Ohio State and Oregon will have a rematch in the College Football Playoff after Oregon beat Ohio State during the regular season, 32-31.
Oregon stopped Ohio State on its final drive to squeak out the win and improve to 6-0 when the two teams played on October 12. Oregon went on to win the rest of its games, including the Big Ten title, and get the No. 1 seed in the CFP.
The Buckeyes have had this game circled ever since they beat the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the College Football Playoff on December 21.
Buckeyes wideout Jeremiah Smith is especially ready for a rematch after he felt like his offensive pass interference penalty in the first meeting was soft.
“I guess wide receivers can’t play physical anymore,” Smith said.
Jeremiah Smith still isn’t happy about the offensive pass interference penalty from the first game against Oregon.
“I guess wide receivers can’t play physical anymore.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 28, 2024
The Buckeyes will need Smith on top of his game if they are to pull off this upset and advance to the semifinals. Smith is one of the best wide receivers in the country, having compiled 63 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He helped the Buckeyes beat the Vols in the first round of the CFP, finishing with six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He had a great game against the Ducks when they played in October, compiling nine receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
The Buckeyes and Ducks will play in the Rose Bowl on January 1, The Grandaddy of Them All. Whoever wins will play the winner of the Arizona State Sun Devils-Texas Longhorns game in the semifinals.
The Penn State Nittany Lions will play the Boise State Broncos in another CFP quarterfinal while the Georgia Bulldogs play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish also play in a quarterfinal.
Kickoff for the Rose Bowl will be at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Related: Georgia Quarterback Carson Beck Announces NFL Draft Decision Before Sugar Bowl