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Ohio State Up 14-0 Over Tennessee After Two Quick Touchdowns Including Jeremiah Smith's 37-yard TD Catch

Dec 22, 2024, 01:22 AM

Ohio State surged to an early 14-0 lead against Tennessee in the College Football Playoff game in Columbus, leveraging their elite wide receivers and quarterback Will Howard's precise passing. The Buckeyes opened the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Howard to freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who made an exceptional diving catch. The drive was extended by a critical facemask penalty on Tennessee. On their second possession, Howard connected with Emeka Egbuka for a 40-yard gain, leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter. Howard accumulated 124 passing yards in less than half of the first quarter, contributing to Ohio State's 133 total yards compared to Tennessee's 7. The Buckeyes' aggressive aerial attack, amassing two five-play touchdown drives, marks a stark contrast to their previous game against Michigan, as they fully exploit their talented receiving corps. The game is being played in cold conditions, with temperatures at 24 degrees, feeling like 16.