Ohio State Crushes Tennessee in CFP First Round: Josh Heupel Reflects on Vols’ 2024 Season
December 22, 2024
The Tennessee Volunteers’ College Football Playoff run came to an abrupt end Saturday night after a crushing 48-17 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CFP first round. Ohio State, led by quarterback Kyle McCord and a dominant defense, overpowered the Vols from the opening whistle, leaving Tennessee searching for answers.
For Vols head coach Josh Heupel, the loss marked a sobering conclusion to what had been an otherwise successful season. Speaking to reporters after the game, Heupel acknowledged the gap between his team and the Buckeyes.
“Our 2024 season has concluded, and it’s not the way we wanted it to end,” Heupel said. “We’ve got to play better, plain and simple. Ohio State is an elite team, and tonight they showed why. We didn’t execute at the level we needed to compete with them.”
Tennessee entered the playoffs with high hopes, boasting a 12-1 record and an SEC Championship. However, the Vols struggled to find their rhythm against Ohio State’s relentless defense, which forced three turnovers and limited Tennessee to just 267 total yards. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava faced constant pressure, throwing two interceptions and being sacked four times.
Ohio State’s offense, on the other hand, clicked on all cylinders. McCord threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while running back TreVeyon Henderson added 124 yards on the ground. The Buckeyes raced to a 24-3 halftime lead and never looked back.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Heupel emphasized the progress Tennessee made this season. “This team accomplished a lot in 2024. Winning the SEC Championship and earning a spot in the CFP are things we can be proud of,” Heupel said. “But games like this show us what it takes to reach the next level. We’ll learn from it and come back stronger.”
The loss caps a season of growth for the Volunteers, who continue to rebuild their program into a national contender under Heupel. While the ending was disappointing, the Vols’ resurgence in 2024 offers hope for the future.
As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes advance to the CFP National Championship semifinal, where they will face the winner of the Michigan-Washington matchup. With momentum on their side, the Buckeyes appear poised for another deep playoff run.
For Tennessee, the offseason begins with a focus on development and retooling for 2025. “We’ve got a lot to build on, but we know there’s work to be done,” Heupel concluded. “We’ll be back.”
