Ohio State upends College Football Playoff in | College News

This time, Ohio State left no doubt.

The No. 8 seed Buckeyes, with their one-point October loss to No. 1 seed Oregon nonetheless on their minds, rose to the event and bludgeoned the undefeated Oregon Ducks 41-21 on the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, avenging that loss and advancing to a College Football Playoff semifinal in opposition to No. 5 seed Texas.

“After that game, we had a bad taste in our mouth,” Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith mentioned. “We just had to come in the next day and see what were the issues, fix the issues, and get on the field and work it. Offensively, we had to get the ball to the perimeter, take shots, and just win our one-on-one matchups. That’s what we did.”

Smith set the tone for the Buckeyes on the third play of the sport. On second and 10, he took a go in the backfield off a movement, cut up the sector, made the Ducks’ safeties miss as they dove at his ankles and walked into the top zone for a 45-yard landing.

Two possessions later, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard stood tall in the pocket and threw a 42-yard dart simply out of attain of Oregon’s Brandon Johnson and into the arms of receiver Emeka Egbuka for Ohio State’s second landing. Both early scoring drives spanned one minute.

Howard completed 17 for 26 for 319 yards and three touchdowns, building on his 311-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in the first-round win over Tennessee.

Smith mentioned the receivers inform Howard during observe to “just throw it out there” they usually’ll make a play on the ball, regardless of whether or not it’s thought of a unhealthy throw.

“Will does a great job in practice just trusting us, just throwing the ball out there,” Smith mentioned. “We gotta make our quarterback look good. But Will plays on that confidence that he has, just being a leader out there. I feed off his energy. … I love Will to death and I’ll do anything for him.”

The Ohio State protection matched the offense’s depth, smothering Oregon’s run sport and holding the Ducks to minus-26 dashing yards, their fewest in 16 years. The Buckeyes (12-2) additionally made 13 tackles for a loss. The go rush that Dillon Gabriel was capable of expertly elude during their first matchup hounded the Ducks quarterback with eight sacks.

The proverbial nail in the coffin got here on the 11:13 mark of the second quarter. Oregon (13-1), dealing with fourth and three from its 48-yard line whereas trailing 17-0, went for it. The pocket collapsed round Gabriel, who tried to seek out Terrance Ferguson operating throughout the sector, just for his go to be damaged up by Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon.

Two performs later, Howard linked with Smith again, this time for a 43-yard bomb to increase the result in 24-0.

Simon, who had a game-high 11 tackles, together with three for losses and two sacks, gained defensive Most worthy participant.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after throwing a landing go in the primary quarter in opposition to Oregon on the Rose Bowl.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

“One of the biggest things we changed was just our attitude, our mentality,” Simon mentioned. “There was a lot of plays in the first game that we weren’t even aligned. We weren’t ready to go and with an offense like that in Oregon, they thrive on that stuff.

“We went through a lot of tough conversations after that game, but I think we’re better for it now. We made those changes and like Coach [Ryan] Day said, it’s all about execution. No matter what, no matter who’s across the ball, you have to do your job.”

Smith ended up with 187 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions, setting a college file for receiving yards in a sport by a freshman (beforehand set by Cris Carter in the 1985 Rose Bowl) and incomes offensive MVP. It was Smith’s fifth 100-yard sport, making him the twelfth receiver in program historical past — and the primary freshman — to perform the feat.

With the sport in hand, the Buckeyes received the run sport going because the duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins mixed for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon operating back Noah Whittington is stopped by the Ohio State protection during the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly additionally received a increase. Day notched his third playoff victory and fifth win in opposition to a top-five workforce amid criticism he struggles to win massive video games. After Kelly was roasted for his play calling during a loss to rival Michigan, his Buckeyes have been able to overpower the Oregon protection.

“Chip called a great game,” Day mentioned. “The whole offensive staff worked hard to put the plan together, but ultimately it comes down to the players putting it on the field. … I thought they really put it on the field and came out aggressive, but I thought Chip called an aggressive game and certainly had a big smile on his face after.”

Ohio State will face Texas on the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 for a spot in the title sport. While Day acknowledges the importance of profitable the Granddaddy of Them All, he additionally is aware of there’s a lot of soccer left to be performed.

“We knew we had to be at our best today, and it’ll be the same thing next week,” he mentioned. “When you’re playing in the playoffs, you’re playing against very, very good teams and so we hold ourselves to a high standard. … We’re not staying the night. We’re getting back on that plane, we’re headed back to Columbus, we’ll get some rest and then we’ll focus on Texas.”