The Ohio State Buckeyes they weren't about to let a newcomer to the Big 10 conference steal all the attention this season.
With a strong 41-21 win high ranking in Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, the Buckeyes are headed to the CFP semifinals.
Jeremiah Smith caught two of Will Howard's three long plays during Ohio State's 34-point first half. Howard passed for 319 yards, Emeka Egbuka also had a long catch TD, and TreVeyon Henderson ran 66-yards down the Rose Bowl for a touchdown. the Buckeyes (12-2, CFP No. 8 seed), whose big-game execution at times hasn't matched their offensive talent this season.
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Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Gee Scott Jr. jumps for a first down during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on January 1, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ohio State took the second chance made by the first group of 12 CFP teams, clearly improving the No. 1 seed. 1 of the competition. The Buckeyes scored on six of their first seven drives and took a 34-0 lead late in the second quarter against the nation's only undefeated team in the Granddaddy of Them All .
Ohio State heads to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 to face No. 4 Texas to advance to the national title game. The Longhorns fell short earlier Wednesday, holding off Arizona State 39-31 in the double-overtime Peach Bowl.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs for a touchdown during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on January 1, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel passed for 299 yards and hit Traeshon Holden for two touchdowns for the Ducks (13-1, CFP No. 1 seed), whose dreams of their first national title were leveled on the famous Rose Bowl turf. Oregon's 14-game winning streak also ended.
Eleven days after sweeping Tennessee to open the playoffs, Ohio State dominated the Big Ten's regular-season games, winning 32-31 against the Ducks in Eugene on Oct. 12.
Smith, the Buckeyes' leading rusher, had an impressive bowl game with seven receptions for 187 yards — including five catches for 161 yards in the first half only, he hauled in passes of 45 and 43 yards.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a pass in front of Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterback at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on January 1, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
For Oregon, a surprising start to the season in the Big 10 will result in a strong attack. It also marks the end of Gabriel's six-year college career.
Gabriel has been one of the best players this season. He was named a first-team All-American, Big 10 MVP and Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. He also led the Big 10 in passing yards, 3,558, and completions, in 297, this year.
The quarterback began his career at the University of Central Florida, where he played for three years before heading to Norman to play for the club. Most recently in Oklahoma. In December, with one year of eligibility remaining, Gabriel decided to head to the Pacific Northwest to play with the Oregon Ducks.
Now, Gabriel will look to the NFL Draft, where he is projected to be a second-round pick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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