What's at stake for Tennessee vs. Ohio State in the College Football Playoff first round?

The 12-team College Football Playoff format has opened us up to some pretty interesting inter-conference matchups. Tennessee vs. Ohio State on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium looks like one of them.

This is the headlining team of the Big Ten in Ohio State, going up against one of the ascending teams of the SEC in Tennessee. These teams have only played once in their history. The last time was in 1996 when Tennessee beat OSU 20-14.

Now, Josh Heupel and Ryan Day will both look to lead their teams through to the next round of the CFP and a bit closer to that elusive title that both sides are searching for.

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For Heupel and Tennessee, the CFP is a chance to prove that the Volunteers are not only ascending, but belong in discussions about the best team in the conference. The Vols have gone 37-14 in Heupel’s three seasons as the team’s head coach and have won two of the program’s three bowl appearances. A win here boosts Tennessee’s profile and stamps it as one of the premier teams in the SEC.

Things do not appear as they seem for Ryan Day and Ohio State. Despite relative success, this situation feels ripe for a shakeup. The Buckeyes have been to the CFP seven times, four of which were under Day, who is 66-10 as OSU’s head coach.

However, four of those 10 losses have been to Michigan. That’s a big no-no for Ohio State. Plus, he’s yet to win a championship at Ohio State. It’s hard to fire a guy with such a sublime record, but I’m sure some at Ohio State might make the case following an early CFP exit.

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