With the first week of the College Football Playoff in full swing, it shifts to Ohio Stadium in Columbus as No. 8 Ohio State is taking on No. 9 Tennessee in what should be an electric matchup. The following are some details in regard to the game in question: players who might contribute, coaching strategies, and predictions for this Saturday evening matchup.

Game Details

Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
TV/Streaming: ESPN and ABC
Spread: Ohio State -7.5
Over/Under: 47 points

Players to Watch

Ohio State Buckeyes:

Will Howard (QB): Over from Kansas State, Howard has been very accurate on the season, completing 72.3% of his passes with 27 touchdowns versus 8 interceptions. His experience will need to be huge to work against the aggressive defense in Tennessee.
Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka - WRs: Smith has the edge with 934 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Egbuka has 743 yards with 9 scores. Chemistry between them and Howard is essential.
TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins - RBs: This tandem has rushed for a combined 1,556 yards, which could create some balance that might attack Tennessee's run defense.

Tennessee Volunteers:

Nico Iamaleava (QB): As a freshman, he has huge upside, with 19 touchdown passes so far, but he needs to raise his game against the Ohio State defense. His ability to perform in cold weather may play a factor.
Dylan Sampson (RB): An SEC-leading 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground; how Sampson will find life against the Buckeyes defense remains to be seen.
James Pearce Jr. (DL): The strong man in Tennessee's defensive line with 7.5 sacks so far this season, Pearce can easily disrupt the Ohio State attack.

Coaching Dynamics

Ryan Day (Ohio State): Under a lot of scrutiny following a loss to Michigan, Day needs a great outing to cement his spot. How he deploys the arsenal of offensive talent that Ohio State possesses is highly scrutinized.
Josh Heupel, Tennessee: With his innovative approach to offense, Heupel will look to attack any weakness that Ohio State's defense has while managing his young quarterback in a tough environment.

Predictions and Analysis

Matchup Offense vs. Defense: While both teams have top-tier defenses, with Ohio State pacing the country in points surrendered per game at 10.9 and Tennessee close behind, this may just turn out to be a battle of defenses with each trying to maintain control of the clock via the running game. Weather: The weather in Ohio will be cold, which might affect the performance of the Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is raised in Southern California. Results Predictions:

Ohio State: Expected to leverage their home-field advantage and deep offensive talent, potentially winning by a margin but not covering the 7.5-point spread. The Buckeyes' experience in high-stakes games could give them the edge.

Tennessee: With a solid defense and a potent running game, Tennessee could keep this game closer than expected. If Iamaleava manages to handle the pressure and cold, the Volunteers might upset the odds.

The final score is Ohio State 27, Tennessee 20, indicating that both teams were in a well-contested game, both showing defensive skills, but Ohio State pulled through with some good plays.

Post-Game Outlook

The winner of this game is assured of a berth against No. 1 Oregon in the quarterfinals and sets up what could be another instant classic. Ohio State gets to wash off the sting of that Michigan loss, and Tennessee gets to make its biggest statement in its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

This matchup promises not only to be a test of strategy and player performance but also a spectacle of college football at its finest, with implications that could echo through to the National Championship.