COLUMBUS — With the invading Tennessee followers loud and able to attempt to take over Ohio Stadium with what seemed like 30,000-plus followers, Ryan Day aggressively quieted the opposing followers — and the critics — in a dominant 42-17 win. 

Earlier than the sport as increasingly more orange jackets, toboggans and jerseys got here streaming into the stadium, it felt like a referendum on Day. Seemingly capitalizing on Ohio State fan apathy following a devastating house loss to Michigan, Tennessee followers wolfed up tickets all around the stadium and proclaimed it “Neyland North.” 

The “Tennessee Takeover” of Columbus began Friday night time as orange clothes populated native bars and there have been many whiskey-induced cheers and Vols chants in typical Ohio State fan haunts. One inebriated Ohio State fan was so bothered by the scene contained in the Brief North Pint Home he turned to a good friend and stated “I wish to get in a struggle. That is our territory.”

The Buckeyes had greater than sufficient struggle in them to defend the Horseshoe even when much more intruders made their approach into the constructing than anybody might have imagined. 

By the tip of the third quarter after Ohio State went up 35-10, the orange trustworthy solemnly headed for the exits en masse and received able to make the lengthy drive again to Knoxville. Ohio State left little doubt that it was the higher group on a chilly Ohio winter night time that noticed temperatures drop into the low 20s. As the ultimate seconds ticked off, Ohio State followers left free a deafening “S-E-C” chant to mock the departing Volunteers. 

“They thought they have been going to take over this place and we confirmed them fairly fast that we weren’t going to let that occur,” stated Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. “I feel clearly us leaping out to a fairly fast begin helped with that however I’ve to provide credit score to Buckeye nation for displaying up and being loud.”

Day badly wanted a win like this and eventually confirmed the aggression followers have been begging for towards Michigan. When this model of Ohio State reveals up, with an attacking offense and a ferocious protection, it has a legit argument as one of the best group within the nation. This group seemed free in a approach that it by no means does towards Michigan and performed as dominant a recreation because it has all season in a pressurized spot that prompted athletic director Ross Bjork to publicly defend Day earlier within the week. 

When it was throughout, an ecstatic Bjork hugged and celebrated with gamers and Ohio State luminaries like former head coach City Meyer, beaming over the efficiency he simply witnessed. 

Ohio State got here out swinging from the bounce, and Tennessee had no reply for it. Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly appeared to recollect Jeremiah Smith is the nation’s finest receiver after solely getting him 5 catches for 35 yards in that loss to Michigan. Towards Tennessee, Ohio State well received the ball to Smith all around the subject to the tune of six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. 

“You might inform from the bounce that they had a glance of their eye they weren’t going to lose this recreation,” Day stated.  

Quarterback Will Howard seemed terrific, hitting Smith and Emeka Egbuka with a number of on-the-money passes that Vols defenders had no probability of stopping. He completed 24 of 29 for 311 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His one actual mistake, a second-quarter endzone interception, got here on what seemed like move interference towards Smith and a 50/50 name on whether or not Tennessee defender Will Brooks stayed inbounds on the interception catch. 

Had it gone the opposite approach, Ohio State could be up 28-0 and the sport could be all however over. However after Tennessee scored a subject objective and later added a landing on a drive that once more benefited from a controversial officiating name, Ohio State was up solely 21-10 regardless of dominating the primary half. Even worse, Tennessee was set to start out the second half with the ball. 

In that second you may really feel the Ohio State trustworthy get tenser and the Tennessee followers come alive after the Buckeyes’ early haymakers successfully shushed them. It threatened to check Day and his Ohio State group’s resolve after virtually all the pieces went its approach early.

Identical to it needed to begin the sport, Ohio State got here out within the second half and wasted no time reminding Tennessee it was the higher group. The Buckeyes stopped Tennessee’s first 5 offensive drives of the second half, scored 21 straight factors on offense and the blowout was on. Ohio State so totally dominated Tennessee that not solely did its backup quarterback (Devin Brown) get within the recreation however so did third-string freshman quarterback Julian Sayin. 

Ohio State’s protection was spectacular all through the night time, beginning with a primary quarter that disadvantaged Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava of a single passing yard. Ohio State’s protection overwhelmed Tennessee’s offensive line all through the sport, forcing Iamaleava out of the pocket and rendered him unable to do something within the downfield passing recreation. Ohio State restricted Tennessee’s vaunted working recreation to lower than 100 yards deep into the fourth quarter earlier than a rubbish time landing drive bolstered the numbers. Ohio State actually benefited from SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr Dylan Sampson getting harm early within the recreation and ending with solely six yards on two carries. 

A loss towards Tennessee and the requires Day’s dismissal would have been deafening. Bjork had stated Day would completely be again subsequent season however blowing an all-in $20 million roster with an enormous quantity of visiting followers in attendance might need been an indignity too large to swallow. As a substitute, Ohio State will get one other probability at No. 1 Oregon within the Rose Bowl after the 2 performed an prompt basic that the Geese gained, 32-31, again in October. 

“He takes a lot warmth and it is such bullshit,” senior defensive finish Jack Sawyer stated about his head coach. “I am so comfortable for him to get a win like that and now we have got momentum going into this recreation and it is superior.”

If this Ohio State group is for actual and the one which confirmed up towards Michigan has been flushed away, good luck to the remainder of the playoff subject as a result of this Buckeyes group seems championship-worthy.