COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State will be without four Buckeyes for its game against Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

Three of the four players have already been ruled out for the season during the year.

The full unavailability list can be found below:

• RB TC Caffey (season)
• QB Mason Maggs
• C Seth McLaughlin (Season)
• OT Josh Simmons (season)

McLaughlin tore his Achilles tendon in practice earlier this year and Simmons suffered a knee injury.

Ohio State vs. Tennessee at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, kickoff is scheduled for 8:10 p.m

The Ohio State-Tennessee game can be watched on ABC/ESPN. Chris Fowler will conduct play-by-play and Kirk Herbstreit will serve as analyst. Holly Rowe will report from the sidelines.

The game can be heard on radio in the Columbus area on 97.1 The Fan and throughout the national Ohio State Sports Network. Paul Keels, Jim Lachey and Clay Hall will describe the action, with Skip Mosic serving as producer and host.

Following the game, you can watch postgame interviews with Ryan Day, assistant coaches and Ohio State players on 10TV+ or via the 10TV News mobile app.

BetMGM college football odds: Ohio State has the edge over Tennessee by 7.

Ohio State offensive line vs. Tennessee defensive front. The Buckeyes’ O-line has been reshuffled several times due to injuries, perhaps most importantly center Seth McLaughlin. The weaknesses became apparent when Ohio State repeatedly failed to run the ball against Michigan. Tennessee boasts one of the best defensive lines in the country, including defensive end James Pearce Jr., a potential first-round NFL draft pick.

Tennessee: QB Nico Iamaleava opened 2024 leading the Vols to a loss to Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. Now the redshirt freshman will play in the biggest game ever, and Iamaleava turns in one of his best performances of the season. Four of his eleven wins came against teams that were ranked at kickoff. He threw for 2,512 yards with 19 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.

Ohio State: Buckeyes QB Will Howard will try to get the ball to freshman WR Jeremiah Smith, who has been great this season. He had 934 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns but played no role in the 13-10 loss to Michigan.

• Tennessee defeated Ohio State 20-14 in the 1996 Citrus Bowl, the only time these programs had played before.
• This will be the first game Tennessee has ever played at Ohio State.
• This will be the first game in the venue’s 102-year history to be played at Ohio Stadium in December.
• Vols coach Josh Heupel is 30-8 since the start of the 2022 season. These 30 wins are the most since Tennessee won 30 games between the 1998 and 2000 seasons.
• Tennessee is fourth nationally giving up 13.9 points and 278.3 total yards per game. The Vols ranked eighth in rushing defense (99.6 yards per game). The Vols allowed 18 offensive touchdowns this season, third-fewest in the FBS.
• They allowed three plays of 40 yards or more all season, the second fewest, behind only two such plays allowed by Ohio State.
• Howard is one of the most efficient passers in school history. The Kansas State transfer completed 80% of his passes six times this season. For the season, his completion percentage is 72.3%, which ranks fourth nationally.
• Only two players who started on Ohio State’s offensive line in the season opener remain on the roster due to injuries.
• Ohio State is No. 1 in the country in total defense, allowing 241.1 yards per game. The Buckeyes rank second behind Texas in pass defense and seventh in run defense.
• ESPN’s College GameDay will air before the game in Columbus. This is the 63rd time the show has aired from the Ohio State campus.