In the first-ever College Football Playoff game at the Shoe, Ohio State defended its home turf against the Volunteers from Knoxville, cruising to a dominant 42-17 victory to advance to the CFP quarterfinals. With the win, the Buckeyes punched their ticket to the Rose Bowl, where they will face top-seeded Oregon in a highly anticipated rematch on New Year’s Day.
Ohio State wasted no time asserting its dominance, jumping out to a commanding 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Will Howard set the tone early, connecting with Jeremiah Smith for a 37-yard touchdown just over two minutes into the game. The Buckeyes’ defense quickly forced a Tennessee three-and-out, and Ohio State capitalized again when a 40-yard pass from Howard to Emeka Egbuka set up Quinshon Judkins’ 1-yard touchdown run. TreVeyon Henderson added a 29-yard scoring dash later in the quarter to complete the explosive start.
Tennessee briefly threatened to turn the tide in the second quarter. After intercepting Howard in the end zone, the Volunteers managed to put together a pair of scoring drives, including a 79-yard march capped by a touchdown just before halftime to cut the lead to 21-10. Questionable officiating calls, including a roughing-the-passer penalty on Kenyatta Jackson Jr. that negated an interception, aided Tennessee’s efforts.
Ohio State, however, seized control again in the third quarter. The defense forced a punt on Tennessee’s opening drive of the half, and the Buckeyes responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Smith. Another touchdown drive, highlighted by Judkins’ second 1-yard plunge of the night, extended the lead to 35-10. Henderson’s second touchdown, a 24-yard run early in the fourth quarter, put the game out of reach. Tennessee added a late score against Ohio State’s backups to make the final margin slightly more respectable.
Howard delivered a stellar performance, completing 24 of 29 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Henderson paced the Buckeyes’ ground attack with 80 rushing yards and two scores, while Smith eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with a six-catch, 103-yard outing. Cody Simon led the defense with 12 tackles, while defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau combined for 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Head coach Ryan Day’s “leave no doubt” mantra was fully realized against Tennessee. The Buckeyes’ emphatic response to their critics – following close regular-season losses to Michigan and Oregon – showed they remain a legitimate championship contender. “We knew coming out of the second half we had to win the next four or five minutes, and we did,” Day said. “When you leave no doubt, nobody will talk about those moments where the game could have turned.”
Howard echoed his coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus and momentum. “We did a hell of a job not letting off the gas,” Howard said. “When it’s 21-10 going into half, we could have let that go sideways. But we came out, got a huge stop, scored, and kept our foot on the pedal.”
The victory marked Ohio State’s first CFP win since the 2020 semifinals and improved the program’s all-time playoff record to 4-4. The Buckeyes’ confidence is now riding high as they prepare for a rematch with an Oregon team that handed them a heartbreaking one-point loss earlier in the season. With their national championship hopes still alive, the Buckeyes aim to make a statement on the Rose Bowl stage.
“It had been a long couple of weeks for us, and to say it doesn’t weigh on you, it does,” Day said. “I’m glad our guys were able to respond in a big way. But they are not satisfied. They’re ready to refocus on Oregon and take the next step toward achieving our ultimate goal.”
Ohio Stadium’s record-setting crowd of 102,819 witnessed a historic performance, and the Buckeyes hope to carry that energy into Pasadena. With renewed momentum and a chip on their shoulder, Ohio State is determined to keep leaving no doubt.