No. 6 Ohio State Dominates Top Ranked Oregon 41-21 in Rose Bowl to Reach CFP Semifinals

Published at: January 2, 2025 7:22 AM

Updated at: January 2, 2025 7:26 AM

Ohio State Dominates Oregon to Advance to College Football Playoff Semifinals

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Ohio State coach Ryan Day reminded his players that second chances are rare, and the Buckeyes seized theirs in the Rose Bowl. After falling short in key games during the regular season, Ohio State played with purpose, defeating top-ranked Oregon 41-21 to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

The Buckeyes came out strong, scoring on six of their first seven drives. Freshman standout Jeremiah Smith caught two touchdown passes from Will Howard, and TreVeyon Henderson added a 66-yard touchdown run to give Ohio State a commanding 34-0 lead in the first half. Howard threw for 319 yards, and Emeka Egbuka also caught a long touchdown pass.

Ohio State’s offensive explosion was paired with a dominant defensive performance. They sacked Oregon’s Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel eight times, a sharp improvement from their earlier matchup. Despite Oregon's efforts, including two touchdown passes from Gabriel to Traeshon Holden, the Ducks struggled to match Ohio State's intensity.

“I’m proud of the resilience of these guys,” Day said. “We’ve still got more football ahead.”

Smith had an outstanding debut, catching seven passes for 187 yards, and his performance drew comparisons to past legendary Rose Bowl showings. Oregon’s season ended with its first loss, while Ohio State moves on to the Cotton Bowl on January 10 to face No. 4 Texas for a chance at the national title.

“This was our chance to show who we really are,” Egbuka said. "We stayed true to ourselves.”

Ohio State’s dominant victory over Oregon solidified their place as one of the top teams in college football.