By Danielle Daniels

Ryan Day OSU head coach CFP C Press Conference 1st Round #8 Buckeyes 42 #9 Tennessee 17 12 21 2024.mp3

No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
College Football Playoff First Round
Dec. 21, 2024 – Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 102,819 

• With its 42-17 victory, Ohio State improved to 12-2 on the season and will face No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025.

• Ohio State and Tennessee are now 1-1 in the all-time series.

• The Buckeyes secured their 26th all-time victory against current SEC members.

• This is the second time Ohio State had a three-touchdown quarter since Western Michigan in week two.

• This year, Ohio State has outscored its opponents in the second and third quarters 299 to 72.

• Head coach Ryan Day‘s career record improved to 67-10.

• Day won his fifth career postseason game.

• Day claimed his 12th victory against top 10 opponents.

• Quarterback Will Howard finished the night completing 24 of 29 pass attempts, with 311 passing yards and two touchdowns

• Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 37-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession.

• Howard recorded his seventh game of completing 80 percent or more of his passes.

• Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith ended the game with six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns

• Smith’s first reception of the night was a 37-yard touchdown.

• He added another touchdown catch on Ohio State’s first drive in the second half, good for 22 yards.

• Smith has eclipsed 1,000 yards in the season, sitting at 1,034. He now has four 100-yard receiving games this year.

• Running back Quinshon Judkins finished the night with 80 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

• Judkins capped off Ohio State’s second possession with a one-yard touchdown.

• He added his second score of the game with another one-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

• With his two rushing touchdowns, he now has 10 on the year.

• Running back TreVeyon Henderson had 34 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the game.

• Henderson added a score late in the first quarter with a 29-yard rushing touchdown.

• Henderson notched his second score of the game with a 24-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

• Henderson is now tied with Eddie George for third on the all-time career touchdowns scored list with 45. He also passed Ezekiel Elliot, who sits in fourth with 44.

• Henderson has 3,576 rushing yards in his career, pushing him in sixth place on the all-time list. He surpassed Tim Spencer who had 3,553 in his career.

• Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded five receptions for 81 yards in the victory.

• Egbuka has now gone 38 consecutive games with a reception.

• He passed Marvin Harrison Jr. on the all-time career receiving yards list. Egbuka is now sixth with 2,681 and Harrison Jr. had 2,613.

• The Buckeye defense had 21 different players record at least one tackle.

• Cody Simon led the team with 12 total, JT Tuimoloau had eight and Caleb Downs recorded seven.

• All four of Ohio State’s starting defensive linemen were involved in a tackle-for-loss in the game.

• Tuimoloau led the team with two tackles-for-loss. Lathan Ransom and Jack Sawyer each had one as well.

• Tuimoloau also paced the team with two sacks. Sawyer recorded 1.5 sacks, and Ty Hamilton was credited with half of a sack.

• Simon has 233 career tackles and Sawyer now has 20 career sacks.

COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS