After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, Saturday gives us an entire day of action with three games wrapping up the first round of the 12-team format.
Penn State took care of business in Happy Valley to start the day, using two early pick-sixes to pull away with a 38-10 win against an overmatched SMU. Later, in Austin, Texas had its way with Clemson in a 38-24 game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. Let’s hope the nightcap between Ohio State and Tennessee has a bit more suspense.
Follow all the action below.
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2)
Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Ohio State -7.5 | Total: 46.5
Ohio State enters the playoff on a mission while coming off a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under indicates, this will not likely be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season began. These two teams have offenses that can hit for a big play at any moment, but both teams have relied on excellent defenses.
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Vols on the march
Now it’s Tennessee’s turn to deliver some chunk plays. Nico Iamaleava just found 2 different receivers for long gains and the Vols are past midfield.
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Interception Tennessee!
Will Howard was trying to find Jeremiah Smith for another touchdown but the freshman wasn’t able to hold onto the ball and Tennessee’s Will Brooks made a spectacular play to get a foot down in the end zone for the pick.
After a short review, the call on the field of an interception stands. What a play by Brooks!
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OSU driving for another score
The Buckeyes were facing a fourth-and-3 at midfield when Jeremiah Smith caught a crossing route and made a nice move to extend the drive.
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End of Q1: OSU 21, Tennessee 0
It’s been all Buckeyes early in this one.
Total yards so far…
Ohio State: 205
Tennessee: -3 -
Tennessee drive stalls at midfield
Nico Iamaleava made consecutive first downs with his legs, but Ohio State’s defense firmed up when it needed to and the Vols punt it back to the Buckeyes.
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Touchdown Ohio State!
The Buckeyes are off to a flying start in Columbus. The latest score comes via the legs of TreVeyon Henderson, who bolted around the edge for a 29-yard touchdown run.
OSU 21, Tennessee 0
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OSU on the move again
The Buckeyes are driving for another score. They’re inside the UT 30 after a long pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka.
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Touchdown Ohio State!
The Buckeyes are cooking with gas early in Columbus! Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka on a deep pass to get inside the UT 5-yard line and then Quinshon Judkins finished things off from there with a short run.
OSU 14, Tennessee 0
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Tennessee goes three and out
The Vols can’t get anything going with their opening possession and punt it right back to the Buckeyes.
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Touchdown Ohio State!
Who else but Jeremiah Smith to get things started for the Buckeyes! Will Howard dropped in a perfect deep ball and the freshman phenom comes down with it for a 37-yard touchdown!
OSU 7, Tennessee 0
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OSU on the march
The Buckeyes are nearing the red zone now after a long pass from Will Howard to TreVeyon Henderson.
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OSU starts with ball
We are underway in Columbus. The Buckeyes will have the ball first. You would think it’s a Tennessee home game with how loud the Vols fans are as this thing gets going.
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Texas’ dominant win over Clemson confirms what first 2 CFP games showed: Trench play is king in the expanded playoff
Click the photo above to read the story. (David Buono/Getty Images) -
Updated CFP bracket
Here’s where we stand with three playoff games in the books:
Updated CFP bracket. -
Next up: Tennessee at Ohio State
For the CFP nightcap we head to Columbus, where Tennessee fans are making their presence known:
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Texas wins, advances in CFP!
The Longhorns earn a spot in the quarterfinals, where they’ll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
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Clemson stops Texas on 4th down
Arch Manning fumbles the snap and fails to convert what would have been the game-clinching first down for the Longhorns. One last gasp for the Tigers here.
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Texas milking the clock
Texas is methodically moving the chains and keeping the clock moving.
We’re at the 2-minute timeout and the Longhorns still have the ball. This one is all but over.
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Clemson stuffed on 4th and goal!
The Tigers get stopped on two straight runs at the 1.
Massive stop for Texas, which takes over with 7:24 to play.
