Tennessee continues its road woes, falling to Ohio State in the first round of the College football playoffs. A fast start was the key to the Buckeyes’ success. Ohio State quickly established dominance by scoring three touchdowns within the first quarter, capitalizing on Tennessee’s quick three-and-outs to start the game.
What went wrong for the Vols?
Tennessee struggled due to a combination of factors, including a lack of cohesion on the field. Additionally, their opponents’ strong defense made it difficult for them to execute their game plan effectively. This resulted in a frustrating performance where they couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Dylan Sampson left the game early with a key injury that hurt Tennessee’s chances as well. Without him, the team’s offensive strategy becomes significantly less effective and predictable. Sampson’s leadership and experience also help to inspire and motivate his teammates during critical moments.
Down 21-10 at the half, Tennessee appeared ready to regroup and make a comeback. The Buckeyes came out in the second half, scoring right out of the gate, and the Vols were behind the eight-ball 28-10. Tennessee would never come close after that. After extending their lead in the second half, Ohio State won 42–17 and advanced to the College Football playoffs’ quarterfinal.
Although the Vols had a strong team, they weren’t a great enough team to win the national championship. If that is to change, more portal recruiting and NIL going forward will be required, which isn’t a bad thing.
The most notable talent gap was at the receiver position, where Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith excelled all night long. This is a position the Vols are currently lacking in. Going forward, they should search the portal for some players with star-like traits and proceed accordingly. Saturday night showed that while Tennessee is getting closer, it is still not close enough.
The possibilities are endless if they can improve their offense and get guys who can play alongside Nico Iamaleava. They have the defense to win next season and beyond. Josh Heupel has established a strong foundation that is paying off every year.
In order to get to the Buckeyes level, it will be necessary to put in a lot of effort, recruit, and acquire some players that Ohio State occasionally loses out on.
Tennessee had an amazing season. They beat Florida and Alabama in Knoxville and competed on the road in Georgia. Time will tell as the postseason progresses, along with any changes made to the coaching staff, players, or portal Josh Heupel needs to correct to get the vols back on the bus in 2025. They have come close every year and are still within reach.
Fans and Analysts alike didn’t anticipate that the Vols would be facing off against the Buckeyes in the playoffs when the season started. They need to make the necessary adjustments and enhance their club if they want to get back to the college football playoff next year.
Tennessee made the college football playoffs in the first year of this new format. They are historically a top 10 program and some fans are demanding Heupel’s dismissal, claiming he will never bring them back there.
This is complete folly and the height of absurdity. The team needs to deal with the issues at hand, whether that’s coaching staff, players, etc. Tennessee’s current situation is favorable, and it is entirely attributable to Josh Heupel. He’s solely responsible for the team’s current success. Jeremy Pruitt and Butch Jones are long gone, and Tennessee is back in the national picture.
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