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Ohio State, Tennessee Ready to Face Off at Ohio Stadium

Ohio State|Jeremiah Smith, TreyVeon Henderson — © Photo by Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten Conference) will be facing No. 9 seed Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) at 8 p.m. Eastern at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 21. The prime-time matchup will cap off a weekend full of College Football Playoff games. It is also the first game in school history to be played at Ohio Stadium in December. This one is set to be perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the entire first round.

What's at Stake?

The stakes here are very clear: Win and face No. 1 Oregon (13-0, 9-0 B1G) at the Rose Bowl or lose and go home. A loss also sinks the teams' national championship hopes. If the Buckeyes win, then they get a rematch with the Ducks after losing 32-31 on Oct. 12. If Tennessee wins, then they get the opportunity to take down another one of the Big Ten's best as they would be one step closer to their ultimate goal.

If the Buckeyes happen to lose, then expect head coach Ryan Day to receive even more criticism than he recently has from fans and followers. Day now has four straight losses to Michigan and numerous near-misses in previous playoff appearances. This CFP matchup has become a must-win for Day and his staff.

As for Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, this is an opportunity to take a leap into the conversation as one of college football's top coaches. His offensive scheme always has been incredibly efficient and productive. He has now coupled that offense with a top-5 defense. That sets Tennessee up with a legitimate chance to make a deep postseason run.

Key Players for Ohio State

Offense: Will Howard, Quarterback

Howard has been very solid for the Buckeyes this season. However, he played his worst game of the season in a 13-10 loss to Michigan (7-5, 5-4 B1G). The offense needs him to bounce back and get back to his usual self. Howard has shown an ability to move forward and be resilient after making mistakes in games. He once again needs to tap into that part of his mind and return to form against an aggressive Tennessee defense. It will pressure him all throughout the night. Howard has to extend plays, make big throws and take care of the ball to give his team a chance to win.

Defense: Caleb Downs, Safety

Tennessee's offensive scheme is one of the most unique in college football. Their extremely wide splits with wide receivers will spread the Buckeyes' cornerbacks and defense out before the snap. It will force each player to defend more of the field than normal. Downs will be one of the players forced to do so. But he's perhaps the most capable player in the country to handle this task. He covers ground and closes space as fast as the top NFL safeties. The Volunteers' offense is run-pass option heavy with screens and glance (five-step slant) routes coming from their receiving targets. Downs' incredible football instincts and athleticism will be put to the test while defending those routes and helping with run-fits.

Key Players for Tennessee

Offense: Nico Iamaleava, Quarterback

Tennessee runs the ball as well as anyone in the nation, while the Buckeyes defend the run as well as anyone in the nation. If the Volunteers want to put the Ohio State defense in conflict, Iamaleava will need to be productive through the air. If the passing attack struggles, the Buckeyes will key in on the run and likely will shut it down. Iamaleava's ability to spread the ball to his perimeter playmakers is going to make all the difference in this matchup.

Defense: Jermod McCoy, Cornerback

Tennessee's defense is anchored by their defensive line. They will need to do their job on Dec. 21 against the Buckeyes. That means it will then be up to the Volunteers' defensive backs to hold up against talented Ohio State wide receivers. Howard specifically pointed to the play of McCoy during Ohio State's Dec. 16 press conference. He is one of the most aggressive, talented cornerbacks in the country. McCoy has excellent ball skills, playing very physical at the line of scrimmage and when breaking on routes. He will likely be matched up against either Jeremiah Smith or Carnell Tate on each play. He will have his hands full with either of them. His ability to defend one-on-one will be integral to his side's success.

Trends to Watch

The biggest battle to watch between these two teams is going to be in the trenches when the Buckeyes have the ball. The Ohio State offensive line has been subjected to three different season-ending injuries this year. That group has shuffled the lineup multiple times now and struggled greatly in their last game against Michigan. Due to that performance, they will, once again, make another change with their personnel. Sophomore Luke Montgomery will see time at left guard. Tegra Tshabola will take the right guard spot. Then, Austin Siereveld will be what Day called their "swing man" at the spot as the plan is to rotate those three players throughout the game.

Against a Tennessee defensive line that constantly rotates, playing as many as 12 linemen per game, this could perhaps help keep those three guards a little more fresh against what will be a front full of energy. If their defensive front can get consistent pressure, speeding Howard up and forcing mistakes, then Tennesse will make life very difficult for Ohio State. That chess match up front will heavily impact the outcome of the game.