Ohio State quarterback Will Howard throws a pass against Tennessee during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, left, is forced out of bounds by Tennessee defensive back Will Brooks, right, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State defensive back Davison Igbinosun, left, tackles Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy, right, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon, right, tackles Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, left, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop, top, tries to run past Ohio State defensive lineman JT Tuimoloau, bottom, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Tennessee defensive back Will Brooks, right, catches a tipped ball for an interception against Ohio State during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Tennessee defensive back Will Brooks celebrates after his interception against Ohio State during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, right, stiff-arms Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy, left, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, left, argues with a referee, right, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff against Ohio State, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, front, reacts to the video replay during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff against Tennessee, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, right, catches a touchdown pass against Tennessee defensive back Rickey Gibson, second from right, during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Tennessee linebacker Kalib Perry, left, forces Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) out of bounds during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, left, drops back to pass against Tennessee during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard throws a pass against Tennessee during the first half in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17 on Saturday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game, setting up a New Year’s Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl.
Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two touchdowns apiece as the Buckeyes (11-2) gave their fans an early Christmas present that should quiet some of the outcry following the devastating fourth straight loss to Michigan three weeks ago.
Howard finished 24 for 29 for 311 yards, his second 300-yard game of the season. Smith had six catches for 103 yards, the sixth freshman to have over 100 receiving yards in a CFP game.
Eighth-seeded Ohio State scored on its first three drives while forcing three straight Tennessee punts. The ninth-seeded Vols (10-3) finally got on the board with a second-quarter field goal and touchdown but couldn’t generate anything in the second half until getting a meaningless touchdown late in the game.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 14 for 31 for 104 yards and rushed a career-high 20 times for 47 more.
The 473 yards gained by Ohio State was the most surrendered by the Tennessee defense all season.
The game time temperature was 25 degrees and dropping in the first college football game played in December in 102-year-old Ohio Stadium.
Tennessee: Star running back Dylan Sampson was hampered by a hamstring injury and had just two carries for 6 yards. Receivers Squirrel White and Dont’e Thorton Jr. also were banged up. limiting the Vols’ offense.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes did what they didn’t do against Michigan: get the ball on the boundary and throw deep to their most explosive players.
The Buckeyes advance to a second-round game against Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. They lost to the Ducks 32-31 on Oct. 12.
