COLUMBUS, OH — Three weeks after suffering arguably the most stunning loss in their school’s history vs. Michigan, the Ohio State Buckeyes responded accordingly in a 42-17 win over the visiting Tennessee Volunteers.
(8) Ohio State 42 (9) Tennessee 17: In what was considered the marquee matchup in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff First Round, the Buckeyes, still stinging from their shocking 13-10 loss to an unranked Michigan team at home, came out on fire on a cold evening on the banks of the Olentangy.
Thanks to three early touchdown passes from QB Will Howard, including two to freshman phenom wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State jumped out to an early 21-0 lead.
With rumors of visiting Vols fans taking over Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes sent their orange-clad visitors from Rocky Top to the exits by the third quarter, thanks to the hot and efficient passing performance of Howard, who finished with 311 yards passing and two touchdowns.
With their win, Ohio State heads to the Rose Bowl to face B1G champion Oregon, whom they lost to out in Autzen, 32-31.
(7) Notre Dame 27 (10) Indiana 17: Thabks to two touchdowns from QB Riley Leonard and a 98-yard touchdown run from RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame dominated an overmatched Indiana football team, 27-17 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.
If there was an Exhibit A of why there may be changes to the selection formula for the 12-team CFP going forward, it was Indiana and their lackadaisical performance in primetime, after talking smack about their 11 wins and their claim of belonging in the playoffs.
Following a 34-yard field goal from Nicolas Radicic, the Hoosiers looked outmatched playing a faster, more athletic and talented Irish defense that pressured QB Kurtis Rourke, who finished the game completing 20 of 33 passes for 215 yards, two touchdowns—which were in garbage time—and one interception.
As already discussed online and across social media, but the Hoosiers didn’t look like a quality opponent Friday evening, while other teams that were passed over them such as Miami (FL), Alabama and Ole Miss sat at home watching them play instead.
Look for the SEC to lobby for either reseeding or quality of schedule or propose a 16-team field.
(6) Penn State 38 (11) SMU 10: In another case of a warm southern team traveling into the cold North, the Penn State Nittany Lions corralled the visiting SMU Mustangs 38-10 thanks to two early pick-sixes thrown by QB Kevin Jennings, and an opportunistic defense that overwhelmed an opponent that looked inferior at times.
With the win, Penn State heads west to the Fiesta Bowl to face Boise State and their Heisman finalist RB Ashton Jeanty out in the desert.
(5) Texas 38 (12) Clemson 24: Who says you can’t come home again? Despite Austin-born Clemson Tigers QB Cade Klubnik’s heroics, the Texas Longhorns outlasted the visiting Clemson Tigers 38-24, in what was arguably the most thrilling and competitive game of the first round.
Klubnik, who was a former standout at local powerhouse, Westlake High, that produced Super Bowl champion quarterbacks Drew Brees, Nick Foles and recent star, Sam Ehlinger, threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns and one interception.
Texas, who is currently in the midst of a potential QB controversy between Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning managed to escape Clemson, with Ewers playing thru an ankle sprain.
For the game, Ewers completed 17-of-24 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown. With the win, Ewers not only got a little bit of revenge vs. Klubnik, whom he lost to for the Texas state high school football championship back in 2020, but also silenced the Mannjng supporters wishing for his benching, in learning the Horns to their first CFP playoff win.