COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Tennessee Volunteers faced off against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night, but their battle for advancement in the College Football Playoff quickly unravelled, culminating in a disheartening 42-17 defeat. Compounding the disappointment was the absence of junior running back Dylan Sampson, the Southeastern Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, whose injury overshadowed the game.
Sampson was sidelined for most of the contest due to what coach Josh Heupel described as a "soft tissue" injury, which he aggravated early on. He suffered the initial injury during Tennessee's regular-season finale on November 30 against Vanderbilt, where he showcased his skills with 178 rushing yards on 25 carries, helping secure the Vols’ playoff berth. But as Sampson discovered, the playoff run would take an unexpected turn.
"End of the Vandy game, got dinged up, and it was soft tissue, and had been out the first couple weeks. We felt like he was in a good spot. Anticipated him not having the same type of load he normally would have. Just early in the game, kind of retweaked it and wasn’t available there for a long time," Heupel explained post-game.
Despite expressing optimism leading up to the game, Sampson managed just two carries for six yards before his setback. He did not return until the third quarter but was devoid of momentum and production, receiving little opportunity to impact the game.
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy underscored the pivotal void left by Sampson, stating the absence severely stunted Tennessee's offensive capability. "It shows you without Dylan Sampson, and him not having really any impact whatsoever, the team is just not where they need to be. He makes everything go," McElroy said.
Though the Volunteers still had competent backups, none could effectively fill the gap. Redshirt freshman DeSean Bishop was thrust to the forefront, running for 22 yards on seven attempts, and freshman Peyton Lewis took on more responsibility later, finishing with 77 yards on 10 carries.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava also felt the effects of Sampson's absence. Forced to take on more than anticipated, he ran 20 times for 47 yards and managed to pass for only 104 yards, failing to execute their offense effectively without their star running back.
"We knew he wasn’t at 100 percent," said offensive coordinator Joey Halzle during his post-game remarks. "Whenever he’s not 100 percent, you know, he’s SEC Offensive Player of the Year, right? He makes everything go. So losing him and actually not even having him at full speed was tough. But that's part of the job: when you're not healthy, what are you going to do to get the job done? We didn’t get it done tonight."
The defeat highlighted more than just Sampson's injury; Tennessee showcased broader issues. The Volunteers struggled to establish any ground game throughout the first half, ending their efforts with just 87 rushing yards by the start of the third quarter. Again, this lack of production reflected the challenges of executing their game plan without key personnel.
Despite trailing 21-10 at halftime and hinting at the potential to rally, especially with Iamaleava's second-quarter touchdown run, the absence of Sampson was felt intensely as Tennessee attempted to regain their footing.
To make matters worse, Iamaleava dealt with limited receiving options as well. Top receivers Squirrel White and Dont'e Thompson were also injured during the game, contributing to what became increasingly apparent: Tennessee's depth was on trial and faltering.
"Whenever you don’t have your full offense, it’s going to put us behind the eight-ball fast," admitted Iamaleava. "We struggled with execution and protection early on. It was tough. We were trying to recover from the moment they hit us back and hit us hard."
The Volunteers fell behind early to Ohio State, conceding three touchdowns within the first quarter. Their inability to keep pace was compounded by their lack of offensive production, creating pressure on their defense, which simply could not keep up with Ohio State's momentum.
Coach Heupel recognized the need for growth: "Tonight wasn't one of our best performances this year. We must continue to grow. We'll start again and begin retooling, rebuilding, and growing as a football team," he noted sharply, anticipating the off-season challenges awaiting his program.
Dylan Sampson's future looms as well. Having completed three successful seasons, he is eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft, with teams and analysts alike now reevaluatively examining his potential following this heartbreaking playoff exit.
The playoff loss has not only signaled the end of Tennessee's season but also illuminated the urgent need for the Vols to bolster their ranks. The coming months will be pivotal as they look to add dynamic playmakers through the transfer portal, learning from their painful experience against the Buckeyes.
With Tennessee’s season concluding with a 10-3 record, fans remain hopeful for a brighter future, one where they can come back stronger and compete for higher accolades. But they’ll need all hands on deck—especially one as pivotal as Dylan Sampson—if they wish to thrive on such grand stages again.
