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Preview: Ohio State, Oregon Rematch Comes in the Rose Bowl

Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel — © Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard

No. 1 Oregon (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten Conference) will play No. 8 Ohio State (11-2; 7-2 Big Ten) in the 111th Rose Bowl Game, presented by Prudential, at 5:30 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2025 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Oregon concluded its first season of Big Ten play by winning the Big Ten Championship, 45-37, against Penn State on Dec. 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Oregon is the only team in the FBS to finish in the Top 15 in scoring offense (35.9—13th), total offense (449.8—13th), scoring defense (17.8—12th) and total defense (301.8—ninth).

Oregon currently has a three-game Rose Bowl winning streak, beating Wisconsin in 2012, Florida State in 2015 Florida State (College Football Playoff game) and Wisconsin in 2020.

Ohio State enters the Rose Bowl in familiar surroundings. It will be Ohio State’s 17th appearance in Pasadena, winning their last four Rose Bowl appearances (1997 Arizona State, 2010 Oregon, 2019 Washington and 2022 Utah).

Also familiar for Ohio State is being in the CFP. Ohio State’s 2024 appearance marks the sixth time in the 11-year CFP history that the Buckeyes have been involved.

Since 2019, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has been the only active coach to lead their team to four CFP appearances since 2019. Both teams are familiar with each other as they met back on Oct. 12 in front of the largest crowd in Autzen Stadium history in Eugene, Ore.

During that encounter, it was a back-and-forth game between both teams who were both ranked in the Top 3 nationally (Ohio State No. 2; Oregon No. 3) at the time. There were four lead changes in the second half. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel scrambled 27 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give Oregon a slim one-point lead. Ohio State and Oregon exchanged field goals to put Oregon up 32-31. Ducks kicker Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard attempt with 1:47 to go was the deciding score. The win for Oregon was the program’s first win versus an opponent ranked in the Top 2. Oregon entered 0-19-1 in their 20 previous matchups against Top 2 teams.

Key Bowl Game Opt-Outs

Both Ohio State and Oregon will have full participation in the Rose Bowl.

Key Players: Ohio State

Denzel Burke, Cornerback

If there was a stock that fluctuated high and low during the 2024 season, then it was for senior cornerback Denzel Burke. Burke did not have the most stellar performance against Oregon the first time around, where former five-star wide receiver Evan Stewart had a breakout game. Stewart had seven receptions for 149 yards and a TD, one even where Burke was on assignment. Burke will also have to contend with Tez Johnson, who set Big Ten Championship Game records with receptions (11) and receiving yards (181) against Penn State. While Oregon has demonstrated explosiveness this season, they are down a yard per play from a season ago. Last season, Oregon finished second nationally behind LSU at 7.6 yards per play. This season, still potent at 6.6 yards per play, one spot behind Ohio State nationally at No. 5, it’s still a tough assignment, but one Burke has to control if Ohio State is going to advance.

Josh Fryar, Tackle; Carson Hinzman, Center

The depth of the Oregon defensive line makes it arguably the best in the nation as it led all Big Ten defenses in sacks with 40. Two major differences between the Oct. 12 matchup between these teams and the Rose Bowl is Ohio State does not have center Seth McLaughlin playing. McLaughlin played against Oregon the first time around, but he was lost to a season-ending injury. The Ducks get EDGE Jordan Burch back for this matchup.

A key figure to watch is the much-maligned Carson Hinzman, who shifted back to center following the McLaughlin injury from left guard. Hinzman excelled against Tennessee, who did not register a sack on quarterback Will Howard. Hinzman will most likely draw many assignments against Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who finished second in the Power Five at an 18.3% pass-rush win rate.

Fryar is among the most experienced Ohio State linemen here, having participated in 51 games for Ohio State since 2021. Fryar, at times, will draw Matayo Uiagalelei, who led Big Ten defenders in the regular season in sacks with 10.5, and Jordan Burch, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound physical freak off the edge.

Key Players: Oregon

Dillon Gabriel, Quarterback

Gabriel will be making his FBS-record 63rd start in the Rose Bowl. Oregon will lean on his experience to hopefully help the Ducks advance to the Cotton Bowl in a CFP semifinal. Gabriel tied with Howard in completion percentage at 73.2%, which is No. 2 nationally. Gabriel had a season-high four TDs on 22 of 32 passing for 283 yards in the Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State. In the first matchup, Gabriel’s 27-yard scramble for a TD got Oregon back in it. But Gabriel, a shifty southpaw, has the ability to scramble and make plays.

Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle

Harmon forced a key fumble on Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins deep in Buckeyes' territory in their Oct. 12 matchup that led to a Jordan James rushing TD. Harmon, as previously mentioned, excels at pass rushing. He leads all FBS interior linemen with 52 total pressures. With Ohio State minus McLaughlin, it only makes the Harmon-Hinzman battle one to key on.

The CFP National Championship Trophy — © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

What the Rose Bowl Means

On the surface, the winner advances to a CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10, 2025. There are plenty of layers to this matchup. Oregon would love to win its third straight against Ohio State in what seems to be morphing into a marquee matchup of Big Ten powers. A win for Oregon continues to bolster head coach Dan Lanning’s claim that the Ducks are different as he has raised the brand value more and more. The desire to give Nike founder and major donor Phil Knight his first football national championship matters. For Gabriel, who seemingly has had a vagabond collegiate career with stops at UCF, Oklahoma and now Oregon, a win puts an exclamation point to his career by making college football’s final four.

Ohio State seems to be facing more pressure. With a fourth straight loss to Michigan, the narrative from Buckeyes' brass and Day is that their goals are still in front of them. A loss will raise the temperature of an already hot seat that Day occupies. More importantly, like with Gabriel, a win justifies Day’s gamble to not guarantee Kyle McCord a starting job. Howard, who is already bearing the weight from losses to Oregon and Michigan, can have a legacy in Columbus, Ohio with a Rose Bowl win and potentially another one at the Cotton Bowl.