So, it looks like the Tennessee Vols weren’t quite the playoff dud that many on social media made them out to be less than two weeks ago after losing 42-17 to the Buckeyes. Ohio State, apparently, is just that good, it turns out.
The Buckeyes laid absolute waste to the #1 ranked Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl, dominating their Big Ten adversary 41-21 on Wednesday evening in Pasadena.
Freshman phenom WR Jeremiah Smith, who caught six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns against the Vols, stepped his game up in a massive way in “The Grandaddy of Them All”. Smith totaled 5 catches for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half alone against the Ducks. He had a nifty catch and run score for 45 yards and got behind the defense for another score from 43 yards.
The Buckeyes exploded to a 34-0 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back, leading 34-8 at the half and keeping the Ducks at bay for the remainder of the game.
The Vols’ defense and defensive coordinator Tim Banks caught some flack for getting completely handled by Ohio State’s offense in Columbus. Well, the defense of the top-ranked team in the country just got absolutely embarrassed on a neutral field, allowing 500 yards to the Buckeyes.