Storylines, matchups and predictions for all 4 first-round video games

• The first 12-team playoff kicks off this week: The largest College Football Playoff ever will get underway this weekend with 4 first-round matchups: Indiana–Notre Dame, SMU–Penn State, Clemson–Texas and Tennessee–Ohio State. 

• What to look at for when every staff has the ball: Read beneath to get full matchup breakdowns for every staff’s cross recreation and run recreation towards the opposing protection.

• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!

Estimated Reading Time: 23 minutes

Anticipation for the 12-team College Football Playoff started 2.5 years in the past when it was first introduced. The format tripled the earlier dimension of the sector and would function dwelling playoff video games for the primary time ever.

We’ve lastly made it to the inaugural 12-team playoff with 4 juicy first-round matchups on school campuses this weekend. With that, we’ve determined to make our preview extra expansive than ever earlier than. We’ll be diving into two matchups to look at for every offense in these video games, one for the passing recreation and one for the operating recreation. And in fact, we’ll be predicting who will advance to the quarterfinals. 

No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Friday, 8 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

Notre Dame’s cross recreation towards Indiana’s cross protection (Dalton): Is Notre Dame able to dealing with apparent passing conditions?

With all due respect to Notre Dame’s success this season, we haven’t seen Notre Dame’s passing assault play towards an elite protection. The solely groups the Fighting Irish performed that rank inside the highest 50 in protection grade are Army, Navy and Northern Illinois. Nine of the 12 groups they’ve performed rank outdoors the highest 70 in cross rush grade.

Meanwhile, Indiana locations inside the highest 12 in each of these classes. Outside of the Ohio State recreation, the Hoosiers have been largely excellent, as they’ve used a zone-heavy method to forestall huge performs by the air.

Even accounting for Notre Dame’s weaker schedule, the Fighting Irish rank simply 63rd in cross blocking grade and 59th in receiving grade. They’ve been in a position to create single protection matchups towards lesser opponents, however Indiana hardly ever presents these matchups.

Riley Leonard’s passing grade drops by 10 factors towards zone protection when in comparison with man protection. Against Cover 3 specifically, which Indiana runs on the fourth-highest charge within the nation, Leonard has posted only a 65.8 protection grade.

It will likely be incumbent upon Leonard to decipher which means Indiana’s protection will rotate and both launch the ball or scramble earlier than Mikail Kamara and the Hoosiers’ cross rush can get to him.

Notre Dame’s nationwide title hopes probably relaxation with discovering steadiness in its offense. The Fighting Irish will face their hardest process of the season this week.

Notre Dame’s run recreation towards Indiana’s run protection (Max): A heavyweight matchup that might very properly determine the sport

Notre Dame’s offense is centered round its unbelievable floor recreation. The Fighting Irish are third within the FBS with 0.266 EPA per run and lead the Power Four with 6.7 yards per carry and 4.0 yards after contact per try. Notre Dame has a three-headed monster in its backfield between Jeremiyah Love, Riley Leonard and Jadarian Price. Those three mixed have helped the Fighting Irish produce the fourth-best dashing grade within the nation (93.7). Their dashing success can be an entire staff effort although, as Notre Dame can be tied for seventh within the FBS with a 77.7 run-blocking grade. 

Indiana’s been very stout towards the run this yr because the Hoosiers are at present tied for fourth within the nation with a 94.1 run-defense grade and three.7 yards per try allowed. Nobody within the nation is best at swarming to the ball than the Hoosiers, as their 0.8 yards earlier than contact allowed per try leads the FBS. 

The Fighting Irish’s most typical run idea is inside zone, as that makes up 48% of their dashing makes an attempt (18th in FBS). Indiana’s been sturdy towards that idea, putting eighth amongst FBS defenses in EPA allowed on inside zone runs. 

The Hoosiers should additionally account for Leonard on each play, who’s fifth amongst Power Four quarterbacks with 764 dashing yards this season. Indiana has but to permit an enormous recreation from a quarterback on the bottom although, permitting a median of 16.3 dashing yards from quarterbacks per recreation.

If the Hoosiers can get the Fighting Irish behind the chains and drive Notre Dame’s common passing assault to beat them, Indiana may very properly pull off the upset in South Bend. But if not, the Fighting Irish’s elite run recreation may as soon as once more carry them to victory. 

Indiana’s cross recreation towards Notre Dame’s cross protection (Max): Can the Hoosiers’ offensive line maintain up?

Indiana’s two worst video games of the season, its loss to Ohio State and a five-point victory over Michigan, coincided with its two worst performances in cross safety. The Hoosiers posted only a 45.6 pass-blocking grade in these two contests in comparison with an 83.5 mark of their different 10 video games. 

In specific, Indiana had plenty of points when Ohio State and Michigan blitzed them. The Buckeyes and Wolverines generated strain on 47.6% of their blitzes whereas sacking Kurtis Rourke seven occasions as properly. In the opposite 10 video games, the Hoosiers solely gave up 9 sacks towards the blitz and a 26.3% strain charge. 

Michigan (first) and Ohio State (18th) personal two of the highest 20 pass-rushing grades in America, whereas Notre Dame isn’t too far behind at twenty fifth. Indiana hasn’t confronted one other staff inside the highest 25 all season. The Fighting Irish ship a blitz on 39.6% of their snaps, fortieth within the nation and only a tad greater than Ohio State and Michigan do (39.4%). 

If the Hoosiers’ offensive line can maintain up, we should always have a terrific battle between Kurtis Rourke and Indiana’s receivers towards Notre Dame’s elite secondary. Rourke is second amongst FBS quarterbacks with a 91.8 passing grade whereas the Hoosiers lead the nation with a 90.8 receiving grade. The Fighting Irish in the meantime are second to solely Texas amongst FBS defenses in protection grade (92.4). To even get to the purpose the place it’s between these two elite models, Indiana’s offensive line wants to guard Rourke towards a powerful cross rush.

Indiana’s run recreation towards Notre Dame’s run protection (Dalton): Will Notre Dame’s defensive position discover its type in its greatest recreation of the season?

After dominating their opponents and incomes the fifth-best run protection grade within the nation final season, the Fighting Irish’s defensive position has struggled in that very same space this season, rating ninetieth in run-defense grade.

It’s an odd growth, as they misplaced only one key contributor to the NFL, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, although he was their highest-graded run defender amongst that unit. As a consequence, the Fighting Irish rank outdoors the highest 30 in a number of classes corresponding to yards per carry allowed, yards after contact per try allowed, and profitable performs allowed.

Meanwhile, Indiana has run the ball successfully all season with Justice Ellison and Ty’Son Lawton, particularly to the surface. Indiana ranks inside the highest three amongst Power Four groups in dashing grade and run-blocking grade on off-tackle runs. Notre Dame has allowed 5.0 yards per stick with it off-tackle runs this season, which sits proper on the nationwide common. 

If the Hoosiers can exploit this weak spot and produce steadiness to their offense versus relying solely on Kurtis Rourke for explosive performs, they may pull off the street upset

Predictions

Dalton: Indiana 27, Notre Dame 24

The Hoosiers want to perform three issues on this recreation in the event that they wish to win: include the run, drive Riley Leonard past his first learn and cross shield towards blitzes. I’ll take them to just do sufficient of all three to get a victory

Max: Notre Dame 31, Indiana 21

Indiana’s run protection has been spectacular all yr, but it surely additionally hasn’t confronted an assault as deadly as Notre Dame’s. The Fighting Irish depend on their run recreation and its cross rush to squeak out a win in South Bend within the battle for Indiana. Notre Dame strikes on to play Georgia within the Sugar Bowl.

No. 11 SMU Mustangs at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (Saturday, 12 PM EST on TNT/Max)

Penn State’s cross recreation towards SMU’s cross protection (Max): Who wins on the surface?

The high precedence for the Mustangs’ cross protection is to remove tight finish Tyler Warren. The John Mackey Award winner leads all Power Four tight ends in catches (88), receiving yards (1,062) and yards after the catch (608). Outside of Warren, Penn State’s receiving corps lacks top-end expertise. All of the Nittany Lion huge receivers mixed for simply 1,496 receiving yards (114th within the FBS). Keep in thoughts that Penn State performed 13 video games whereas the overwhelming majority of the nation performed 12.

While it’s extremely unlikely any protection can utterly shut down Warren, SMU’s well-equipped to at the least maintain him in verify. The Mustangs’ safeties lead the FBS with a 93.2 protection grade this yr as a gaggle. Coming in second is Ohio State, one in every of two groups that beat Penn State and the one which held Warren to simply 4 catches for 47 yards. 

Where SMU has points is on the surface. The Mustangs’ outdoors cornerbacks mixed have only a 64.5 protection grade this season (117th within the FBS). 

While Penn State would a lot fairly let Warren carry its passing recreation, it may not be capable of towards SMU’s elite security quartet of Isaiah Nwokobia, Jonathan McGill, Cale Sanders Jr. and Ahmaad Moses. The excellent news for the Nittany Lions is {that a} participant Harrison Wallace III may have an enormous recreation towards a susceptible cornerback room for the Mustangs.

Penn State’s run recreation towards SMU’s run protection (Dalton): Andy Kotelnicki vs. SMU’s linebackers

Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has displayed his trademark creativity within the run recreation regardless of main a unit that ranks simply forty second in run-blocking grade. His number of ideas and deep arsenal of trick performs are his best belongings for creating explosive runs, although it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the departure of backup quarterback Beau Pribula impacts the latter half.

Meanwhile, SMU presents the Nittany Lions with their hardest process within the run recreation except for Ohio State. The Mustangs rank sixth in run-defense grade this season and have been spectacular as a unit on all three ranges of their protection.

When the Mustangs have struggled in run protection, it has been when groups can bypass their stellar defensive position and get downhill on their linebackers on the second stage. Their linebacker trio of Kobe Wilson, Ahmad Walker and Alexander Kilgore have all posted run protection grades above 80.0 this season, however they’re smaller gamers who’re higher at chasing ball carriers laterally and like to keep away from taking over blocks.

Penn State is coming off arguably its greatest dashing efficiency of the season towards Oregon because the Nittany Lions used a extra direct method conceptually as a way to get their linemen to the second stage. Only Illinois’ and Kent State’s linebackers posted a decrease run protection grade towards Penn State this season than Oregon’s did.

Penn State has an opportunity to search out success within the run recreation if they will overwhelm SMU’s gifted, however undersized, linebackers.

SMU’s cross recreation towards Penn State’s cross protection (Dalton): Kevin Jennings vs. Penn State’s single-high coverages

SMU’s success within the passing recreation will likely be decided by its potential to learn and management Penn State’s safeties. The Nittany Lions run a top-30 charge of single-high defenses this season however rank simply 66th in protection grade when deploying them.

Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings has shredded single-high defenses to the tune of a 90.5 passing grade that ranks fourth amongst 133 passers with at the least 100 dropbacks towards them. Only Cade Klubnik and Shedeur Sanders have thrown extra touchdowns versus single-high defenses than Jennings has.

The query is whether or not or not Rhett Lashlee is keen to let Jennings air it out on early downs because the Nittany Lions lean extra into two security coverages in apparent passing conditions. Penn State ranks simply sixty fifth in early down protection grade this season, however SMU sits at 82nd of their charge of early down passes known as.

The Nittany Lions emphasize stopping the run on early downs, and for nearly as good as Brashard Smith has been this season, the Mustangs might wish to combine up the playcalling a bit to use Penn State’s vulnerability once they lean into single-high defenses.

SMU’s run recreation towards Penn State’s run protection (Max): Can the Mustangs get outdoors on the Nittany Lions?

SMU’s floor recreation is headlined by one of many nation’s most underrated gamers in Brashard Smith. His 91.2 PFF grade is third amongst FBS operating backs, trailing solely Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love. The former huge receiver is an impressive receiving again however has additionally been one of many higher rushers as properly, putting second within the ACC with 1,154 dashing yards this season. 

A considerable amount of Smith’s manufacturing has come on inside zone runs this season. His 551 yards on that idea are ninth amongst Power Four backs. SMU as a staff has run inside zone 215 occasions this season, tied for third-most within the Power Four. 

Penn State’s protection has had plenty of points on outdoors zone runs this season (ninetieth in defensive grade) however has been lights out contained in the tackles. The Nittany Lions are fifth within the FBS in EPA per play allowed on inside-zone runs. Penn State solely offers up 3.6 yards per stick with it such performs, the eighth fewest within the nation. The Nittany Lions, specifically their linebackers, a lot choose working downhill between the tackles than chasing down opposing tailbacks sideline-to-sideline.

SMU will probably have to get inventive and bounce a majority of runs to the surface to have any probability of producing a profitable run recreation on Penn State.

Predictions

Dalton: Penn State 27, SMU 21

It appears apparent that SMU might want to play its greatest recreation of the season to win this one. The Mustangs stand an opportunity if Jennings and their run protection play a near-perfect recreation, however Penn State’s cross rush and Andy Kotelnicki’s brilliance ought to be sufficient to get the Nittany Lions by this one.

Max: Penn State 34, SMU 24

Penn State’s protection makes SMU depend on Kevin Jennings an excessive amount of on this recreation by shutting down the Mustangs’ floor recreation. Harrison Wallace III seems to be the X-factor for the Nittany Lion offense as Penn State survives to face Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl.

No. 12 Clemson Tigers at No. 5 Texas Longhorns (Saturday, 4 PM EST on TNT/Max)

Texas’ cross recreation towards Clemson’s cross protection (Dalton): How a lot belief does Dabo Swinney have in his secondary?

Clemson boasts an especially younger secondary that features gifted cornerbacks like Avieon Terrell, Ashton Hampton and Jeadyn Lukas. Those three gamers have mixed to provide 18 cross breakups and 5 interceptions this season whereas every of the posted protection grades above 70.0.

The Tigers’ efficiency on this matchup towards Texas will likely be essential because the Longhorns’ passing recreation has struggled to search out constant footing this season. Something that has bothered them this season is when opponents combine in the next charge of man protection. Georgia used this method to stifle its passing recreation in each of its wins over Texas.

Quinn Ewers has posted only a 63.1 passing grade with two big-time throws and 5 turnover-worthy performs towards man protection this season. Despite being so younger within the secondary, Clemson has run the 18th-most man protection performs as a protection within the FBS. The Tigers have additionally been efficient in doing so with an 81.2 staff protection grade and 25 pressured incompletions.

It could appear counterintuitive to ask a lot of such a younger secondary, however Clemson’s aggressive nature has labored to their profit all season, and that shouldn’t change this week.

Texas’ run recreation towards Clemson’s run protection (Max): Will the Tigers be capable of include the Longhorns on the surface?

A big chunk of Texas’ floor recreation is centered round its potential to win on the surface. The Longhorns have known as outdoors zone 137 occasions this yr, the eighth-most within the Power Four. An enormous cause for that’s that Texas has top-of-the-line offensive deal with duos in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cameron Williams, two top-25 prospects on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft huge board. Quintrevion Wisner is ninth amongst Power Four operating backs with 345 dashing yards on such performs as properly. Both he and Jaydon Blue are superb athletes at operating again with the pace to create huge features if given a crease.

Meanwhile, Clemson’s had plenty of difficulties retaining include this season. The Tigers have allowed six yards per-carry on outdoors zone runs, the sixth-most within the Power Four. While sophomore star T.J. Parker has been strong on such performs (74.5 PFF grade), the identical can’t be mentioned for Clemson’s different edge defenders. Jaheim Lawson, A.J. Hoffler and Cade Denhoff every have sub-60 grades on outdoors zone runs. As a gaggle, the Tigers’ edge rushers have the third-worst grade within the nation on these performs (49.7). Since Banks and Williams mixed for the Seventeenth-best grade amongst deal with duos on outdoors zone runs, that might spell plenty of hassle for the Tigers.

Clemson’s cross recreation towards Texas’ cross protection (Max): Can Cade Klubnik be Superman?

Klubnik has lastly began to point out why he was the highest quarterback within the 2022 highschool class. The former five-star recruit’s 87.5 passing grade is eighth amongst all FBS signal-callers this season whereas his 26 big-time throws stand sixth. Klubnik made this huge leap with simply a median supporting forged as properly. 

Clemson’s staff offensive grades:

He’ll have his hardest check but this week towards Texas, who owns the highest defensive grade in school soccer (94.0). The Longhorns are first in protection grade (92.9) and third in pass-rushing grade (90.2). No different protection is within the high 5 of each. South Carolina is one in every of three defenses who’s within the top-10 of each metrics, and so they gave up simply 14 factors to Clemson a number of weeks in the past. And even then, all of these factors had been scored by Klubnik on two dashing touchdowns. 

The Tigers will want Klubnik to be superhuman on Saturday to ensure that them to have an opportunity at an upset.

Clemson’s run recreation towards Texas’ run protection (Dalton): Clemson’s inside offensive line vs. Texas’ defensive tackles

To put it plainly, Clemson’s dashing assault has struggled these days. Over the final 4 video games towards FBS groups, the Tigers common simply 4.1 yards per carry and have posted a 65.4 dashing grade. Cade Klubnik has really been their best runner through a mixture of scrambles and quarterback attracts. 

The major problem for the Tigers’ issue operating the ball has been poor blocking on the inside. Clemson by no means had sufficient pace within the backfield to persistently run outdoors this season, so operating between the tackles is a significant emphasis for its offense. The Tigers’ inside offensive line, although, ranks simply 83rd in run-blocking grade this season, and their struggles have been exacerbated during the last 5 video games.

They’ll have to determine issues out shortly if they’re to search out any push towards Alfred Collins and the Longhorns’ excellent defensive tackles. Collins ranks fifth amongst certified defensive tackles with an 89.1 run protection grade. Fellow inside defenders Vernon Broughton and Jermayne Lole have posted 77.3 and 75.1 grades, respectively, in run protection.

Teams like Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas who discovered yardage between the tackles towards Texas both gained or saved themselves within the recreation longer than they need to have. Clemson can do the identical, but it surely must get a greater push from their inside offensive line.

Predictions

Dalton: Texas 23, Clemson 17

Texas is actually the extra gifted staff. The Longhorns may run away with this recreation in the event that they keep away from turnovers. Clemson, although, has a knack for creating these turnovers and is enjoying with nothing to lose. I anticipate a comparatively low-scoring recreation, however Texas’ protection carries them by at the least yet one more week.

Max: Texas 31, Clemson 20

I wrestle to see how the Tigers will persistently rating on this recreation, outdoors of Quinn Ewers turning the ball over deep in Longhorn territory. On the opposite facet, Texas’ outdoors zone heavy scheme causes vital issues for Clemson. The Longhorns maintain enterprise at dwelling and transfer on to face Arizona State within the Peach Bowl.

No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (Saturday, 8 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)

Ohio State’s cross recreation towards Tennessee’s cross protection (Max): Can the Buckeyes’ offensive line maintain up?

Ohio State’s offensive line has been simply the staff’s kryptonite during the last a number of weeks after season-ending accidents to projected first-round left deal with Josh Simmons and Rimington Award-winning heart Seth McLaughlin. Since Week 7 (when Simmons went down), the Buckeyes’ entrance 5 has only a 56.0 grade as a unit. That locations their offensive line because the seventh worst within the Power Four and 14th worst within the nation over that stretch. 

Tennessee‘s protection is among the many high 15 in America in pass-rushing grade (twelfth), pass-rush win charge (thirteenth) and strain charge (Eleventh). The star of that unit is James Pearce Jr., who leads all FBS edge defenders in strain charge (24%) whereas putting third in pass-rush win charge (23%). Pearce is primarily a pace rusher, which might be a significant problem towards Ohio State with left guard Donovan Jackson kicking out to left deal with.

The Buckeyes’ offensive line’s worst video games coincided with their two losses this season (Oregon and Michigan). Both the Ducks and Wolverines have elite defensive strains, one thing the Volunteers additionally possess. If Ohio State can persistently shield Will Howard, he ought to be capable of ship the ball persistently to his elite group of huge receivers. But in the event that they don’t, the Buckeyes may stall out offensively like they did towards Michigan. 

Ohio State’s run recreation towards Tennessee’s run protection (Dalton): Can Ohio State discover a solution to run between the tackles?

As talked about above, Ohio State has been badly hindered by accidents on the offense line. The Buckeyes’ run blocking has taken a significant hit, particularly once they attempt to run between the tackles.

Through their recreation towards Oregon in Week 7, the Buckeyes averaged an impressive 7.0 yards per carry between the tackles. Since the conclusion of that recreation, they common simply 4.2 yards per carry between the tackles and have struggled to function inside towards harder fronts like Nebraska, Indiana, and Michigan.

The perimeter run recreation has produced persistently all season, however Tennessee ranks third within the nation in run protection grade when opponents run off deal with. The Volunteers’ excellent group of edge gamers, together with James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs, do a wonderful job of disallowing rushers from breaking include.

Conversely, the Volunteers rank simply 59th in run-defense grade between the tackles because of the truth that they hardly ever get out of their four-man entrance on the defensive position. They’ve performed simply 19 snaps with an additional defensive lineman on the sector this season with most of these coming in short-yardage conditions.

Ohio State might want to discover manufacturing inside versus utterly leaning into its perimeter recreation towards a really athletic protection.

Tennessee’s cross recreation towards Ohio State’s cross protection (Dalton): Tennessee’s huge passing assault vs. Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun

If there is only one space of the Buckeyes’ protection that might be thought of a weak spot, it might be their cornerbacks.

Ohio State defensive grades:

Ohio State’s cornerbacks, led on the surface by Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun, rank 98th in general grade as a unit and a hundred and first within the FBS in protection grade. The Buckeyes will likely be extraordinarily careworn towards a Tennessee offensive that emphasizes stretching a protection horizontally and creating area to work with outdoors with its formations.

During the common season, excluding convention championship weekend, Tennessee threw the Eleventh-most passes within the Power Four at or outdoors the numbers. While Nico Iamaleava has created many explosive performs over the center these days, these outdoors throws, together with their run recreation, are what hold the Volunteers on schedule with regard to down and distance.

Ohio State ranks simply thirty eighth amongst that very same group in protection grade on these throws since Week 5. The Buckeyes’ solely above-average protection grades in these eventualities throughout that span have come towards Iowa and Penn State, each of whom very a lot wrestle to throw the ball outdoors.

Tennessee might be comfy within the passing recreation so long as Nico Iamaleava hits the surface throws which can be a foundational a part of its offense. 

Tennessee’s run recreation towards Ohio State’s run protection (Max): Will Dylan Sampson be capable of create on his personal towards an elite defensive entrance?

Sampson has been one in every of school soccer’s greatest operating backs this season. The SEC Offensive Player of the Year tied for the Power Four lead with 22 dashing touchdowns this season whereas his 927 yards after contact are fourth in that very same group. He’s achieved this with out a lot assist from his offensive line, because the Volunteers rank simply 78th in staff run-blocking grade. 

He’ll should go towards one in every of school soccer’s greatest defenses at stopping the run as Ohio State is at present fourth in run-defense grade (94.1). Sampson has discovered success towards another elite run defenses although, already going through three groups who’re within the top-10 of that metric in Oklahoma (third), Alabama (sixth) and Arkansas (eighth). During these three contests, the junior ran for 369 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. 

No Power Four offense has tallied extra dashing yards on hole runs greater than Tennessee this season (1,623). Gap runs are, by design, meant to overpower defensive strains as each blocker is attempting to widen the chosen hole. Ohio State has been very sturdy towards that idea, putting twelfth within the FBS in run-defense grade on hole runs (91.2). 

If the Volunteers are going to drag off the upset, they’ll want their star operating again to provide but once more towards top-of-the-line entrance sevens within the nation.

Predictions

Dalton: Tennessee 19, Ohio State 16

This would be the worst potential matchup that the Buckeyes may have drawn within the first spherical. It’s going to be a tricky defensive recreation. It might come all the way down to which quarterback retains his composure. Tennessee has performed in these kind of video games all yr, although, and I’ll take an improved Nico Iamaleava to get the largest win of his younger profession.

Max: Ohio State 24, Tennessee 17

This recreation may get ugly as each offensive strains appear considerably outmatched by the opposing defensive position. Outside of that matchup although, the Buckeyes look like higher than the Volunteers all over the place else. Ohio State places the loss towards Michigan within the rearview mirror and strikes on to play top-ranked Oregon within the Rose Bowl, the one different staff that’s taken down the Buckeyes this yr.