No. 9 seed Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) will play No. 8 seed Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Kickoff between the Vols and Buckeyes is slated for 8 p.m. EST at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. ABC will televise the contest.
The winner of Saturday’s game will advance to the Rose Bowl to play No. 1 seed Oregon (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten).
The last time the Vols played for an opportunity to appear in the Rose Bowl was during the 2001 season. Tennessee, however, lost to LSU, 31-20, in the SEC championship game.
Tennessee’s loss cost the Vols a chance to play for a BCS national championship against Miami in Pasadena, California.
Tennessee led the Tigers, 17-10, at halftime. The Vols only scored three points after halftime, a 21-yard field goal by Alex Walls in the fourth quarter.
LSU backup quarterback Matt Mauck replaced starter Rohan Davey, who was injured.
Mauck completed 5-of-15 passing attempts for 67 yards. He also recorded 43 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts. He was named MVP of the game.
Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen completed 27-of-43 passing attempts for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Kelley Washington and Troy Fleming each had one touchdown reception in the contest.
Tennessee finished the season with a 11-2 record (7-1 SEC). After not making the Rose Bowl, the Vols defeated Michigan, 45-17, in the Citrus Bowl.
23 years later, the Vols and fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel will compete Saturday for an opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl.
Tennessee last played in the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1, 1945 against USC (L, 25-0). The Vols also played USC on Jan. 1, 1940 in their other Rose Bowl appearance (L, 14-0).
