After this past weekend’s first round, eight teams are left in the 2024 College Football Playoff. The quarterfinals will kick off in one week on New Year’s Eve.
One team returning home after a tough loss is the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers (10-3).
They faced the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) in one of the weekend’s most eagerly awaited matchups. However, the Buckeyes quickly established a 21-0 advantage in the first quarter and ultimately secured a 42-17 victory.
The Volunteers struggled offensively, managing only 256 total yards. Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava recorded 104 passing yards with a 45% completion rate. Additionally, he rushed for 47 yards and scored two touchdowns.
During “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst and Tennessee alum Paul Finebaum stated he won’t excuse his alma mater’s performance. “I’m not going to make an excuse,” Finebaum said. “Tennessee was laughable on Saturday night. That’s simple.”
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard delivered an outstanding performance, completing 83% of his passes for 311 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 37 yards on just five carries. According to ESPN, his QBR of 98.8 ranks as the 14th best of the season and the highest in the bowl games to date.
As the Volunteers return home, the Buckeyes prepare for a rematch against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0) on New Year’s Day at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Ducks previously won the first matchup 32-31 at home.