The College Football Playoffs’ opening round closes out with a highly-anticipated matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Ohio State Buckeyes. With this game happening in the middle of December, weeks after the transfer portal opened, have both teams been affected with any opt-outs?
Top Tennessee Players Not Playing in College Football Playoffs
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Volunteers won’t be in action in the playoffs.
Tennessee has been hit hard by the portal, at least in volume.
- Nathan Leacock, WR (transfer portal)
- Nate Spillman, WR (transfer portal)
- Cameron Seldon, RB (transfer portal)
- Luke Shouse, TE (transfer portal)
- Chas Nimrod, WR (transfer portal)
- Ryan Damron, QB (transfer portal)
- Jordan Matthews, CB (transfer portal)
- Jalen Smith, LB (transfer portal)
- Kaleb Webb, WR (transfer portal)
- Khalifa Keith, RB (transfer portal)
- Vysen Lang, iOL (transfer portal)
But in impact, rather, the Vols may be perfectly fine. The receiving quartet of Leacock, Spillman, Nimrod, and Webb combined for 17 receptions, but did not register a touchdown in 2024.
Seldon was a decent fourth running back for the Vols, but played sparingly with just 23 carries this year.
On defense, the loss of Jalen Smith is relatively big as he was eighth in total tackles for Tennessee this season. Matthews broke up two passes, but Smith’s value was as a vital depth piece for the second level.
Despite 11 players in the portal, Tennessee shouldn’t feel the effects of their loss very much.
As far as Tennessee’s injuries, that’s a different story.
- WR Dont’e Thornton Jr.: Questionable – Upper Body – 12/17/24
- WR Squirrel White: Questionable – Arm – 12/17/24
- WR Bru McCoy: Questionable – Lower Body – 12/16/24
- RB Peyton Lewis: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- DB Christian Charles: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- LB Keenan Pili: out for season – Knee – 10/16/24
- DL Emmanuel Okoye: Out for season – Undisclosed – 10/6/24
- DB Jourdan Thomas: out for season – Knee – 8/9/24
These injuries, sadly, are nothing new for the Vols, but they’ll hope to have all three receivers back for the Ohio State game.
Top Ohio State Players Not Playing in College Football Playoffs
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Buckeyes won’t be in action in the playoffs.
OSU’s list isn’t as long as Tennessee’s but it certainly is similar in effect.
- Jayden Bonsu, S (transfer portal)
- Air Noland, QB (transfer portal)
- Miles Walker, OT (transfer portal)
- Devin Brown, QB (transfer portal)
- Kojo Antwi, WR (transfer portal)
- Jayden Ballard, WR (transfer portal)
- Gabe Powers, LB (transfer portal)
Only Brown played any meaningful snaps, but his snaps and statistics came in relief of Will Howard at quarterback. The Buckeyes should be at full strength — at least in terms of no Ohio State opt-outs, as their injury history this season has been well documented.
Ohio State’s injury report, however, indicates how much this team has battled through it this year.
- WR Nolan Baudo: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- LB Mitchell Melton: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- TE Jace Middleton: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- OL Zen Michalski: Questionable – Lower Body – 12/16/24
- TE Will Kacmarek: Questionable – Undisclosed – 12/16/24
- OL Seth McLaughlin: out for season – Achilles – 11/21/24
- OL Josh Simmons: out of season – Knee – 10/22/24
- RB Rashid SeSay: Out indefinitely – Undisclosed – 11/23/24
- WR Reis Stocksdale: Out indefinitely – Undisclosed – 11/30/24
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