By Colin McGuigan
Ohio State will be playing in its 17th Rose Bowl Game in program history
FIRST AND TEN
- Ohio State (11-2 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten and the No. 8 Seed in the College Football Playoffs) and Oregon (13-0, 9-0, Big Ten champions and the No. 1 Seed) meet in the CFP quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl Jan. 1 at 2:10 p.m. PST/5:10 EST.
- The winner advances to the CFP semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. EST against the winner of the Jan. 1 quarterfinal at the Chick fil-A Peach Bowl between No. 5 Seed Texas (12-2) and No. 4 Arizona State (11-2).
- Ohio State built a 21-0 first quarter lead and defeated Tennessee, 42-17, in a CFP first-round game Dec. 21 at Ohio Stadium. Oregon defeated Penn State, 45-37, in the Big Ten championship game Dec. 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
- This is Game 2 between the teams. Ohio State and Oregon met in an Autzen Stadium thriller Oct. 12 … a 32-31 Ducks victory between Top-3 ranked teams that featured eight lead changes.
- Each team has a Top 10 defense, as each did Oct. 12 when 43 points were scored in the first half alone and the teams combined for 963 offensive yards (Oregon 496; Ohio State 467).
- This is Ohio State’s fifth game vs. a Top 10 team this season and fourth vs. a Top 5 team.
BY THE NUMBERS
13: Ohio State starts 13 college graduates – six on offense; seven on defense: Howard, Henderson, Egbuka, Scott Jr., Jackson, Fryar, Sawyer, Williams, Hamilton, Simon, Ransom, Burke and Hancock.
936K: Ohio State played in front of a record number of fans at Ohio Stadium in 2024. The nine-game home slate, including the Dec. 21 CFP first-round victory over Tennessee, drew 936,550 fans into the ‘Shoe.
6 of 11: Ohio State is in the College Football Playoffs for the sixth time in the CFP’s 11-year existence. Head coach Ryan Day is the only active coach to have led his program into the CFP four times since 2019.
17: Ohio State and Alabama have the fewest losses in the 11-season CFP era: 17. The Top 3 in wins: Alabama is 136-17 since the start of 2014; Clemson is 129-24; Ohio State is 127-17. Ryan Day’s teams are 67-10.
SIXTH CFP FOR OHIO STATE
- Ohio State is playing in the College Football Playoffs for a sixth time since the start of the CFP era in 2014 and is the only school to appear in four of the last six CFPs.
- Ohio State is No. 3 all-time in CFP appearances, trailing only Alabama (eight appearances) and Clemson (seven).
- Georgia and Oklahoma round out the Top 5 with four appearances apiece.
- Ohio State won the inaugural College Football Playoffs in 2014 and is 4-4 all-time in CFP games.
52ND OHIO STATE BOWL GAME
- The rich history of Ohio State football includes, officially, 51 prior bowl games starting with the 1921 Rose Bowl and including 12 different bowls and 37 games played at the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Cotton, Orange and Peach bowls, respectively.
- Ohio State has a 25-26 record in bowl games.
32-30 ALL-TIME IN POSTSEASON PLAY
- Ohio State’s all-time record in post-season games is 32-30, including a 5-4 record for head coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes are:
- 5-1 in Big Ten championship games;
- 25-26 in bowl games;
- 0-2 in BCS championship games not played at a bowl game;
- in CFP first-round games; and
- 1-1 in CFP championship games.
ONLY TEAM IN CFP OR NY6 EVERY YEAR
- Ohio State is the only school to have played in either a College Football Playoff game or a New Year’s Six bowl game every year of the 10-year, four-team CFP era.
- During this time, Ohio State went to the CFP, Fiesta Bowl, CFP, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl, CFP, CFP, Rose Bowl, CFP and Cotton Bowl from 2014-23, respectively.
17TH ROSE BOWL GAME
- Ohio State is 9-7 all-time in Rose Bowl games, including four consecutive victories (20-17 over Arizona State in the 1997 game, 26-17 over Oregon in 2010, 28-23 over Washington in 2019 and 48-45 over Utah in 2022).
- Ohio State and Oregon also played in the 1958 Rose Bowl (a 10-7 Ohio State win).
- Ohio State’s 17 appearances are third behind USC (34) and Michigan (21) and its nine victories are topped only by USC’s 25.
THE SERIES: OHIO STATE VS. OREGON
- Ohio State leads the series, 9-2, with wins in the first nine games, but Oregon has won the last two games between the two teams: 35-28 in 2021 at Ohio Stadium, and 32-31 on Oct. 12 this year in a thriller at Autzen Stadium.
- The first meeting in the series came in the 1958 Rose Bowl, a 10-7 Ohio State win that capped Woody Hayes’ first national championship.
- Ohio State’s last victory over Oregon came in the 2015 CFP national championship game in Dallas, 42-20, behind 246 yards rushing by Ezekiel Elliott.
- The win secured for Ohio State its eighth national championship
COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
GAME NOTES
https://goducks.com/documents/2024/12/24/GM14_-_Rose_Bowl.pdf
#1 Oregon vs. #8 Ohio State
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
2:00 p.m. PT | ESPN
Rose Bowl Stadium | Pasadena, Calif.#1 Oregon Ducks (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten)
CFP Seed: 1 | CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 1/1/1
Head Coach: Dan Lanning (William Jewell College, 2008)
Record at Oregon: 35-5 (3rd Season)
Career Record: Same#8 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2, 7-2 Big Ten)
CFP Seed: 8 | CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 6/6/7
Head Coach: Ryan Day (New Hampshire, 2002)
Record at Ohio State: 67-10 (6th Season)
Career Record: Sam
TV: ESPN
TV: ESPN
Play-By-Play: Chris Fowler
Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit
Sideline: Holly Rowe
Sideline: Stormy Buonantony
Radio – Oregon Sports Network
Local: KUJZ-FM 95.3 (Eugene) | KFXX-AM 1080 (Portland)
Sirius: 133 | XM: 197
Play-by-Play: Jerry Allen
Analyst: Mike Jorgensen
Sideline: Dusty Harrah
Pre-Game Show: Joey McMurry
2024-25 College Football Playoff Bracket
The Granddaddy Of Them All
After earning a first-round bye to open the College Football Playoff, No. 1 seed Oregon will square off with No. 8 seed Ohio State in the quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. The Ducks bring a perfect 13-0 record into “The Granddaddy of Them All,” and will look to advance to the CFP semifinals for the second time in program history. Oregon is making its first CFP appearance since reaching the inaugural CFP national championship game in 2014-15. The New Year’s Day showdown will also mark UO’s ninth all-time appearance in the Rose Bowl, and fifth since 2010. The Ducks have won their last three Rose Bowl appearances, including a 59-20 win over Florida State in the CFP semifinals on Jan. 1, 2015, and a 28-7 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 1, 2020.
Heavyweight Rematch
Oregon and Ohio State will face each other for the second time this season, in a rematch of arguably the best game of the 2024 regular season. The Ducks outlasted the Buckeyes, 32-31, in an instant classic on Oct. 12, in front of an Autzen Stadium record crowd of 60,129 fans. It was the first top-five showdown in stadium history, and the win over No. 2 Ohio State matched the highest-ranked win in program history. Oregon beat Ohio State for the second time ever and second time in a row, after claiming its first win over the Buckeyes in 2021 in Columbus. UO and OSU will face each other in the Rose Bowl for the third time, with the Buckeyes coming away victorious on Jan. 1, 2010, and Jan. 1, 1958.
13-0 And Big Ten Champs
After completing an undefeated, 12-0 regular season for the second time in program history, Oregon reached 13-0 for the first time with its 45-37 win over Penn State in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7. The Ducks ran the table and won the Big Ten title in their inaugural year in the league, winning a conference championship game for the fifth time in program history and first since 2020. Oregon enters the College Football Playoff as the only undefeated FBS team, and its 14 consecutive wins since last season is the longest active streak in the nation.
A Win Would…
» Send Oregon to the CFP Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas on Friday, Jan. 10.
» Make the Ducks 2-1 all-time in the College Football Playoff, with their first CFP win since the 2014-15 semifinals.
» Be the program’s fifth all-time win at the Rose Bowl Game, and fourth consecutive.
» Make Oregon 18-20 all-time in bowl games, and 5-4 in the Rose Bowl.
» Set a new program record for wins in a season with 14, and make Oregon 14-0 for the first time ever.
» Be Oregon’s third straight win over Ohio State, all coming since 2021, and second this season.
» Make Oregon the first team to beat Ohio State twice in the same season since 1894 (Wittenberg).
» Be Oregon’s 15th consecutive win dating back to last season, the longest active streak in the nation.
CFP History
Oregon is in the College Football Playoff field for the second time in program history, and first since making the inaugural CFP national championship game in 2014-15. The Ducks are now the No. 1 seed in the first year of the expanded 12-team CFP field, looking to advance to the semifinals for the second time in program history. Oregon and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota dominated Florida State, 59-20, in the semifinals at the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1, 2015, to reach the first national championship game of the four-team CFP era, where the Ducks went on to face Ohio State. UO’s upcoming Rose Bowl appearance vs. the Buckeyes will be its first CFP game since falling to Ohio State in that national championship game.
Rose Bowl History
The Ducks will make their ninth all-time appearance in the Rose Bowl Game, and fifth since 2010, bringing a 4-4 record in “The Granddaddy of Them All” into New Year’s Day. Oregon has won each of its last three trips to the Rose Bowl Game, with wins over Wisconsin in 2011-12 and 2019-20 sandwiched around that dominant CFP semifinal victory over Florida State in 2014-15. UO’s first-ever Rose Bowl victory came over Pennsylvania in 1916-17, followed by four losses before its 45-38 win over the Badgers on Jan. 2, 2012. Oregon and Ohio State have faced off twice before in the Rose Bowl, with the Buckeyes winning both.
Last Time Vs. Ohio State: Titanic Top-Five Tilt Goes To Oregon
The Ducks’ win over No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 12 will go down as arguably the most significant regular-season win in program history. The Ducks secured their highest-ranked victory ever in Autzen Stadium, beating a top-five opponent in Autzen for the fourth time and first since Oct. 31, 2009. The win matched the highest-ranked victory in program history, joining the 2015 Rose Bowl over Florida State as the only times Oregon has defeated a team ranked No. 2 or better, and was the program’s ninth all-time win against a top-five opponent. The Ducks pulled out the victory in front of the largest crowd in Autzen Stadium (60,129), as a day that dawned with thousands of fans crowding on campus for ESPN’s “College GameDay” ended with thousands more rushing the field.
The final seven scoring plays of the night all resulted in lead changes, including a 27-yard rushing touchdown by QB Dillon Gabriel early in the fourth quarter that put UO up, 29-28. Ohio State retook the lead with a field goal with six minutes remaining, before Gabriel once again took Oregon down the field to set up a go-ahead field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 to play. A critical sack by Matayo Uiagalelei helped keep Ohio State out of field goal range on its final drive, and the Autzen Crowd poured onto the field in celebration as OSU QB Will Howard slid just after time expired. Gabriel thrived in his biggest game to date as a Duck, completing 23-of-34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 32 yards and a score. Evan Stewart caught seven passes for a career-high 149 yards and a touchdown, Tez Johnson also pulled in a touchdown and Jordan James rushed for 115 yards and a TD on 23 carries. Uiagalelei finished with two TFLs and the only sack of the game, and Derrick Harmon came away with a huge forced fumble and recovery early in the game.
History Vs. Ohio State
The Rose Bowl will mark the 12th all-time meeting between Oregon and Ohio State. The Buckeyes own a 9-2 advantage in the series, but the Ducks have won each of the last two matchups after pulling out an epic 32-31 victory earlier this season. Oregon claimed its first-ever win over Ohio State on Sept. 11, 2021, leaving Columbus with a 35-28 win before 100,482 fans in Ohio Stadium. The Ducks’ win over the No. 3 Buckeyes was their first road win over a top-five team since 2011. It was the first matchup between the two programs since Ohio State won the 2014-15 CFP National Championship Game, 42-20.
Big Ten Champions!
The Ducks secured the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff by winning the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 7, defeating Penn State 45-37 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Oregon was crowned champions of the Big Ten in its first year in the conference, leading wire-to-wire against the Nittany Lions despite navigating through several tense moments throughout the game. Dillon Gabriel was 22-of-32 passing for 283 yards and a season-high four touchdowns, and Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a score en route to MVP honors. Kenyon Sadiq scored the first two touchdowns of the game, and Jordan James also scored twice, including a fourth-quarter score that gave Oregon a two-touchdown lead midway through the final period. Tysheem Johnson led the UO defense with nine tackles, and Bryce Boettcher had seven tackles with one tackle for loss. Dontae Manning’s first-half interception set up James’ first rushing touchdown of the day, and Nikko Reed picked off a pass in the fourth quarter to all but ice the game for Oregon.
Elite Resume
Oregon had to navigate one of the nation’s toughest schedules en route to winning the Big Ten title and earning the top seed in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks are the only team with wins against three teams in the CFP field, with victories over No. 3 seed Boise State, No. 6 seed Penn State and No. 8 seed Ohio State. Oregon also has a fourth win against a team in the final CFP top 25 in No. 20 Illinois. UO is the only undefeated team in the nation and the only team to reach 13 wins so far, and its 14 straight wins since closing last season with a victory in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is the longest active streak in the country.
Ducks At the Top
Oregon took over the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls for the first time since 2012 going into its Oct. 26 game vs. Illinois, and the Ducks solidified that ranking with six consecutive wins to remain undefeated entering the College Football Playoff. UO’s top ranking going into the CFP is the 17th all-time in the coaches poll and 16th all-time in the AP poll, and the Ducks remain the unanimous No. 1 team in both polls. Oregon was No. 1 in every release of the College Football Playoff rankings in 2024, claiming the program’s first-ever CFP No. 1 ranking before earning the top seed on Selection Sunday. The Ducks are now 12-1 all-time as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team, with all other instances of being No. 1 coming in the 2012 and 2010 seasons.
All Three Phases
Oregon has established itself as arguably the nation’s most well-rounded team this season. The Ducks are the only FBS team in the top 15 nationally for scoring offense (13th, 35.9 PPG), total offense (13th, 449.8 YPG), scoring defense (12th, 17.8 PPG) and total defense (9th, 301.8 YPG), as well as the only team in the top 15 for both passing offense (14th, 278.0 YPG) and passing defense (8th, 175.7 YPG). Oregon is also one of just four teams (Boise State, Duke, Ohio State) in the top 15 for both sacks (7th, 40) and sacks allowed (15th, 13), and one of 10 in the top 30 for both third-down offense (9th, 49.38%) and third-down defense (28th, 33.53%). UO has also been effective on special teams, ranking fifth nationally in kickoff return average (26.83) and ranking as the only Big Ten team with both a punt return and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Oregon’s overall team grade of 92.7 by Pro Football Focus ranks No. 7 in the nation.
Numbers to Know
1 – Oregon is the only FBS team in the top 15 for scoring offense (13th), total offense (13th), scoring defense (12th) and total defense (9th).
2 – UO is in the College Football Playoff for the second time in program history, and first since the inaugural year in 2014-15.
3 – With 152 career passing touchdowns, Dillon Gabriel needs just three more to pass Case Keenum (155) for the NCAA all-time record.
8 – Tez Johnson’s 78 receptions are third-most in UO single-season history, just eight back of his own record of 86 set in 2023.
9 – Oregon is making its ninth all-time appearance in the Rose Bowl Game, and is looking for its fourth straight victory.
10 – The Ducks’ 10 sacks against Washington tied for the most in a game in program history and the most by an FBS team in 2024.
10.5 –Matayo Uiagalelei leads the Ducks with a career-high 10.5 sacks, tied for No. 10 in Oregon single-season history.
13-0 – The Ducks are the only undefeated team in the nation and are 13-0 for the first time in program history.
26.8 – Oregon ranks fifth in the nation in average kickoff return yards (26.8) and is one of 10 teams with a kickoff and punt return for a TD.
30 – Oregon is one of only two teams (Miami) to score 30-plus points 11 times this season, and one of six to do so at least 10 times.
31 –Jordan James is currently fifth all-time at Oregon with 31 career rushing touchdowns.
41 –Dillon Gabriel‘s career-high 41 completions vs. Idaho matched the UO single-game record and are tied for the most by a FBS QB in 2024.
54.17 – Oregon leads the nation with a 54.17 third-down conversion rate in road and neutral site games (39-of-72).
62 – The Ducks lead the Big Ten and rank third nationally with 62 PBUs on the season, led by a season-best 13 against Boise State.
63 – Dillon Gabriel will make his 63rd career start in the Rose Bowl, the most in FBS history by a quarterback.
92 – Already the all-time leader among UO tight ends in receptions and receiving TDs, Terrance Ferguson (1,466) needs just 92 more receiving yards to pass Ed Dickson (1,557) for that record.
164 –Tez Johnson is fifth in Oregon history with 164 career receptions as a Duck, just 14 back of the all-time record of 178.
187 –Dillon Gabriel is the NCAA all-time leader in career total touchdowns with 187.
1,253 –Jordan James is tied for 20th in the nation with 1,253 rushing yards this season, 11th-most in UO single-season history.
