchdown drive and capping it off with a two-yard rushing touchdown before the half.
Ohio State Drive 6: Missed Field Goal – OSU 21, UT 10
- 4 plays, 37 yards
- TOP: 0:20
- Buckeyes miss a long field goal to close down the half. Tennessee will get the ball back to start the third quarter.
Third Quarter
Tennessee Drive 6: Punt – OSU 21, UT 10
- 6 plays, 8 yards
- TOP: 2:24
- Vols dealing with major injuries coming out of the halftime break. Tennessee picks up one first down on the drive but can’t get much more than that.
Ohio State Drive 7: Touchdown – OSU 28, UT 10
- 6 plays, 22 yards
- TOP: 3:14
- Will Howard completes a pass to the corner of the endzone for six points. 22 yard pass play to Jeremiah Smith.
Tennessee Drive 7: Punt – OSU 28, UT 10
- 6 plays, 18 yards
- TOP: 3:12
- Tennessee picks up a first down but can’t get anything going after that. Iamaleava’s third down pass was tipped at the line and incomplete.
Ohio State Drive 8: Touchdown – OSU 35, UT 10
- 9 plays, 81 yards
- TOP: 4:46
- Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins punches in the one-yard touchdown. 81-yard scoring drive for OSU. Tennessee getting hit from all sides this game.
Fourth Quarter
Tennessee Drive 8: Turnover on Downs – OSU 35, UT 10
- 6 plays, 14 yards
- TOP: 2:59
- Tennessee attempts the fourth down pass from Iamaleava to Brazzell but it falls incomplete down the right sideline. Nothing good for the Vols tonight. Nothing.
Ohio State Drive 9: Touchdown – OSU 42, UT 10
- 5 plays, 39 yards
- TOP: 2:26
- OSU RB Henderson scampers in for the 24-yard touchdown.
Tennessee Drive 9: Punt – OSU 42, UT 10
- Tennessee goes three-and-out with less than 10 minutes in the game.
