COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State will play Tennessee for just the second time when the teams meet at Ohio Stadium in the College Football Playoff.

The programs are set to face off at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 in a first-round game, with the winner advancing to the Rose Bowl against No. 1 Oregon. Things have changed a lot since the Buckeyes last played the Volunteers in the 1996 Citrus Bowl, when their starting quarterback was sophomore Peyton Manning.

Here is what to know about the Vols.

How did they make the playoff?

Tennessee began the season ranked 15th in the Associated Press preseason poll but had aspirations to make its first playoff and be among the cream of the crop in the Southeastern Conference. The nation was able to see the effectiveness of the Tennessee offense on Sept. 7 in a 51-10 win over N.C. State.

After scoring 191 points over three nonconference games, the Volunteers started conference play with a 25-15 win at Oklahoma. The hype went down a peg the following week with a shocking 19-14 loss to Arkansas, sending them plummeting down the national rankings.

In what turned out to be a playoff decider, the Volunteers snatched a program-defining win Oct. 19 at home over Alabama 24-17. It was just the second time since 2007 that Tennessee had beaten the Crimson Tide.

That victory was part of a four-game winning streak that was snapped by Georgia on Nov. 16 in a 31-17 loss. The Volunteers didn’t let the defeat break their confidence. Wins over UTEP and Vanderbilt, coupled with Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma, helped the Vols secure an at-large playoff bid ]with a 10-2 record.

Key players

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava: The redshirt freshman quarterback from California has been one of the most poised at his position this season. Iamaleava enters the game with over 2,500 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes and just five interceptions. Although he doesn’t pad the stat sheet like other QBs, his consistency often puts Tennessee in a winning position.

Running Back Dylan Sampson: Ohio State will face off against a top-10 running back for the first time this season. The wicked quick junior has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards, with 22 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 nationally in both categories.

Defensive lineman James Pearce Jr.: The junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, leads Tennessee with 7.5 sacks and is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft. If Pearce can get past the injury-riddled Ohio State offensive line and pressure quarterback Will Howard, it could be a long day for the Buckeyes.

Recent postseason history

Since its last national championship in 1998, Tennessee has been a bridesmaid in the SEC. The program has produced great talent and had memorable seasons but has not reached many major bowl games or competed for a national championship.

The Volunteers have won five of their last six nonvacated bowl games but find themselves in unchartered territory against the Buckeyes. The SEC’s lack of cold weather locations will make the game at Ohio Stadium an uncomfortable environment.

With the seventh-best odds to win the national championship, the Volunteers have the talent and experience against tough competition (Alabama and Georgia) to beat a Buckeyes team looking to regain energy after a loss to Michigan.