In the new 12-team College Football Playoff era, rematches seem to be a fun, unintended consequence. To this point, Texas/Georgia, Boise State/UNLV, Western Kentucky/Jacksonville State, and Ohio/Miami (OH) earned rematches in respective conference championships. In the CFP First Round, there were no rematches. With the dust settled in the first-ever CFP games on campus, Ohio State vs. Oregon is set for round two, the only such matchup in the quarterfinals.
In terms of CFP rematches, we have three more potential rematches that could happen in the National Championship: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Oregon vs. Penn State, and Texas vs. Georgia (for round three).
In the first matchup between these two teams, Oregon pulled off an incredible 31-30 classic off explosive plays, a surprise onside kick, and a disruptive defense line. Fast forward 81 days and the two get to settle it on the field yet again.
Ohio State vs. Oregon: B1G Time Rematch For All The Roses
How We Got Here
Oregon has been the top team in college football all year. To kick off the season, the Ducks were tested by Boise State and, surprisingly, Idaho (FCS). After a win in The Civil War, Big Ten play began and Oregon won its first two in-conference matchups easily. Then, that fateful 31-30 win at home over the Buckeyes sent the season into overdrive.
The Ducks handily beat the next four Big Ten foes on the schedule including a ranked win over Illinois. They had a scare at Wisconsin but showed their mettle with a three-point win. After dispatching rival Washington with ease, Oregon drew Penn State in the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions gave it all they could but Oregon was just too much, winning 45-37, securing the top overall seed and the first-round bye.
Ohio State’s road has been bumpier. After taking down three Group of 5 non-conference foes by a combined score of 157-20, two easy wins over Michigan State and Iowa, the Buckeyes came up just short at Autzen Stadium. Despite the one-point loss, the Buckeyes got back on track after a pair of close wins over Nebraska and Penn State. After that, it was smooth sailing for three wins, including a commanding top-five win against Indiana. Then, the Buckeyes inexplicably lost to Michigan.
Despite the loss, the Buckeyes earned an eighth seed and hosted Tennessee in the first round. In a complete 180, Ohio State remembered it had NFL-bound wide receivers and used them en route to a rout of Tennessee, 42-17.
Now, both teams match up in the Rose Bowl for the third time and fourth time in the postseason. The Buckeyes won the first nine matchups including all three of those postseason bowls. However, the Ducks have won each of the last two.
When Oregon Has the Ball
With an offense like Oregon’s 1,000 words can be effortlessly spilled onto the page gushing about Dillon Gabriel and his weapons. Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist and finished third behind Ashton Jeanty and winner, Travis Hunter. This year’s Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year enters this game with 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 73.2 percent of his passes. Last time around, Gabriel carved up the Buckeyes’ defense and picked on Denzel Burke to the tune of 341 yards and two touchdowns.
The game plan, at least early on, will likely be similar. Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart are an impressive one-two punch and have a legitimate argument to be one of the best in the Big Ten. They’ll be trusted to pick on Burke and Davison Igbinosun, both of whom have been prone to commit penalties with their physical, handsy play.
Aside from “don’t let them pick on Burke again, ” the key for Ohio State will be to finally get pressure on Gabriel. Since the Oregon game, the Buckeyes have forced five interceptions and 22 sacks. In that game, however, the Buckeyes failed to bring Gabriel down once. Jack Sawyer has been a completely different animal since taking exception to Michigan’s flag planting. He will have to take over this game.
If Ohio State’s front seven can get any sort of pressure, it helps out the secondary. As maligned as the secondary was in the first matchup, the Buckeyes haven’t allowed a passing touchdown since. In total, they’ve allowed just four. The Buckeyes routinely smothered Tennessee’s offense. Expecting the defense to hold Oregon to 256 total yards of offense and 10 points against the starters may be a bit optimistic.
When Ohio State Has the Ball
Yes, Jeremiah Smith is very, very good at football and will get plenty of attention. He’s one of the top receivers in football already and stepped up for the Buckeyes in that win over Tennessee with two touchdowns of his own. He and Emeka Egbuka have an opportunity to improve on their combined performance of 19 catches, 193 yards, and two touchdowns from the first matchup.
The real spotlight will be on the offensive line yet again. Tennessee’s defensive line is top-notch and the patchwork Buckeyes handled them. Luke Montgomery legitimately shined in his time at left guard in rotation. In the first matchup, Josh Simmons was lost due to injury, so Ohio State had to scramble to get it together. Now, they’re also down Seth McLaughlin. However, against Tennessee, the offensive line stepped up and gave Howard the time he needed to work.
Oregon’s defensive line is better. And it’ll have Jordan Burch this time around. He, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Derrick Harmon make up a defensive front that can wreck anything and everything Ohio State wants to do. In the first Ohio State vs. Oregon matchup, Harmon wreaked havoc on the interior and literally stole the ball out of Quinshon Judkins‘ hands for a turnover.
Oregon is coming off its worst defensive performance, however. Penn State’s offense was able to amass a season-high 518 yards against this Ducks defense. There was only one other game when Oregon allowed even more than 400 yards…and it was against Ohio State.
Ohio State vs. Oregon: Time to Smell the Roses
Oregon gets rewarded for being the top seed by facing its closest competition for the Big Ten, a team fresh off a demoralizing beat down of one of the SEC’s best. However, that’s not going to get Dan Lanning and his squad down. The Ducks will be ready to go as they are in search of the program’s first national championship.
Ohio State is trying to put to the test that, “Would you be fine with a loss to Michigan if Ohio State won the national title?” evergreen social media question/engagement bait. The Buckeyes are ready for revenge. This team was a poorly-timed slide (and an awful game plan) away from a Big Ten title. Ohio State knows it can hang with anyone and will be hungry to prove it.
The Rose Bowl. The Granddaddy Of Them All. It doesn’t get better than a historical Pac-12 program and one of the premier historical Big Ten programs facing off in Pasadena. The winner of this B1G time rematch will get to face the winner of Texas and Arizona State at the Cotton Bowl on January 10.
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