It's a stage set perfectly at the iconic stadium known as the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, when the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Oregon Ducks in an exciting College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on January 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. Below is a detailed look regarding this anticipated matchup:
Game Details:
* Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
* Time: 5:00 PM EST
* Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA
* TV/Streaming: Live on ESPN, with options to stream.
Coaches:
Ohio State: Ryan Day, 67-10 at Ohio State. All the energizing offenses come from Day, the coach who has his job on the line after losing to Michigan but should rebound with a strong showing versus Tennessee in the first round of the CFP.
Oregon: Dan Lanning, in his third year, has guided the Ducks to a perfect 13-0 record, capturing the Big Ten title in their first season in the conference. His strategic mind has helped shape the winning run by Oregon.
Key Players:
Ohio State:
Quarterback: Will Howard, the transfer from Kansas State, has been very impressive this year, completing 72.9 percent of his passes. Other players who support the offense in its cause include the wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith.
Running Back: TreVeyon Henderson has been a workhorse, particularly in the fourth quarter, with an average of 8.6 yards per touch.
Oregon:
Quarterback: Dillon Gabriel has been the motor of the Ducks offense, completing 73.2% of his passes while contributing in very big ways with both his arm and legs.
Running Back: Jordan James had an outstanding year on the ground, topping 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns, and was the toughest back to face down.
Defense: Jordan Burch is back from injury and has added considerable strength with his 8.5 sacks this season.
Odds:
The early betting line had Oregon as a slight favorite, but at the latest reports, Ohio State comes in at 2.5-point favorites, with an over/under of around 54.5 points.
How to Win:
Ohio State:
That creative offense will need to keep this Oregon defense guessing on each and every play. Ohio State needs to make Oregon one-dimensional by stopping the run and Jordan James. The OSU defensive line has to pressure Gabriel consistently in order to disrupt the passing game.
Oregon:
What Oregon will want to do is keep its offensive effectiveness alive with the mobility of Gabriel and his acumen as a passer. They will want to make a strength-on-strength takeaway in the air to Ohio State by using its strong secondary, and to affect Howard's rhythm, pressuring him is required, which depends upon the availability of Burch.
Last Meeting:
Oregon upset Ohio State, 32-31, in an absolute nail-biter back in October at Autzen Stadium. Oregon's quarterback completed 341 passing yards against Ohio State's defense for three total touchdowns. The close victory showcased how Oregon can win the tight ones. The game also outlined where the roots of this great victory were rooted.
What to Watch For:
Both teams boast high-powered offenses, along with defenses that have flashed brilliance-all the ingredients for another classic. Under the microscope will be the players' performances: the strategy matchup between Day and Lanning. With the stakes escalated to a playoff quarterfinal, there figures to be some strategic adjustments on both sides, possibly making for a game decided in the final moments, much like their last encounter.
For most enthusiast fans, hard-core analysts, and fervent bettors alike, the question lingers whether Ohio State can finally have its revenge or Oregon will move into the semifinals undefeated. It promises football at a very high level, with a very important stake in the development of this budding rivalry.
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