Ohio State looks to shake off hefty SEC struggles in playoff game

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State will enter its first-round playoff game Saturday against Tennessee looking to shake off a dubious decade-long streak.

The Buckeyes have not defeated a Southeastern Conference team since 2015 and have a 2-13 record all-time against the SEC in bowl and playoff games. Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium against the Volunteers will be the latest chance for them to get the SEC monkey off their backs.

This will be the fourth time this decade the Buckeyes have faced an SEC team in the postseason, with the last three including two forgettable losses and one with midnight heartbreak. The Buckeyes' last win against the SEC was an upset that sparked a national championship run, something they hope to recreate this year.

Here is a look back at recent Ohio State games against the SEC.

Dec. 29, 2023: Missouri 14, Ohio State 3 (Cotton Bowl)

After losing to Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes dropped out of the playoff conversation and were slated to face Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. The day after the bowl game matchup was confirmed, starting quarterback Kyle McCord announced he would transfer from Ohio State.

Coach Ryan Day turned to Devin Brown. Ohio State took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter before Brown got injured early in the second quarter. Day put freshman Lincoln Kienholz under center, shrinking the playbook options significantly.

The game was not exactly exciting, to put it nicely, with both offenses sputtering drive after drive. The Tigers scored a touchdown to start the fourth quarter and sealed the win with a second TD to hand Ohio State its third straight loss against an SEC team and close out its worst bowl performance since 2016.

Dec. 31, 2022: Georgia 42, Ohio State 41 (playoff semifinal at Peach Bowl)

The Buckeyes were fortunate to get into the 2022 playoff field despite a loss to Michigan at home. Ohio State was given the last spot at No. 4 after USC's loss to Utah in the Pac-12 championship, setting up a semifinal against SEC champion Georgia in Atlanta.

The New Year's Eve showdown became an instant classic, with quarterback C.J. Stroud dropping dimes to receivers, including two first-half touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. Georgia's offense also could not be stopped, and the two-loss Buckeyes led undefeated Georgia 28-24 at halftime.

Ohio State then opened the lead to 14 points thanks to another Stroud touchdown pass and a Noah Ruggles field goal in the third quarter. The Bulldogs took over in the fourth quarter, erasing the deficit and taking a one-point lead with 54 seconds left.

Stroud used his arm and running ability to put Ruggles in position to kick a 50-yard field goal. As the clock struck midnight, Buckeyes fans started the new year with heartbreak as Ruggles' kick shanked wide left.

Jan. 11, 2021: Alabama 52, Ohio State 24 (national title game)

The COVID-19 shortened season gave us something we probably won't see again: a 7-0 team making the national championship game. Ohio State played just six regular-season games, but an undefeated record got the Buckeyes into the playoff. After a 49-28 demolition of Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, OSU was set to face SEC winner Alabama for the national championship.

Things started off strong for the Buckeyes in Miami as they traded two touchdowns with Alabama after the first 20 minutes. With the score tied at 14, the Crimson Tide's pummeling began as Mac Jones threw three touchdown passes in the last nine minutes of the second quarter, including two to Heisman winner DeVonta Smith.

Quarterback Justin Fields and the Buckeyes had no response. Alabama went on to win its 18th national championship and third in the playoff era.

Jan. 1, 2015: Ohio State 42, Alabama 35 (playoff semifinal at Sugar Bowl)

It's been nearly 10 years since Ohio State's last win against an SEC team, and it is among the most iconic wins in program history. The Buckeyes entered the inaugural College Football Playoff as a large underdog with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones set to lead Ohio State against No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

The Crimson Tide boasted a staked lineup featuring future NFL players such as receiver Amari Cooper, defensive end Jonathan Allen and cornerback Eddie Jackson. But Ohio State had its own lineup of future NFL stars, including running back Ezekiel Elliott, receiver Michael Thomas and defensive end Joey Bosa.

After going down 21-6 early in the second quarter, Ohio State turned a corner with two late touchdowns before halftime to only trail by one at the break. Jones showed off his cannon arm at the start of the second half with a 47-yard bomb to Devin Smith for a touchdown, swinging the momentum fully for the Buckeyes.

A 47-yard interception return by Steve Miller and an 85-yard run by Elliott for touchdowns highlighted the upset. The Buckeyes became legendary after defeating Oregon 42-20 in the national title game to win the first College Football Playoff.

Jan. 1, 1996: Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14 (Citrus Bowl)

Nineteen years before Ohio State's Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, an 11-1 Buckeyes squad traveled to Orlando, Florida, to face a 10-1 Tennessee team in the Citrus Bowl. The inaugural and most recent meeting of the two schools featured two future NFL stars.

Ohio State opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Eddie George, fresh off his Heisman Trophy win. A 69-yard TD run by Volunteers back Jay Graham tied things up at half before Tennessee's QB turned things on.

Sophomore and future NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning threw his lone TD pass less than two minutes into the second half to Joey Kent. Buckeyes quarterback Bobby Hoying tied the score with a TD pass to Rickey Dudley to begin the fourth quarter. Tennessee earned the win with two late field goals.