Big play after big play.
The 8-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes utilized a quick-striking offense to dismantle the No. 1 Oregon Ducks’ defense during Wednesday’s Rose Bowl.
Fueled by quarterback Will Howard, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and running back TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes registered 31 unanswered points in the opening 21 minutes to earn a 41-21 victory.
Howard completed 17 of 26 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, Smith compiled seven catches for 187 yards and two TDs and Henderson added 94 yards on just eight carries and two scores to pace the Buckeyes in a dominating CFP quarterfinal performance.
The Big Ten-champion Ducks’ unbeaten aspirations were quickly dashed. They finished the season with 13 wins in 14 outings.
The Buckeyes (12-2), however, continue their post-Michigan humiliation revenge tour with a date against the Texas Longhorns in a CFP semifinal, Cotton Bowl matchup on Jan. 10.
X (Twitter) users responded to this year’s beautiful, pre-game bliss of the Rose Bowl …
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO OF THE ROSE BOWL BEFORE THE OREGON – OHIO STATE GAME.
EVERY YEAR. THE BEST PHOTO. pic.twitter.com/EhGcG2SjF3
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 1, 2025
Until Oregon absorbed its first hit from Ohio State on Wednesday, that is …
Oregon rn pic.twitter.com/BbuLi4jShN
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 1, 2025
The Ducks, however, did look good together in pregame warmups …
Might be the prettiest video I’ve ever taken. #goducks #gobucks #rosebowl #cfp https://t.co/uCraldsxme pic.twitter.com/yhJcHDuq7I
— Bri Amaranthus (@BriAmaranthus) January 1, 2025
But the Buckeyes looked better from the opening kickoff …
LEAVING LA WITH SOME HARDWARE 🏆
THE GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL 🌹 pic.twitter.com/OeC5JWPbiP— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 2, 2025
The beatdown started early. Three plays into the “Grandaddy of them All,” Howard hit Smith for a 45-yard touchdown. It was a taste of what was to become Duck soup …
Oregon not covering Jeremiah Smith is a bold strategy. pic.twitter.com/mk6mc9f1Nn
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) January 1, 2025
Three plays into the Buckeyes’ third possession, Howard connected with Emeka Egbuka for a 42-yard TD and a 14-0 first-quarter lead. The Buckeyes’ quick-strike offense was just gearing up …
Will Howard DOT to Emeka Egbuka and Ohio State leads Oregon 14-0 👀
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) January 1, 2025
After settling for a field goal following a 10-play drive, Howard needed only two plays as the Buckeyes claimed a 24-0 advantage, capped by 43-yard pass to Smith …
Oregon better figure out who Jeremiah Smith is or they will be in the Guinness book of world records pic.twitter.com/ZWd2T5D37h
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) January 1, 2025
Taking advantage of the Buckeyes’ defense holding the Ducks to their third three-and-out, first-half possession, Henderson run for 66 yards for a score on the first play of the next series, extending the lead to 31-0 at 8:47 of the second quarter …
Ohio State is beating the wheels off of Oregon
31-0 and it's not even halfway through Q2 pic.twitter.com/QO5LCT4LGy
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) January 1, 2025
The Ducks’ defense held the Buckeyes to a field goal following a 10-play drive and quarterback Dillon Gabriel finally started finding his groove. The midseason Heisman Trophy candidate engineered a 10-play scoring drive, finding Traeshon Holden for a 5-yard TD pass on the first half’s final play, plus the 2-point conversion …
Touchdown!@_dillongabriel_ hits @Traeski11 for the TD and then @justiius for the two-point conversion.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/F7Kkl2AFDh
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) January 1, 2025
King James enjoyed the first half …
No. 8 Ohio State leads No. 1 Oregon 34-8 at the half 😳 pic.twitter.com/NjFxs9vc92
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2025
King James probably didn’t like how the second half started. Gabriel led Oregon on an 11-play scoring drive, capped by Noah Whittington’s 2-yard run, cutting the deficit to 34-15 …
noah whittington touchdown pic.twitter.com/7A3SObTeZt
— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) January 2, 2025
After yielding 15 consecutive points, Henderson effectively clinched – as if there were any doubt since the 21-minute mark – a semifinal bid with an 8-yard TD run. With 2:19 left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes led, 41-15 ….
TREVEYON HENDERSON SCORES AGAIN!
Ohio State takes full control. pic.twitter.com/swgcrBG5bO
— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) January 2, 2025
Final score: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21 …
OHIO STATE GETS ITS REVENGE OVER OREGON 🌹
The Buckeyes advance to the CFP semifinals and will face Texas‼️ pic.twitter.com/4KdxeNeIr2
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2025
