The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff has presented some good matchups. Here is the CFP First Round Preview: Tennessee at Ohio State.
Tennesee won 10 games this season to get selected as an at-large team to the CFP. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: NC State, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Vanderbilt. Their two losses were to bowl-eligible teams or better in Arkansas and Georgia.
The Volunteers score 37.2 points per game, ranking eighth in the country. They pass for 230.9 yards (ranked 62nd) and rush for 232 yards per game (ranked ninth).
Nico Iamaleava has taken over the starting quarterback job this season after backing up Joe Milton last season. He has passed for 2,512 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions on 65.7 percent completion. Five players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Dont’e Thornton leads the team with 25 catches for 647 yards and six touchdowns.
At running back, Dylan Sampson has blossomed into a star this season. He has 1,485 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis have been solid at the position with 433 and 262 yards respectively. Iamaleava has helped out from the quarterback position with 311 rushing yards.
Defensively, they allow 13.9 points per game, ranking fourth in the country. They concede 99.6 rushing yards (ranked eighth) and 178.7 passing yards per game (ranked 17th). Arion Carter leads the team with 65 total tackles. James Pearce is a coveted draft prospect who has 7.5 sacks. Jermod McCoy has made plays in the secondary with seven passes defended and five interceptions.
Ohio State won 10 games to be selected as an at-large team for the CFP. They defeated six bowl-eligible teams this season: Western Michigan, Marshall, Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State and Indiana. Both of their losses, Oregon and Michigan, were to teams that went over .500.
The Buckeyes score 35.5 points per game, ranking 17th in the country. They pass for 254.3 yards (ranked 38th) and rush for 169.2 yards per game (ranked 59th).
Kansas State transfer Will Howard started at quarterback for the Buckeyes this season. He has passed for 2,860 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight touchdowns on 72.3 percent completion. Three receivers have over 500 yards on the season in Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate. Smith leads the team as a freshman with 934 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Two running backs make quite the tandem for the Buckeyes. Quinshon Judkins is the leading rusher with 805 yards and eight touchdowns. TreVeyon Henderson has played well with 751 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Howard is a threat to find the end zone on the ground and has seven rushing touchdowns this season.
The Buckeyes have a stout defense that is the best in the country, allowing 10.9 points per game. They allow 96.8 rushing yards (ranked seventh) and 144.2 passing yards per game (ranked second). Sonny Styles and Cody Simon have led the team in tackles with 76 and 74 a piece. JT Tuimoloau paces the team with six sacks. Davison Igbinosun has been aggressive in the secondary with seven passes defended and two interceptions.
Ohio State lost some momentum when they lost to Michigan. It seems like they have more of a Michigan problem than a problem with a team that is playing in the CFP. Their defense and home-field advantage should be able to lea them to victory. Tennesse has lacked consistency on offense this season and if the run is shut down, may struggle to keep up.
Ohio State Buckeyes 28 Tennessee Volunteers 20
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