COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time ever, Ohio State will host a College Football Playoff game.
The Buckeyes will play the Tennessee Volunteers on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.
Ohio State finished the season 10-2, losing to Oregon, who was No. 3 at the time, and unranked Michigan to close out the year.
The loss to the Wolverines denied the Buckeyes from playing in the Big Ten Championship and dropped them four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Head coach Ryan Day has felt the pressure since his fourth straight loss to Michigan. Day recognized how significant the loss was, but he's focused on the playoffs.
“There’s no way to defend losing four years in a row," Day said during his signing day news conference. “But I know this: We’re going to play really hard in this game. We’re going to swing as hard as we possibly can."
Despite all the outside noise, Day said everybody at the university has been behind him. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork expressed his "full support” for the coach.
“We got an opportunity to go win the national championship and, you know, everybody, around here has been very supportive on that, focusing on that,” Day said. “And that’s really what it is. And I know what the job is. I know where the focus needs to be. And there hasn't been a ton of communication other than that."
Ohio State opened as 7-point favorites against Tennessee, according to BetMGM.
The winner of this game will go on to face No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
College Football Playoffs Schedule
First round (Dec. 20-21)
- Indiana vs. Notre Dame | Friday, Dec. 20: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- SMU vs. Penn State | Saturday, Dec. 21: 12 p.m. | TNT Sports
- Clemson vs. Texas | Saturday, Dec. 21: 4 p.m. | TNT Sports
- Tennessee vs. Ohio State | Saturday, Dec. 21: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- SMU/Penn State vs. Boise State | Fiesta Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 | ESPN
- Clemson/Texas vs. Arizona State | Peach Bowl: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Tennessee/Ohio State vs. Oregon | Rose Bowl: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Indiana/Notre Dame vs. Georgia | Sugar Bowl: 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 | ESPN
- Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 | ESPN
CFP National Championship
- 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 | ESPN
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia