Ohio State vs. Tennessee score, live updates: College Football Playoff first round

It's a quick possession to open the third quarter for the Vols. They were trying to establish the run game on that drive and it didn't work out too well.

Will Tennessee keep it rolling and deliver the biggest comeback in College Football Playoff history?

Buckeyes kicker Jayden Fielding had a shot at extending the lead as time expired, but his 56-yard try wasn't close.

The Vols have finally found the end zone with just 20 seconds left in the first half after a short run by Nico Iamaleava.

OSU 21, Tennessee 10

Tennessee is past midfield now with just under 2 minutes left in the opening half.

Tennessee is going to have a shot at eating into the Buckeyes' lead before halftime after holding strong and forcing a punt.

Tennessee's drive fizzled out after the penalty and the Vols had to settle for a short field goal by Max Gilbert.

OSU 21, Tennessee 3

The Buckeyes had an interception but a Tennessee defender was given a roughing-the-passer penalty after landing on Nico Iamaleava.

The Vols are inside the red zone after the controversial penalty.

Now it's Tennessee's turn to deliver some chunk plays. Nico Iamaleava just found 2 different receivers for long gains and the Vols are past midfield.

Will Howard was trying to find Jeremiah Smith for another touchdown but the freshman wasn't able to hold onto the ball and Tennessee's Will Brooks made a spectacular play to get a foot down in the end zone for the pick.

After a short review, the call on the field of an interception stands. What a play by Brooks!

The Buckeyes were facing a fourth-and-3 at midfield when Jeremiah Smith caught a crossing route and made a nice move to extend the drive.

It's been all Buckeyes early in this one.

Total yards so far...
Ohio State: 205
Tennessee: -3

Nico Iamaleava made consecutive first downs with his legs, but Ohio State's defense firmed up when it needed to and the Vols punt it back to the Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes are off to a flying start in Columbus. The latest score comes via the legs of TreVeyon Henderson, who bolted around the edge for a 29-yard touchdown run.

OSU 21, Tennessee 0

The Buckeyes are driving for another score. They're inside the UT 30 after a long pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka.

The Buckeyes are cooking with gas early in Columbus! Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka on a deep pass to get inside the UT 5-yard line and then Quinshon Judkins finished things off from there with a short run.

OSU 14, Tennessee 0

The Vols can't get anything going with their opening possession and punt it right back to the Buckeyes.

Who else but Jeremiah Smith to get things started for the Buckeyes! Will Howard dropped in a perfect deep ball and the freshman phenom comes down with it for a 37-yard touchdown!

OSU 7, Tennessee 0

The Buckeyes are nearing the red zone now after a long pass from Will Howard to TreVeyon Henderson.

We are underway in Columbus. The Buckeyes will have the ball first. You would think it's a Tennessee home game with how loud the Vols fans are as this thing gets going.

Here's where we stand with three playoff games in the books:

For the CFP nightcap we head to Columbus, where Tennessee fans are making their presence known:

The Longhorns earn a spot in the quarterfinals, where they'll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

Arch Manning fumbles the snap and fails to convert what would have been the game-clinching first down for the Longhorns. One last gasp for the Tigers here.

Texas is methodically moving the chains and keeping the clock moving.

We're at the 2-minute timeout and the Longhorns still have the ball. This one is all but over.

The Tigers get stopped on two straight runs at the 1.

Massive stop for Texas, which takes over with 7:24 to play.

Cade Klubnik is throwing it all over the yard and he's led the Tigers inside the 5-yard line, but Clemson just burned a timeout before facing a 3rd and goal.

Longhorns RBs today:

Jaydon Blue: 12 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs

Quintrevion Wisner: 12 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs

Jaydon Blue unleashes a 77-yard TD run!

Instant answer for the Longhorns, who are right back to a 2-TD lead.

Cade Klubnik finds T.J. Moore in the end zone on a 4th and 6 pass. The clutch play makes it a one-score game. We've got a ballgame here in Austin early in the 4th!

Texas 31, Clemson 24

A Longhorns drive makes it into Clemson territory by Quinn Ewers throws incomplete on 4th and 2.

Clemson takes over with a chance to cut further into the lead.

That happened fast. Two big pass plays and the Tigers are in the end zone.

Cade Klubnik fired it to Jarvis Green for a 25-yard score, and Clemson has life!

Texas 31, Clemson 17

Cade Klubnik took an ugly sack, fumbling it away before his teammate eventually recovered, and that pretty much killed another drive for the Tigers.

Texas gets it back.

Only so many more chances for Clemson to try to get back into this game.

Bert Auburn hits from 22 yards to extend the Longhorns' lead.

Texas got near the goal line after a PI call, but unable to get into the end zone.

Manning had already entered the game earlier for a handoff, but this time he drops back to pass and ends up scrambling for a first down on a 3rd-and-1 play.

Texas receives the 2nd-half kickoff and will try to extend its lead here.

The Texas offense is putting on a clinic so far. Can Clemson do anything to stop it in the second half or are we looking at a third straight playoff blowout?

Quinn Ewers fires it to Gunnar Helm for a 19-yard TD toss. Big answer for the Longhorns following the turnover. And they extend their lead right before halftime.

Texas 28, Clemson 10

Nolan Hauser knocks it in from 32 yards and Clemson cuts into the lead a bit.

Texas 21, Clemson 10 | 1:33 in 2nd

Quinn Ewers' pass is picked off by Clemson's R.J. Mickens after the ball bounced off a receiver's hands.

The ball was actually returned to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back on an illegal blindside block.

Either way, a huge play for Clemson, which takes over at its own 46.

Ever since its opening-drive TD, Clemson's offense hasn't been able to do much.

Here's how its drives have ended since then:

• Punt

• Punt

• Interception

• Punt

Clemson gets a defensive stop it desperately needed, stuffing Jaydon Blue on a 4th down run at the 18-yard line.

Cade Klubnik's pass is deflected into the air and Texas' Collin Simmons comes down with it.

The momentum is VERY much with the burnt orange right now.

Texas already has 122 net rushing yards, averaging 7.7 yards per rush.

Longhorns have 3 rushing TDs on 3 offensive drives so far.

It's Quintrevion Wisner into the end zone again, this one from 16 yards out. The O-line opened up a gaping hole for him to run through.

Longhorns are cooking so far, and running the ball at will.

Texas 21, Clemson 7

This time the Longhorns move quickly as Jaydon Blue busts a 38-yard TD run down the sideline.

That was a 5-play, 65-yard drive on ALL RUNS.

Just like that the Longhorns lead 14-7.

The Tigers opted to kick it away on 4th and about a foot from their own 34-yard line.

Playing it safe early in this one.