Ohio State vs. Oregon: 3 things to watch in the | College News

This Rose Bowl managed to be a bridge of kinds between the previous and future of faculty soccer. It’s a basic matchup of two storied groups in Ohio State and Oregon, a throwback that feels acquainted to followers throughout generations and matches the gravitas of the Granddaddy of Them All.

“We’re in a little bit of a different landscape this year because of how bowl games are set up, but the Rose Bowl has been first class in every way,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned Tuesday. “…This is one we’re really thrilled to compete in.”

The Rose Bowl is now a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, one of a number of steps that a workforce wants to climb on the path to a national championship.

“It’s a different experience,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned. “Usually when you prepare for a bowl, there’s a whole month of preparation. This is more of a routine. … It’s more like being on a road game during the week, just a longer season.”

It’s a rematch of Oregon’s first Big Ten sport at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 12, when the Ducks edged out the Buckeyes 32-31. Oregon will likely be trying to repeat its efficiency and stay unbeaten and in the driver’s seat as the No. 1 seed. On the different sideline, the Buckeyes need to redeem themselves following what they thought of an anomaly of a defensive efficiency in Week 6, and reassert themselves in the championship image.

Here are three keys to victory in the Rose Bowl.

Ohio State wants to strain Gabriel

The Buckeyes boast the No. 1 protection in the nation in phrases of yards (242.6) and factors given up (11.4). Their sack proportion (10.6%) is the most of any workforce remaining in the playoff, however they didn’t contact Oregon quarterback (*3*)Dillon Gabriel — not one sack or strain — on Oct. 12.

The consequence was Gabriel dicing them for 341 passing yards, 200 more than their nation-leading average. Buckeyes gamers and coaches this week have credited the power of Oregon’s offense whereas additionally acknowledging the need to execute higher.

They know a repeat of their earlier efficiency received’t cut it if they need to advance to the semifinals, and it begins with making Gabriel uncomfortable.

Ohio State’s protection should embody the mantra of the late Raiders proprietor Al Davis: The quarterback should go down, and he should go down laborious.

Gabriel wants to show why he was a Heisman finalist

Even although the Heisman race was clearly a two-man competitors between Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Gabriel was one of the 4 finalists and completed third in the voting. The motive for that was his mastery of the Oregon offense that allowed for a seamless transition after Bo Nix’s departure to the NFL.

While Gabriel’s stats weren’t eye-popping — he’s thrown for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns — his 86.7 complete quarterback score is the highest of any remaining playoff passer and second in the nation.

He’s additionally been elite at taking care of the ball. His six interceptions are tied for the fewest amongst certified starters and he’s thrown more tan one solely as soon as, in Week 5 towards Michigan State. Gabriel’s legs have helped him keep away from sacks, and one of his seven speeding touchdowns got here towards the Buckeyes.

Gabriel’s shining second was in the Big Ten championship sport, the place he accomplished 22 of 32 passes for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns to cement the Ducks as the No.1 workforce in the convention and the nation.

History can be on the line for Gabriel, who’s 4 landing passes away from surpassing Cam Ward’s current profession report of 158 in Division I.

Gabriel had success towards Ohio State final time and desires to make a assertion to show the Ducks nonetheless are the high workforce.

Ohio State should restrict penalties, particularly late

This isn’t a lot a seasonlong problem for the Buckeyes, who rank amongst the 10 least-penalized groups in the Football Bowl Subdivision, however premature penalties performed a large function in their October loss to Oregon.

A late defensive go interference call on Ohio State obtained the Ducks down to the nine-yard-line, the place they took a 32-31 lead on a subject purpose. On the ensuing collection, a 26-yard reception by Emeka Egbuka was negated by an offensive go interference call on Jeremiah Smith that set up third and 20 from the Oregon 38-yard-line, the place the Buckeyes ran out of time after quarterback Will Howard stored the ball and slid in the open subject as time expired.

Ohio State is a disciplined workforce however has to keep that method by the remaining whistle. If not, that might make the distinction between the Buckeyes advancing to the semifinals at the Cotton Bowl or returning to Columbus.