• The primary 12-team playoff kicks off this week: The biggest Faculty Soccer Playoff ever will get underway this weekend with 4 first-round matchups: Indiana–Notre Dame, SMU–Penn State, Clemson–Texas and Tennessee–Ohio State.
• What to look at for when every workforce has the ball: Learn beneath to get full matchup breakdowns for every workforce’s cross recreation and run recreation in opposition to the opposing protection.
• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Begin-Sit Optimizer and extra. Join now!
Estimated Studying Time: 23 minutes
Anticipation for the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff started 2.5 years in the past when it was first introduced. The format tripled the earlier dimension of the sphere and would characteristic house playoff video games for the primary time ever.
We’ve lastly made it to the inaugural 12-team playoff with 4 juicy first-round matchups on school campuses this weekend. With that, we’ve determined to make our preview extra expansive than ever earlier than. We’ll be diving into two matchups to look at for every offense in these video games, one for the passing recreation and one for the operating recreation. And naturally, we’ll be predicting who will advance to the quarterfinals.
No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 7 Notre Dame Combating Irish (Friday, 8 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)
Notre Dame’s cross recreation in opposition to Indiana’s cross protection (Dalton): Is Notre Dame able to dealing with apparent passing conditions?
With all due respect to Notre Dame’s success this season, we haven’t seen Notre Dame’s passing assault play in opposition to an elite protection. The one groups the Combating Irish performed that rank inside the highest 50 in protection grade are Military, Navy and Northern Illinois. 9 of the 12 groups they’ve performed rank outdoors the highest 70 in cross rush grade.
In the meantime, Indiana locations inside the highest 12 in each of these classes. Outdoors of the Ohio State recreation, the Hoosiers have been largely excellent, as they’ve used a zone-heavy strategy to stop huge performs by way of the air.
Even accounting for Notre Dame’s weaker schedule, the Combating Irish rank simply 63rd in cross blocking grade and 59th in receiving grade. They’ve been in a position to create single protection matchups in opposition to lesser opponents, however Indiana hardly ever gives these matchups.
Riley Leonard’s passing grade drops by 10 factors in opposition to zone protection when in comparison with man protection. In opposition to Cowl 3 specifically, which Indiana runs on the fourth-highest price within the nation, Leonard has posted only a 65.8 protection grade.
It will likely be incumbent upon Leonard to decipher which means Indiana’s protection will rotate and both launch the ball or scramble earlier than Mikail Kamara and the Hoosiers’ cross rush can get to him.
Notre Dame’s nationwide title hopes seemingly relaxation with discovering steadiness in its offense. The Combating Irish will face their hardest job of the season this week.
Notre Dame’s run recreation in opposition to Indiana’s run protection (Max): A heavyweight matchup that might very properly resolve the sport
Notre Dame’s offense is centered round its improbable floor recreation. The Combating Irish are third within the FBS with 0.266 EPA per run and lead the Energy 4 with 6.7 yards per carry and 4.0 yards after contact per try. Notre Dame has a three-headed monster in its backfield between Jeremiyah Love, Riley Leonard and Jadarian Worth. These three mixed have helped the Combating Irish produce the fourth-best speeding grade within the nation (93.7). Their speeding success can be a whole workforce effort although, as Notre Dame can be tied for seventh within the FBS with a 77.7 run-blocking grade.
Indiana’s been very stout in opposition to the run this yr because the Hoosiers are at the moment tied for fourth within the nation with a 94.1 run-defense grade and three.7 yards per try allowed. No person within the nation is best at swarming to the ball than the Hoosiers, as their 0.8 yards earlier than contact allowed per try leads the FBS.
The Combating Irish’s commonest run idea is inside zone, as that makes up 48% of their speeding makes an attempt (18th in FBS). Indiana’s been robust in opposition to that idea, inserting eighth amongst FBS defenses in EPA allowed on inside zone runs.
The Hoosiers should additionally account for Leonard on each play, who’s fifth amongst Energy 4 quarterbacks with 764 speeding yards this season. Indiana has but to permit a giant recreation from a quarterback on the bottom although, permitting a median of 16.3 speeding yards from quarterbacks per recreation.
If the Hoosiers can get the Combating Irish behind the chains and power Notre Dame’s common passing assault to beat them, Indiana may very properly pull off the upset in South Bend. But when not, the Combating Irish’s elite run recreation may as soon as once more carry them to victory.
Indiana’s cross recreation in opposition to Notre Dame’s cross protection (Max): Can the Hoosiers’ offensive line maintain up?
Indiana’s two worst video games of the season, its loss to Ohio State and a five-point victory over Michigan, coincided with its two worst performances in cross safety. The Hoosiers posted only a 45.6 pass-blocking grade in these two contests in comparison with an 83.5 mark of their different 10 video games.
Particularly, Indiana had numerous points when Ohio State and Michigan blitzed them. The Buckeyes and Wolverines generated stress on 47.6% of their blitzes whereas sacking Kurtis Rourke seven instances as properly. Within the different 10 video games, the Hoosiers solely gave up 9 sacks in opposition to the blitz and a 26.3% stress price.
Michigan (first) and Ohio State (18th) personal two of the highest 20 pass-rushing grades in America, whereas Notre Dame isn’t too far behind at twenty fifth. Indiana hasn’t confronted one other workforce inside the highest 25 all season. The Combating Irish ship a blitz on 39.6% of their snaps, fortieth within the nation and only a tad greater than Ohio State and Michigan do (39.4%).
If the Hoosiers’ offensive line can maintain up, we should always have a terrific battle between Kurtis Rourke and Indiana’s receivers in opposition to Notre Dame’s elite secondary. Rourke is second amongst FBS quarterbacks with a 91.8 passing grade whereas the Hoosiers lead the nation with a 90.8 receiving grade. The Combating Irish in the meantime are second to solely Texas amongst FBS defenses in protection grade (92.4). To even get to the purpose the place it’s between these two elite models, Indiana’s offensive line wants to guard Rourke in opposition to a robust cross rush.
Indiana’s run recreation in opposition to Notre Dame’s run protection (Dalton): Will Notre Dame’s line of defense discover its type in its largest recreation of the season?
After dominating their opponents and incomes the fifth-best run protection grade within the nation final season, the Combating Irish’s line of defense has struggled in that very same space this season, rating ninetieth in run-defense grade.
It’s an odd growth, as they misplaced only one key contributor to the NFL, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, although he was their highest-graded run defender amongst that unit. In consequence, the Combating Irish rank outdoors the highest 30 in a number of classes corresponding to yards per carry allowed, yards after contact per try allowed, and profitable performs allowed.
In the meantime, Indiana has run the ball successfully all season with Justice Ellison and Ty’Son Lawton, particularly to the skin. Indiana ranks inside the highest three amongst Energy 4 groups in speeding grade and run-blocking grade on off-tackle runs. Notre Dame has allowed 5.0 yards per keep on off-tackle runs this season, which sits proper on the nationwide common.
If the Hoosiers can exploit this weak point and produce steadiness to their offense versus relying solely on Kurtis Rourke for explosive performs, they might pull off the street upset
Predictions
Dalton: Indiana 27, Notre Dame 24
The Hoosiers want to perform three issues on this recreation in the event that they need to win: comprise the run, power Riley Leonard past his first learn and cross shield in opposition to blitzes. I’ll take them to just do sufficient of all three to get a victory
Max: Notre Dame 31, Indiana 21
Indiana’s run protection has been spectacular all yr, however it additionally hasn’t confronted an assault as deadly as Notre Dame’s. The Combating Irish depend on their run recreation and its cross rush to squeak out a win in South Bend within the battle for Indiana. Notre Dame strikes on to play Georgia within the Sugar Bowl.
No. 11 SMU Mustangs at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (Saturday, 12 PM EST on TNT/Max)
Penn State’s cross recreation in opposition to SMU’s cross protection (Max): Who wins on the skin?
The highest precedence for the Mustangs’ cross protection is to remove tight finish Tyler Warren. The John Mackey Award winner leads all Energy 4 tight ends in catches (88), receiving yards (1,062) and yards after the catch (608). Outdoors of Warren, Penn State’s receiving corps lacks top-end expertise. All the Nittany Lion extensive receivers mixed for simply 1,496 receiving yards (114th within the FBS). Take into account that Penn State performed 13 video games whereas the overwhelming majority of the nation performed 12.
Whereas it’s extremely unlikely any protection can utterly shut down Warren, SMU’s well-equipped to no less than maintain him in examine. The Mustangs’ safeties lead the FBS with a 93.2 protection grade this yr as a bunch. Coming in second is Ohio State, considered one of two groups that beat Penn State and the one which held Warren to only 4 catches for 47 yards.
The place SMU has points is on the skin. The Mustangs’ outdoors cornerbacks mixed have only a 64.5 protection grade this season (117th within the FBS).
Whereas Penn State would a lot somewhat let Warren carry its passing recreation, it may not be capable of in opposition to SMU’s elite security quartet of Isaiah Nwokobia, Jonathan McGill, Cale Sanders Jr. and Ahmaad Moses. The excellent news for the Nittany Lions is {that a} participant Harrison Wallace III may have a giant recreation in opposition to a weak cornerback room for the Mustangs.
Penn State’s run recreation in opposition to SMU’s run protection (Dalton): Andy Kotelnicki vs. SMU’s linebackers
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has displayed his trademark creativity within the run recreation regardless of main a unit that ranks simply forty second in run-blocking grade. His number of ideas and deep arsenal of trick performs are his biggest belongings for creating explosive runs, although will probably be fascinating to see if the departure of backup quarterback Beau Pribula impacts the latter half.
In the meantime, SMU presents the Nittany Lions with their hardest job within the run recreation other than Ohio State. The Mustangs rank sixth in run-defense grade this season and have been spectacular as a unit on all three ranges of their protection.
When the Mustangs have struggled in run protection, it has been when groups can bypass their stellar line of defense and get downhill on their linebackers on the second degree. Their linebacker trio of Kobe Wilson, Ahmad Walker and Alexander Kilgore have all posted run protection grades above 80.0 this season, however they’re smaller gamers who’re higher at chasing ball carriers laterally and like to keep away from taking up blocks.
Penn State is coming off arguably its greatest speeding efficiency of the season in opposition to Oregon because the Nittany Lions used a extra direct strategy conceptually with a view to get their linemen to the second degree. Solely Illinois’ and Kent State’s linebackers posted a decrease run protection grade in opposition to Penn State this season than Oregon’s did.
Penn State has an opportunity to search out success within the run recreation if they’ll overwhelm SMU’s gifted, however undersized, linebackers.
SMU’s cross recreation in opposition to Penn State’s cross protection (Dalton): Kevin Jennings vs. Penn State’s single-high coverages
SMU’s success within the passing recreation might be decided by its skill to learn and management Penn State’s safeties. The Nittany Lions run a top-30 price of single-high defenses this season however rank simply 66th in protection grade when deploying them.
Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings has shredded single-high defenses to the tune of a 90.5 passing grade that ranks fourth amongst 133 passers with no less than 100 dropbacks in opposition to them. Solely Cade Klubnik and Shedeur Sanders have thrown extra touchdowns versus single-high defenses than Jennings has.
The query is whether or not or not Rhett Lashlee is prepared to let Jennings air it out on early downs because the Nittany Lions lean extra into two security coverages in apparent passing conditions. Penn State ranks simply sixty fifth in early down protection grade this season, however SMU sits at 82nd of their price of early down passes referred to as.
The Nittany Lions emphasize stopping the run on early downs, and for nearly as good as Brashard Smith has been this season, the Mustangs might need to combine up the playcalling a bit to take advantage of Penn State’s vulnerability once they lean into single-high defenses.
SMU’s run recreation in opposition to Penn State’s run protection (Max): Can the Mustangs get outdoors on the Nittany Lions?
SMU’s floor recreation is headlined by one of many nation’s most underrated gamers in Brashard Smith. His 91.2 PFF grade is third amongst FBS operating backs, trailing solely Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love. The previous extensive receiver is an impressive receiving again however has additionally been one of many higher rushers as properly, inserting second within the ACC with 1,154 speeding yards this season.
A considerable amount of Smith’s manufacturing has come on inside zone runs this season. His 551 yards on that idea are ninth amongst Energy 4 backs. SMU as a workforce has run inside zone 215 instances this season, tied for third-most within the Energy 4.
Penn State’s protection has had numerous points on outdoors zone runs this season (ninetieth in defensive grade) however has been lights out contained in the tackles. The Nittany Lions are fifth within the FBS in EPA per play allowed on inside-zone runs. Penn State solely provides up 3.6 yards per keep on such performs, the eighth fewest within the nation. The Nittany Lions, specifically their linebackers, a lot want working downhill between the tackles than chasing down opposing tailbacks sideline-to-sideline.
SMU will seemingly have to get inventive and bounce a majority of runs to the skin to have any probability of producing a profitable run recreation on Penn State.
Predictions
Dalton: Penn State 27, SMU 21
It appears apparent that SMU might want to play its greatest recreation of the season to win this one. The Mustangs stand an opportunity if Jennings and their run protection play a near-perfect recreation, however Penn State’s cross rush and Andy Kotelnicki’s brilliance ought to be sufficient to get the Nittany Lions by way of this one.
Max: Penn State 34, SMU 24
Penn State’s protection makes SMU depend on Kevin Jennings an excessive amount of on this recreation by shutting down the Mustangs’ floor recreation. Harrison Wallace III seems to be the X-factor for the Nittany Lion offense as Penn State survives to face Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl.
No. 12 Clemson Tigers at No. 5 Texas Longhorns (Saturday, 4 PM EST on TNT/Max)
Texas’ cross recreation in opposition to Clemson’s cross protection (Dalton): How a lot belief does Dabo Swinney have in his secondary?
Clemson boasts a particularly younger secondary that features gifted cornerbacks like Avieon Terrell, Ashton Hampton and Jeadyn Lukas. These three gamers have mixed to supply 18 cross breakups and 5 interceptions this season whereas every of the posted protection grades above 70.0.
The Tigers’ efficiency on this matchup in opposition to Texas might be essential because the Longhorns’ passing recreation has struggled to search out constant footing this season. One thing that has bothered them this season is when opponents combine in a better price of man protection. Georgia used this strategy to stifle its passing recreation in each of its wins over Texas.
Quinn Ewers has posted only a 63.1 passing grade with two big-time throws and 5 turnover-worthy performs in opposition to man protection this season. Regardless of being so younger within the secondary, Clemson has run the 18th-most man protection performs as a protection within the FBS. The Tigers have additionally been efficient in doing so with an 81.2 workforce protection grade and 25 pressured incompletions.
It might appear counterintuitive to ask a lot of such a younger secondary, however Clemson’s aggressive nature has labored to their profit all season, and that shouldn’t change this week.
Texas’ run recreation in opposition to Clemson’s run protection (Max): Will the Tigers be capable of comprise the Longhorns on the skin?
A big chunk of Texas’ floor recreation is centered round its skill to win on the skin. The Longhorns have referred to as outdoors zone 137 instances this yr, the eighth-most within the Energy 4. A giant motive for that’s that Texas has the most effective offensive deal with duos in Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cameron Williams, two top-25 prospects on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft huge board. Quintrevion Wisner is ninth amongst Energy 4 operating backs with 345 speeding yards on such performs as properly. Each he and Jaydon Blue are excellent athletes at operating again with the pace to create huge positive factors if given a crease.
In the meantime, Clemson’s had numerous difficulties conserving comprise this season. The Tigers have allowed six yards per-carry on outdoors zone runs, the sixth-most within the Energy 4. Whereas sophomore star T.J. Parker has been strong on such performs (74.5 PFF grade), the identical can’t be mentioned for Clemson’s different edge defenders. Jaheim Lawson, A.J. Hoffler and Cade Denhoff every have sub-60 grades on outdoors zone runs. As a bunch, the Tigers’ edge rushers have the third-worst grade within the nation on these performs (49.7). Since Banks and Williams mixed for the Seventeenth-best grade amongst deal with duos on outdoors zone runs, that might spell numerous bother for the Tigers.
Clemson’s cross recreation in opposition to Texas’ cross protection (Max): Can Cade Klubnik be Superman?
Klubnik has lastly began to point out why he was the highest quarterback within the 2022 highschool class. The previous five-star recruit’s 87.5 passing grade is eighth amongst all FBS signal-callers this season whereas his 26 big-time throws stand sixth. Klubnik made this huge leap with simply a median supporting solid as properly.
Clemson’s workforce offensive grades:
| Facet | PFF Grade (FBS Rank) |
| General | 79.4 (forty fourth) |
| Passing | 86.0 (Eleventh) |
| Dashing | 85.0 (forty seventh) |
| Receiving | 70.5 (61st) |
| Move Blocking | 71.3 (63rd) |
| Run Blocking | 60.4 (87th) |
He’ll have his hardest take a look at but this week in opposition to Texas, who owns the highest defensive grade in school soccer (94.0). The Longhorns are first in protection grade (92.9) and third in pass-rushing grade (90.2). No different protection is within the high 5 of each. South Carolina is considered one of three defenses who’s within the top-10 of each metrics, and so they gave up simply 14 factors to Clemson a number of weeks in the past. And even then, all of these factors have been scored by Klubnik on two speeding touchdowns.
The Tigers will want Klubnik to be superhuman on Saturday to ensure that them to have an opportunity at an upset.
Clemson’s run recreation in opposition to Texas’ run protection (Dalton): Clemson’s inside offensive line vs. Texas’ defensive tackles
To place it plainly, Clemson’s speeding assault has struggled recently. During the last 4 video games in opposition to FBS groups, the Tigers common simply 4.1 yards per carry and have posted a 65.4 speeding grade. Cade Klubnik has really been their best runner by way of a mix of scrambles and quarterback attracts.
The first concern for the Tigers’ issue operating the ball has been poor blocking on the inside. Clemson by no means had sufficient pace within the backfield to constantly run outdoors this season, so operating between the tackles is a serious emphasis for its offense. The Tigers’ inside offensive line, although, ranks simply 83rd in run-blocking grade this season, and their struggles have been exacerbated over the past 5 video games.
They’ll have to determine issues out rapidly if they’re to search out any push in opposition to Alfred Collins and the Longhorns’ excellent defensive tackles. Collins ranks fifth amongst certified defensive tackles with an 89.1 run protection grade. Fellow inside defenders Vernon Broughton and Jermayne Lole have posted 77.3 and 75.1 grades, respectively, in run protection.
Groups like Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas who discovered yardage between the tackles in opposition to Texas both received or stored themselves within the recreation longer than they need to have. Clemson can do the identical, however it must get a greater push from their inside offensive line.
Predictions
Texas is actually the extra gifted workforce. The Longhorns may run away with this recreation in the event that they keep away from turnovers. Clemson, although, has a knack for creating these turnovers and is taking part in with nothing to lose. I count on a comparatively low-scoring recreation, however Texas’ protection carries them by way of no less than yet another week.
I battle to see how the Tigers will constantly rating on this recreation, outdoors of Quinn Ewers turning the ball over deep in Longhorn territory. On the opposite facet, Texas’ outdoors zone heavy scheme causes vital issues for Clemson. The Longhorns deal with enterprise at house and transfer on to face Arizona State within the Peach Bowl.
No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (Saturday, 8 PM EST on ABC/ESPN)
Ohio State’s cross recreation in opposition to Tennessee’s cross protection (Max): Can the Buckeyes’ offensive line maintain up?
Ohio State’s offensive line has been simply the workforce’s kryptonite over the past a number of weeks after season-ending accidents to projected first-round left deal with Josh Simmons and Rimington Award-winning heart Seth McLaughlin. Since Week 7 (when Simmons went down), the Buckeyes’ entrance 5 has only a 56.0 grade as a unit. That locations their offensive line because the seventh worst within the Energy 4 and 14th worst within the nation over that stretch.
Tennessee‘s protection is among the many high 15 in America in pass-rushing grade (twelfth), pass-rush win price (thirteenth) and stress price (Eleventh). The star of that unit is James Pearce Jr., who leads all FBS edge defenders in stress price (24%) whereas inserting third in pass-rush win price (23%). Pearce is primarily a pace rusher, which could possibly be a serious concern in opposition to Ohio State with left guard Donovan Jackson kicking out to left deal with.
The Buckeyes’ offensive line’s worst video games coincided with their two losses this season (Oregon and Michigan). Each the Geese and Wolverines have elite defensive traces, one thing the Volunteers additionally possess. If Ohio State can constantly shield Will Howard, he ought to be capable of ship the ball constantly to his elite group of extensive receivers. But when they don’t, the Buckeyes may stall out offensively like they did in opposition to Michigan.
Ohio State’s run recreation in opposition to Tennessee’s run protection (Dalton): Can Ohio State discover a approach to run between the tackles?
As talked about above, Ohio State has been badly hindered by accidents on the offense line. The Buckeyes’ run blocking has taken a serious hit, particularly once they attempt to run between the tackles.
By their recreation in opposition to Oregon in Week 7, the Buckeyes averaged an impressive 7.0 yards per carry between the tackles. Because the conclusion of that recreation, they common simply 4.2 yards per carry between the tackles and have struggled to function inside in opposition to more durable fronts like Nebraska, Indiana, and Michigan.
The perimeter run recreation has produced constantly all season, however Tennessee ranks third within the nation in run protection grade when opponents run off deal with. The Volunteers’ excellent group of edge gamers, together with James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs, do a wonderful job of disallowing rushers from breaking comprise.
Conversely, the Volunteers rank simply 59th in run-defense grade between the tackles because of the truth that they hardly ever get out of their four-man entrance on the line of defense. They’ve performed simply 19 snaps with an additional defensive lineman on the sphere this season with most of these coming in short-yardage conditions.
Ohio State might want to discover manufacturing inside versus utterly leaning into its perimeter recreation in opposition to a really athletic protection.
Tennessee’s cross recreation in opposition to Ohio State’s cross protection (Dalton): Tennessee’s extensive passing assault vs. Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun
If there is only one space of the Buckeyes’ protection that could possibly be thought-about a weak point, it could be their cornerbacks.
Ohio State defensive grades:
| Defensive Line | sixth |
| Linebackers | ninth |
| Safeties | 1st |
| Cornerbacks | 98th |
Ohio State’s cornerbacks, led on the skin by Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun, rank 98th in total grade as a unit and a hundred and first within the FBS in protection grade. The Buckeyes might be extraordinarily burdened in opposition to a Tennessee offensive that emphasizes stretching a protection horizontally and creating house to work with outdoors with its formations.
In the course of the common season, excluding convention championship weekend, Tennessee threw the Eleventh-most passes within the Energy 4 at or outdoors the numbers. Whereas Nico Iamaleava has created many explosive performs over the center recently, these outdoors throws, together with their run recreation, are what maintain the Volunteers on schedule with regard to down and distance.
Ohio State ranks simply thirty eighth amongst that very same group in protection grade on these throws since Week 5. The Buckeyes’ solely above-average protection grades in these eventualities throughout that span have come in opposition to Iowa and Penn State, each of whom very a lot battle to throw the ball outdoors.
Tennessee could possibly be snug within the passing recreation so long as Nico Iamaleava hits the skin throws which are a foundational a part of its offense.
Tennessee’s run recreation in opposition to Ohio State’s run protection (Max): Will Dylan Sampson be capable of create on his personal in opposition to an elite defensive entrance?
Sampson has been considered one of school soccer’s greatest operating backs this season. The SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months tied for the Energy 4 lead with 22 speeding touchdowns this season whereas his 927 yards after contact are fourth in that very same group. He’s performed this with out a lot assist from his offensive line, because the Volunteers rank simply 78th in workforce run-blocking grade.
He’ll need to go in opposition to considered one of school soccer’s greatest defenses at stopping the run as Ohio State is at the moment fourth in run-defense grade (94.1). Sampson has discovered success in opposition to another elite run defenses although, already going through three groups who’re within the top-10 of that metric in Oklahoma (third), Alabama (sixth) and Arkansas (eighth). Throughout these three contests, the junior ran for 369 yards and 5 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
No Energy 4 offense has tallied extra speeding yards on hole runs greater than Tennessee this season (1,623). Hole runs are, by design, meant to overpower defensive traces as each blocker is attempting to widen the chosen hole. Ohio State has been very robust in opposition to that idea, inserting twelfth within the FBS in run-defense grade on hole runs (91.2).
If the Volunteers are going to tug off the upset, they’ll want their star operating again to supply but once more in opposition to the most effective entrance sevens within the nation.
Predictions
Dalton: Tennessee 19, Ohio State 16
This can be the worst potential matchup that the Buckeyes may have drawn within the first spherical. It’s going to be a troublesome defensive recreation. It might come right down to which quarterback retains his composure. Tennessee has performed in these kinds of video games all yr, although, and I’ll take an improved Nico Iamaleava to get the largest win of his younger profession.
Max: Ohio State 24, Tennessee 17
This recreation may get ugly as each offensive traces appear considerably outmatched by the opposing line of defense. Outdoors of that matchup although, the Buckeyes seem like higher than the Volunteers all over the place else. Ohio State places the loss in opposition to Michigan within the rearview mirror and strikes on to play top-ranked Oregon within the Rose Bowl, the one different workforce that’s taken down the Buckeyes this yr.
