The first-round matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes kicks off tomorrow.
Tennessee Volunteers 10-2 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 10-2
Date: Saturday, December 21
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV Channel: ABC
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Line: Ohio State -7.5 / O/U: 47.5
2024 Team Stats
Tennessee:
2024 Offense (SEC Rank) —
Total Yards: 462.9 (2)
Passing Yards: 230.9 (9)
Rushing Yards: 232.0 (1)
2024 Defense (SEC Rank) —
Total Yards Allowed: 278.0 (2)
Passing Yards Allowed: 178.7 (2)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 99.3 (2)
2024 Points Scored: 37.3 (2)
2024 Points Allowed: 13.9 (3)
2024 Ranking: 9
Ohio State:
2024 Offense (Big Ten Rank) —
Total Yards: 423.5 (5)
Passing Yards: 254.3 (5)
Rushing Yards: 169.2 (6)
2024 Defense (Big Ten Rank) —
Total Yards Allowed: 241.1 (1)
Passing Yards Allowed: 144.3 (1)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 96.8 (4)
2024 Points Scored: 35.5 (3)
2024 Points Allowed: 10.9 (1)
2024 Ranking: 8
Series History/All-Time Records
All-time head-to-head record: Tennessee leads 1-0-0
Current streak: Tennessee has won two straight
Last Tennessee win: 1/1/1996 (20-14)
Last Ohio State win: N/A 1/12/2015 (42-20)
2024 Player Stats
Tennessee
Passing: Nico Iamaleava – 199-303, 2512 yards, 19-5 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Dylan Sampson – 256 ATT, 1485 YDS, 22 TD
Receiving: Don’t’e Thornton Jr. – 25 REC, 647 YDS, 6 TD
Tackles: Arion Carter – 65 (27-38)
Sacks: James Pearce Jr. – 7.5
Interceptions: Jermod McCoy – 4
Ohio State
Passing: Will Howard – 227-314, 2860 YDS, 27-8 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Quinshon Judkins – 147 ATT, 805 YDS, 8 TD
Receiving: Jeremiah Smith – 57 REC, 934 YDS, 10 TD
Tackles: Sonny Styles – 76 (34-42)
Sacks: JT Tuimoloau – 6.0
Interceptions: Denzel Burke – 2
Players To Watch:
Tennessee: Running Back – Dylan Sampson – Junior
Sampson has been one of the best running backs this season as he’s averaged 123.8 yards per game. He faced a tough rush defense in the Buckeyes in this game but if Tennessee wants to pull off the upset they need Sampson to have a big game. He has rushed for over 100 yards in ten of the 12 games this season, in one of those two games he finished eight yards short of 100. Look for him to find the holes in the Ohio State defense and take control of this game.
Ohio State: Quarterback – Will Howard – Senior
Howard will face the second-best pass defense in the SEC in the Volunteers, he is coming off his worst game of the season as he threw for 175 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. In this game, he can afford to turn the ball over to this Tennessee offense and let them have a chance to take control of the game.
