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When Toe Meets Leather for Ohio State vs. Tennessee, It Will Kick Off A One-Of-A-Kind College Football Atmosphere
Saturday brings the first-ever College Football Playoff game in Ohio Stadium and the first-ever December tilt in the Shoe. The Buckeyes’ opponent for said firsts is an SEC foe, one which will travel north to play in temperatures that will feel below 20 degrees. An 8 p.m. kickoff will provide a night-time atmosphere fans have long craved since Ohio State played six consecutive noon games to close its regular season. The postseason stakes are obvious. If the eighth-seeded Buckeyes handle business at home against the ninth-seeded Volunteers, a date with top-seeded Oregon awaits at the Rose Bowl in the CFP quarterfinals. If they lose, their all-in season ends without any hardware. Tennessee is no slouch of an opponent either, featuring a stifling defense and consistently effective run game that should challenge the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball.
The Headlines
Man the Interior
Two season-ending injuries to left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin have cost the interior of Ohio State’s offensive line its two best players since former left guard Donovan Jackson has slid out to replace Simmons. The unit is coming off two rotten performances.Cracks started appearing against Indiana, where the Buckeyes rushed for just four yards per carry and only achieved that number thanks to a 39-yard run by TreVeyon Henderson in the final minute of a 38-15 victory. Take out that play and Ohio State managed just 76 yards on 28 carries, 2.7 yards per attempt. OSU picked up just three yards per carry against Michigan, with left guard Austin Siereveld, center Carson Hinzman and right guard Tegra Tshabola looking completely overmatched by Michigan defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.
That prompted a shakeup of the unit, and now sophomore Luke Montgomery will work in and potentially start at left guard. Day said that Siereveld will rotate with both Montgomery and Tshabola as the Buckeyes run through different lineups to see what can get the ball rolling against Tennessee.
Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly also noted that the Buckeyes need to do a better job scheming around their holes up front. That means more ingenuity on the ground, but also probably a heavier reliance on the passing game.