PASADENA, Calif. — With a 1-4 report in opposition to rival Michigan and no Big Ten title since 2020, Ohio State coach Ryan Day has faced plenty of pressure this season from his own fan base. It’s protected to say he has quieted these critics up to now within the College Football Playoff.
Two weeks after they beat Tennessee 42-17 within the opening spherical, the Buckeyes dominated top-ranked Oregon 41-21 within the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. Ohio State will face Texas within the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 for a spot within the nationwide championship.
“In this recreation there are ups and downs alongside the best way,” Day mentioned after the sport. “When issues are going good, you have to hug the fellows you’re keen on essentially the most, and when issues aren’t, you have to hug them even tougher. You simply hold in there and maintain swinging.”
The Buckeyes cruised in opposition to the Ducks from the sport’s opening drive, discovering the top zone in simply three performs. After Ohio State quarterback Will Howard hit Gee Scott Jr. with a 30-yard cross, he related with star receiver Jeremiah Smith for a 45-yard rating.
The Buckeyes didn’t look again from there. They would go on to attain the following 27 factors — landing receptions for Smith and Emeka Egbuka and a 66-yard run up the proper sideline by TreVeyon Henderson — for a commanding 34-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Oregon followers, used to watching one of many higher-scoring offenses in school soccer, had been surprised.
The Ducks lastly obtained on the board on the ultimate play of the primary half, a 5-yard landing cross from quarterback Dillon Gabriel to Traeshon Holden. Oregon obtained the 2-point conversion and scored on the opening drive of the second half to chop the result in 19 factors, nevertheless it finally proved an excessive amount of to beat.
Gabriel threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns however struggled early, notably on third down. Oregon had 19 third-down alternatives and transformed on simply eight.
“You plan to create explosives, be actually good on situational soccer and transfer the chains that means,” Gabriel mentioned. “We simply did not try this on third down. They had an incredible plan, however in the event you do not go get the third down, you’ll be able to’t transfer ahead.”
Howard completed with 319 passing yards and three touchdowns for the Buckeyes. Smith, solely a freshman but thought-about arguably the highest receiver within the nation, had seven receptions for 187 yards and two scores. He was named the Offensive MVP.
Day was requested after the sport about Smith’s affect in his first 12 months.
“He’s earned the respect of his teammates not due to his skill. You guys see the power, however to me it is the work ethic day by day,” Day mentioned. “He is available in, he is critical, he would not say a complete lot. But when he does, individuals hear. His maturity — bodily, emotionally and mentally — has allowed him to play like this.”
While Ohio State simply received its matchup Wednesday, its subsequent opponent, Texas, had something however a cakewalk in opposition to Arizona State within the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The Sun Devils trailed 24-8 at first of the fourth quarter however scored 16 straight factors to push the sport to time beyond regulation.
After scoring drives for each groups within the additional interval, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers despatched his group to the Cotton Bowl with a 25-yard landing cross to Gunnar Helm.
The Sugar Bowl, initially scheduled for late Wednesday between Notre Dame and Georgia, was postponed to Thursday after a person plowed a pickup through New Year’s Day revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The FBI is investigating the incident, which killed 15 individuals and injured greater than 30, as an act of terrorism.
