Not even the Granddaddy of Them All can remain unchanged by the 12-team College Football Playoff.
No. 1 Oregon and No. 6 Ohio State arrived in Southern California only three days before their showdown Wednesday in the 111th edition of the Rose Bowl Game — and both teams firmly declare they’re on a business trip, since this beloved postseason event is now a CFP quarterfinal hopefully leading to two more games.
Second Chance
Before the 12-team playoff, teams rarely got a chance to correct a mistake or avenge a heartbreaking loss later in a season. This postseason format increases the chance for rematches, and that’s exactly what the Buckeyes got. One Ohio State player in particular still thinks about that 32-31 loss in Eugene. Quarterback Will Howard drove the Buckeyes downfield in the final 1:47 and scrambled into field-goal range, but he didn’t slide down before the clock ran out.
Big Production
Although both teams boast formidable defenses, nobody would be surprised by an offensive shootout led by experienced quarterbacks Howard and Dillon Gabriel. Ohio State is averaging 36.0 points per game, while Oregon is putting up 35.9. The Ducks’ offense relies on an improved offensive line to clear paths for leading rusher Jordan James and to provide time for Gabriel to find top receiver Tez Johnson amid the Buckeyes’ inconsistent secondary.
Big Shoes to Fill
Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith is already among the nation’s top playmakers, and he will face Oregon’s formidable defense in his first bowl game. He’ll also do it in the stadium where Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba set Rose Bowl records three years ago with 15 catches for 347 yards — the most in any bowl game in FBS history — and three touchdowns.
Familiar Foes
Oregon and Ohio State are meeting for the third time in the Rose Bowl, where Terrelle Pryor quarterbacked the Buckeyes to victory in 2010. Ohio State also beat Oregon in the first CFP championship game in 2014, but the Ducks have since beaten the Buckeyes in 2021 and again this season.
Advancement
The winner moves on to face Peach Bowl participants Texas or Arizona State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
Conclusion
The Rose Bowl, once the culmination of the college football season, is now a CFP quarterfinal, and the traditional pageantry may be curtailed, but the game itself remains unchanged. The Ducks and the Buckeyes will face off in a rematch of one of the best games of 2024, hoping to create a classic in the CFP’s most anticipated quarterfinal matchup.
FAQs
Q: How did Oregon and Ohio State arrive in the Rose Bowl?
A: Both teams arrived in Southern California only three days before their showdown Wednesday in the 111th edition of the Rose Bowl Game.
Q: Why is this matchup significant?
A: This is a rematch of one of the best games of 2024, and the winner will move on to face Peach Bowl participants Texas or Arizona State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
Q: What are the expectations for this game?
A: Many observers think the Ducks and the Buckeyes are the two best teams in the nation, and any frustration from the unbeaten Ducks about drawing such a difficult matchup so early in their quest for their first national title is overridden by excitement.
