COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- In the first ever December football game at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes put away some of its demons from the Michigan loss and defeated Tennessee 42-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
With the win, Ohio State advances to the CFP quarterfinals and will face Big Ten champions Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The game will serve as a rematch from the Oct. 12 game in Eugene, which the Buckeyes lost by one point.
Ohio State went into the locker room with a 21-10 lead and added to that in the second half with touchdowns by Jeremiah Smith, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
After the first three OSU drives, the Buckeyes rushed out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to some big plays from Will Howard. Smith made a 37-yard touchdown catch to put Ohio State up 7-0. Then Howard connected with Emeka Egbuka for a 40-yard gain, which led to a Quinshon Judkins one-yard touchdown run to get OSU a 14-0 lead.
OSU's TreVeyon Henderson rushed 29 yards to the endzone to the Buckeyes up 21-0 in the first quarter. Tennessee finally got on the board with 6:39 to go in the first half after Max Gilbert hit a 36-yard field goal. The Volunteers then tacked on a touchdown thanks to a two-yard run by quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
In the second half, Howard connected with Smith for the second time with a 22-yard reception in the third quarter. Judkins added a one-yard rush to extend the lead to 35-10. Then in the fourth, TreVeyon Henderson went on a 24-yard run to all but clinch Ohio State's spot in the Rose Bowl. Iamaleava found the endzone again with less than two minutes left to add to the Volunteers' point total, but the game had already slipped away by that point.
Photo gallery
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: A general view of Ohio Stadium during player introductions before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playoff First Round Game on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after a catch during the first quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: A detailed view of a Ohio State Buckeyes helmet before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: An Ohio State Buckeyes fan cheers before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a long reception during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes makes a run for a touchdown during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes makes a run for a touchdown during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is taken down by Bryson Eason #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: JT Tuimoloau #44 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after a sack against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball while defended by Jalen McMurray #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball while defended by Jalen McMurray #6 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a touchdown pass ahead of Rickey Gibson III #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass during the first quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is taken down by Bryson Eason #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is taken down by Bryson Eason #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first quarter in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: Fans cheer from the stands before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 21: A detailed view of a endzone pylon before the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Playoff First Round Game at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 21 - Tennessee Volunteers players run onto the field to warm up before a college football playoff game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
