Jeremiah Smith caught two of Will Howard’s three landing passes throughout Ohio State’s sensational 34-point first half, and the Buckeyes stormed into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 41-21 win over Oregon within the 111th recreation of the Rose Bowl on Wednesday evening.
Howard handed for 319 yards, Emeka Egbuka additionally caught an extended landing go and TreVeyon Henderson threw a 66-yard landing in a Redemptive Rose Bowl for the Buckeyes (12-2, CFP No. 8 seed), whose efficiency within the greatest video games has at occasions fallen in need of their formidable expertise this season.
“You can see the potential of the place we’re, after we play all three phases like we now have,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned.
After painful common season losses to Oregon and MichiganOhio State took second possibilities created by the primary 12-team CFP. Facing the event’s No. 1 seed, the Granddaddy of all of them, the Buckeyes scored on six of their first seven drives to take a 34-0 lead late within the second quarter over the nation’s solely undefeated crew – and the second Henderson’s landing got here late within the third basically placing it away.
Ohio State will journey to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 to face No. 4 Texas for a spot within the nationwide title recreation. The Longhorns had simply superior Wednesday, holding off Arizona State 39-31 in a Peach Bowl with double extra time.
“I’m pleased with the resilience of those children,” Day mentioned. “We nonetheless have numerous soccer forward of us.”
Dillon Gabriel handed for 299 yards and hit Traeshon Holden for 2 touchdowns for the Ducks (13-1, No. 1 seed within the CFP), whose desires of their first nationwide title had been crushed on the well-known Rose Bowl turf. Oregon’s 14-game profitable streak additionally ended.
Eleven days after defeating Tennessee to open the playoffs, Ohio State dominated a rematch of those Big Ten groups’ regular-season thriller, received 32-31 by the Ducks in Eugene on Oct. 12. The Ohio State protection that did not sack Gabriel within the groups’ first assembly misplaced the Heisman Trophy finalist eight occasions within the rematch.
Smith, the Buckeyes’ freshman playmaker, had a notable bowl debut with seven receptions for 187 yards, together with 5 receptions for 161 yards within the first half alone, catching passes of 45 and 43 yards.
Ohio State turned the CFP’s most anticipated quarterfinal matchup into one lengthy celebration on the Rose Bowl, which has hosted a number of thrilling and shut video games in current Januarys. This pitted two extensively thought-about powerhouse packages with the highest two groups remaining within the inaugural 12-team playoff, however the Buckeyes scored early and infrequently within the Rose Bowl.
The Big Ten champion Ducks did not make any offensive progress till they trailed by 34 factors, failing to create any of the large performs that led the Ducks to the victory in Eugene.
After the standard pre-game present underneath a 70-degree solar in venerable Arroyo Seco Stadium, Ohio State wanted simply three performs and 49 seconds to strike first. Howard threw a brief play-action display go to Smith, who ran by way of Oregon’s secondary for a 45-yard rating.
On the Buckeyes’ third drive, Howard threw an impressive lengthy go over three Ducks sprinting Egbuka for a 42-yard landing. Howard completed the primary quarter with a career-best 212 yards passing, topping his 160 yards throughout Ohio State’s sizzling begin in opposition to Tennessee.
Early within the second quarter, Smith acquired so open close to the Ducks’ aim line that he had two seconds to stabilize himself underneath Howard’s lengthy throw like a winger on a fly ball, scoring a 42-yard landing with out being touched.
When Henderson busted a 66-yard landing run down the Oregon sideline for a 31-0 lead, either side of the Rose Bowl had been stuffed with disbelief.
Oregon lastly began its ultimate drive earlier than halftime. Gabriel discovered Holden for a 5-yard TD go, and the Ducks added a two-point conversion to salvage one thing from their terrible half.
The Ducks drove for Noah Whittington’s 2-yard landing run to open the second half, marking the primary third-quarter landing allowed all season by Ohio State. Oregon even compelled a punt moments later to boost faint hope in its followers, however Ohio State’s protection pushed the Buckeyes again for a punt earlier than Howard’s group methodically drove for Henderson’s second landing .
Takeaway
Ohio State: The Buckeyes’ full drive of expertise has been on show over the previous two weeks after falling quick twice within the common season. The 12-team playoffs opened up the potential for redemption. This group is taking it over and it is terribly enjoyable to observe.
Oregon: Having greater than three weeks off with the first-round bye proved harmful for the Ducks. This baffling flop does not fully break a breakthrough debut within the Big Ten, however the season will at all times be a missed alternative in Oregon historical past.
Next
Ohio State: The Cotton Bowl can be a preview of each groups’ 2025 season openers, as Texas visits Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30.
Oregon: The 2025 season opener is at house in opposition to Montana State, which can face North Dakota State within the FCS title recreation on Monday evening.
Associated Press reporting.
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