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Tennessee football CFP scenarios: Ohio State, Penn State or Texas in first round

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2024

Tennessee football CFP scenarios: Ohio State, Penn State or Texas in first round

Tennessee has a clearer picture of its place in the College Football Playoff, but there are still questions heading into selection Sunday.

Who will the Vols play in the playoff? And when and where will that first-round game be played?

It appears Ohio State, Penn State or Texas could be Tennessee’s first-round opponent.

On Saturday, No. 1 Oregon beat No. 3 Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten title game. No. 5 Georgia beat No. 2 Texas 22-19 in overtime in the SEC title game.

Oregon (13-0) and Georgia (11-2) earned automatic first-round byes as top-4 seeds. Penn State (11-2) and Texas (11-2) dropped to the at-large pool, but it’s unclear where they’ll be seeded.

The College Football Playoff selections will be announced on Sunday (noon ET, ESPN).

Here are the projected seeds and matchup scenarios for Tennessee.

College Football Playoff projected seeds

There are five guaranteed spots for the five highest ranked conference champions. And then seven teams get at-large bids, based on their ranking in the CFP poll. The four highest ranked conference champions get a first-round bye.

There are 13 teams vying for 12 playoff spots. Either Alabama or SMU will get the final at-large spot. Tennessee has secured an at-large spot, but its seed hasn’t been announced.

1-4 seeds (conference champions with byes): Oregon, Georgia, Boise State plus Arizona State or Clemson
5-10 seeds (at-large teams, in no particular order): Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Indiana
11-12 seeds (in no particular order): Either Alabama or SMU (as at-large team); plus either Arizona State or Clemson (conference champion)
Team left out: Either Alabama or SMU

Here’s why Tennessee could play at Ohio State

Last week, the CFP rankings projected No. 9 seed Tennessee (10-2) to play a first-round game at No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2). That matchup could hold in the final bracket.

Ohio State has two top-10 wins (Penn State, Indiana), while Tennessee has one top-12 win (Alabama). That was a major factor in their seeding order. The selection committee will not flip their order because neither team played in a championship game.

Here’s why Tennessee could play at Penn State

Penn State (11-2) lost head-to-head at home to Ohio State in the regular season. And Penn State only made the Big Ten title game because of a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker over Indiana.

So if the selection committee compares them for seeding, Penn State could fall behind Ohio State. That would place Penn State at the No. 8 seed hosting No. 9 seed Tennessee.

Here’s why Tennessee could play at Texas

Texas (11-2) was No. 2 in the CFP ranking, and it lost a close SEC title game against Georgia. But its resume has major holes.

Texas does not have a CFP Top 25 win. Its best wins were over Texas A&M, Michigan and Florida – who each received Top 25 votes but didn’t make the AP Top 25 or US LBM Coaches Poll.

But Texas also doesn’t have a bad loss. Both of its losses were to Georgia.

So how far could Texas drop? If it falls to the No. 8 seed, it would host No. 9 seed Tennessee in Austin, Texas.

Here’s why Tennessee could host at Neyland Stadium

Texas and Penn State will drop after losing conference championship games. The only question is how far.

Penn State has only one CFP Top 25 win (Illinois). Texas has no CFP Top 25 wins.

The selection committee said it will include the conference title game results as part of its evaluations. But for Tennessee to get a home game, the committee would have to take away a projected home game from a conference runner-up because it lost in the championship game.

And here’s another obstacle to Tennessee hosting a first-round game. If Texas or Penn State dropped to the No. 9 seed, the committee essentially would be admitting that it had ranked them too high.

That’s why a Tennessee home game is plausible but not probable. It simply depends on the committee’s approach to dealing with conference title game losers.

When will College Football Playoff games be played?

The first round of the 12-team playoff begins with one game on Friday, Dec. 20 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN). The other three first-round games will be on Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon (TNT), 4 p.m. (TNT) and 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN).

Matchups will be announced during the CFP selection show with all first-round games at campus sites.

Quarterfinals will be at bowl sites: Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 31), Peach Bowl (Jan. 1), Rose Bowl (Jan. 1), Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1). Semifinals will be at the Orange Bowl (Jan. 9) and Cotton Bowl (Jan. 10). The national championship game will be on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Ohio Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for Dec. 28, 2025

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 9-0-9

Evening: 2-4-1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-4-5-8

Evening: 4-6-2-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-8-6-2-0

Evening: 2-4-5-7-9

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

10-11-15-19-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

12-17-25-34-42, Lucky Ball: 09

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.

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Ohio Turnpike issues travel ban for high-profile vehicles due to high winds

Published

6 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Due to high winds in Northeast Ohio, the Ohio Turnpike has issued a travel ban for certain vehicles on Monday.

From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., some high-profile vehicles that may be affected by high wind speeds will be prohibited from using the turnpike.

The following vehicles will not be able to travel using the turnpike:

All high-profile (greater than 7-feet 6-inches in height) tow-behind trailers, campers, boats, and enclosed trailers. (This does not include trailers with fifth-wheel type trailers).
Commercial trucks towing an empty, single 53-foot box-type trailer.
All mobile homes, office trailers and livestock trailers.
All long combination vehicles (LCV) that include double-trailer combinations exceeding 90 feet in length. (Enclosed trailers only, including Conestoga type trailers).
All LCV triple-trailer combinations.
Two-axle buses longer than 40 feet.
Buses with three or more axles greater than 45 feet.

The travel ban will not impact the following vehicles:

Passenger cars and pickup trucks.
Commercial trucks towing a loaded, single 53-foot trailer.
Self-propelled motor homes.
Low-profile trailers.
Fold-down camper trailers.
Pickup trucks with slide-on camper units.
Vehicles towing fifth-wheel type trailers or any other type of trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks that are not listed in the “prohibited” vehicles section above.
Commercial trucks towing a single flatbed or tanker trailer.
Commercial trucks towing a car hauler trailer.
Commercial trucks towing flatbed double-trailer combinations.
Commercial trucks towing any double-trailer combinations less than 90 feet.
Two-axle buses less than 40 feet.
Buses with three or more axles less than 45 feet.

The travel restriction will be continuously evaluated throughout the weather event.

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Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Fresno State grinds down Miami (Ohio) to win Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl

Justin Spears
| Arizona Daily Star

The next episode of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was a low-scoring game, but it was a closer contest than the previous year.

Fresno State outlasted Miami (Ohio), 18-3, in a low-scoring game and dethroned the Redhawks as the Arizona Bowl champion on Saturday at Casino Del Sol Stadium.

FSU ended the season winning four of its last five games and the Bulldogs finished their first season under head coach Matt Entz with a 9-4 record.

Miami, which has appeared in the last three MAC championships, finished the season with a 7-7 record.

Fresno State’s postgame celebration included Snoop Dogg delivering the Arizona Bowl trophy in a 1963 Chevy Impala and handing out “Death Row Records” chains to FSU players and coaches.

“A guy from Northeast Ohio probably looks unique with a Death Row necklace on,” Entz joked.

“When you finish with a win in December, that’s a good year,” Entz said. “Period. … When you’re winning a game after Christmas, with these type of young men, that’s a win for the administration, that’s a win for the program, that’s a win for Fresno State, that’s a win for our administration and all of our coaches and support people.”

Added Entz: “For them to walk out being a winner, being a champion of the Arizona Bowl, that’s exciting. I’m excited for them. That’s what it should be about.”

Fresno State, which ranks 14th in college football in total defense, is the first team in Arizona Bowl history to not allow a touchdown. The 21 total points on Saturday marked the lowest-scoring Arizona Bowl in the bowl game’s history.

After Miami kicker Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal to grab a 3-0 lead, Fresno State outscored the Redhawks 18-0 to finish the game. Following Miami’s field goal on its opening drive, the Redhawks had drives result in two turnovers, two turnover on downs and five punts.

“Their defense outplayed our offense by a large margin,” said Miami head coach Chuck Martin.

Turning point

Miami was without long snapper Hudson Powell, who is expected to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 2. The Redhawks turned to backup long snapper Gray Maultsby, who sailed a snap over the head of punter Pierse Stainton in the second quarter.

Instead of giving up a potential safety or touchdown, Stainton picked up the dribbled snap in the end zone and attempted a punt that was blocked by Fresno State’s Ethan Thierney and recovered by FSU’s Jonathan Arceneaux at the Fresno State 10-yard line. A stuffed run, an incomplete pass and a short run by Fresno State quarterback and Phoenix native E.J. Warner forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 23-yard field goal to tie the game, 3-3.

Miami’s longest drive of the game, a seven-play, 53-yard possession, was cut short after Fresno State linebacker forced Miami running back Jordan Brunson to fumble, which was recovered by cornerback Jakari Embry at the FSU 22-yard line. Miami only had one trip to the red zone the entire game.

“That definitely shifted momentum and gave them some life,” Martin said of the fumble. “We just weren’t going to get in the plus territory many times against that defense, so we knew we had to cash in. … Big shift right there.”

Fresno State kicker Dylan Lynch made a 25-yard field at the end of the first half and the Bulldogs led 9-3 at halftime. Fresno State out-gained Miami 156-40 in the second quarter.

Even though former Arizona Wildcat and Fresno State running back Rayshon “Speedy” Luke suffered an injury in the first half and was limited throughout the game, FSU out-gained in total offense, 391-192 yards, and controlled time of possession, 38:40-21:20.

Fresno State’s only touchdown of the game was a 2-yard pass from Warner to sophomore tight end Richie Anderson III.

“Maybe we didn’t score touchdowns, but we leaned on people and we imposed on our will,” Entz said. “We got our run game going at different times. The gap-scheme stuff was really good.”

Offensive MVP

Warner, who’s the son of Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, was named MVP for the Arizona Bowl after completing 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

Warner’s top target was senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman. Fresno State’s leading receiver had seven catches for 143 yards — 109 yards after catch (YAC). Freeman had receptions of 51, 47 and 21 yards.

“Definitely the most (YAC) I’ve had,” Freeman said.

Defensive MVP

Embry entered Saturday with one career interception and he doubled it with an interception on a deep ball near the left sideline in the first quarter.

Embry, who recorded two tackles, had the momentum-shifting fumble recovery.

“The energy from that point went up,” Embry said of the fumble. “Ain’t nothing better on defense than getting a takeaway. That’s the best thing.”

Unsung hero

Lynch was 4-for-5 on field goals on Saturday. Lynch was a combined 8-for-9 in Fresno State’s final two games of the season.

Fresno State was 5-for-7 scoring in the red zone.

Extra points

— Announced attendance for the Arizona Bowl was 37,232. The attendance for the Arizona Bowl last season was 40,076.

— Miami had three players finish with double-digit tackles on Saturday: Safety Eli Blakey and linebacker Malcolm McCain each had 13 tackles and defensive back Silas Walters had 12 tackles.

— Luke, who had four carries for 14 yards, on his return to Tucson: “It felt great, seeing things I haven’t seen in almost a year. It’s a little shocking, because I never thought I’d be back here. It’s amazing.”

— Martin, on the experience at the Arizona Bowl over the last two years: “Amazing. It’s a great bowl. All the bowls are great, I’ve been around all of them, but this is as good as it gets for me, personally. Everybody treats you great, but it is above and beyond here. Everywhere you turn, someone wants to help you if you need something. … The interaction with Snoop, it’s a big deal to a lot of people, not just the players. There’s a lot of adults that are starry-eyed to be close to Snoop. … It’s the funnest football game you’ve ever been a part of.”

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