Ohio State Makes Historic Announcement After Rose Bowl Game vs. Oregon
The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes delivered a spectacular performance on New Year’s Day in the iconic Rose Bowl game, facing off against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks in Pasadena, California.
Ohio State wasted no time, jumping to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, then extending it to a dominant 34-8 halftime advantage, highlighted by an outstanding first-half performance from true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who hauled in two touchdowns.
Although Oregon mounted a rally, scoring 15 unanswered points to trim the lead, Ohio State quickly regained control. The Buckeyes’ defense took over, sacking Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel a staggering eight times, which played a significant role in their eventual 41-21 victory.
With the win, Ohio State advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they will now face the No. 5 Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl, held in Arlington, Texas.
In addition to the victory, Ohio State and the Rose Bowl made historic announcements regarding the game’s viewership.
The matchup attracted an impressive 21.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched quarterfinal by a wide margin. The game peaked at 24.3 million viewers, a figure typically seen during NFL games, underscoring the immense popularity of this thrilling playoff showdown.
The Rose Bowl is one of the most prestigious events in college football, and when two powerhouse programs like Ohio State and Oregon meet, it’s always set to draw strong viewership. Given the highly anticipated rematch after their Week 7 meeting this season, expectations were sky-high.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day holds up the Rose Bowl championship trophy after defeating the Oregon Ducks.
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
However, Ohio State wasted no time making a statement. The Buckeyes quickly gained traction and never looked back, securing their second straight 20-plus point playoff win following a tough loss to Michigan in the final game of the regular season.
That defeat seemed to fuel a fire under Ohio State, and now, with their dominant playoff performances, they find themselves just two games away from capturing a national championship.
