COLUMBUS, Ohio -- (9) Tennessee travels to (8) Ohio State for the chance to play No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 as the Volunteers and Buckeyes clash in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Tennessee arrives with what should be a sizable contingent of Volunteers fans -- there was orange all over Columbus on Friday night -- in its biggest game in two decades. The Vols are armed with a potent run game, led by Dylan Sampson, and an equally strong run defense that will try to stymie Ohio State's two-headed run monster of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.

Ohio State is back inside Ohio Stadium after a devastating 13-10 loss in its regular-season home finale against Michigan. The Buckeyes could be the most talented team in the country but haven't lived up to the hype so far. With this Ohio State team, you could talk yourself into it winning it all or losing in the first round with equal conviction. Still, if Will Howard can get the passing game going with stud freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State will really test this talented Tennessee defense.