Ryan Day's Buckeyes dominated from start to finish in a 42-17 CFP quarterfinal win over Tennessee, setting up a date with Oregon on New Year's Day in Pasadena.
The first ever home playoff game at Ohio Stadium turned out to be a victory party as Ohio State buried Tennessee, 42-17, in front of a raucous crowd featuring ~20K Volunteers faithful, at least until the reality of watching a blowout loss in frigid temperatures sent many in orange filing for the exits well before the clock struck zeroes.
Finding ways to mask Ohio State's deficiencies along the interior of the offensive line was job one and getting the ball to skill players in the pass game was job two after the Buckeyes failed to do either against Michigan.
Starting the game with the ball after losing the coin toss, Howard completed 3-of-4 passes for 66 yards including a 37-yard touchdown connection with Jeremiah Smith to open the scoring and send the OSU faithful into a frenzy. Through three quarters, as Ohio State built a 35-10 lead leading to reserves trickling in with greater frequency in the fourth quarter, the Silver Bullets dominated the Vols, holding them to 175 total yards on 3.4 yards per play. Tennessee came into the contest averaging 6.3 yards per snap.
The Volunteers managed 10 points during those first three quarters with three coming after a questionable roughing the passer call wiped out a Davison Igbinosun interception to extend the drive. Kenyatta Jackson did pancake Iamaleava during the throw and was whistled for driving Nico into the ground but I'm not sure where else he could've fallen given the tight quarters around him including a UT offensive lineman essentially guiding his fall onto the quarterback.
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