Can Oregon Best the Buckeyes Again in Rose Bowl Rematch?

Ducks fans, fasten your seatbelts, put your tray tables up and adjust your seats to their upright position. The possibility of a high-stakes postseason rematch between the No. 1 Oregon Ducks and No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes is a reality, and things could get bumpy. Mr. FishDuck was so concerned that he took a break from his fun at Richard Casino No Deposit Bonus to discuss this challenging Rose Bowl awaiting Our Beloved Ducks.

Come New Year’s Day, the Granddaddy of Them All will host a Big Ten grudge match featuring the top-seeded Ducks (13-0) defending their unblemished record against the Buckeyes (11-2) in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. This isn’t just a football game; it’s a heavyweight bout between two colossal prizefighting football programs with a national championship hanging in the balance.

If the Ducks’ 32-31 thriller over the Bucks in October was a delightful amuse-bouche, this Rose Bowl showdown is a tableside 72-ounce steak flambe paired with a beach ball-sized baked potato loaded with all the fixins — a gut-busting, button-popping main course sure to induce neck sweats and labored breathing.

Can Oregon head coach Dan Lanning pull off a second victory over Ohio State to advance the Ducks to the semifinals? Photo by Eric Becker

Oregon, riding high under third-year head coach Dan Lanning, boasts an unblemished record and a Heisman finalist in quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The Buckeyes, fresh off their 42-17 demolition of Tennessee in the opening-round playoff nightcap, are fueled by the burning embers of their four-game losing streak to Michigan and a one-point heartbreak against the Ducks. Revenge, thy name is Scarlet and Gray.

The Tale of the Tape

The first meeting between these two saw Oregon eke out a 32-31 win in Eugene, showcasing the Ducks’ resilience and Gabriel’s ability to thrive under pressure in one of the biggest regular-season games of the year. The Ducks tallied 496 total yards, converting crucial turnovers into points while exposing cracks in the Buckeyes’ vaunted defense.

After a brain-melting 13-10 loss to Michigan at home to end the regular season, Ohio State has seemingly emerged from a flurry of questions about head coach Ryan Day’s future with the program and the team’s highly suspect $20 million roster looking like a team reborn. Quarterback Will Howard, who passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee, finally looks like the quarterback Ohio State hoped he’d be.

Oregon’s Derrick Harmon holds the ball after ripping it away from OSU’s Quinshon Judkins in the Ducks’ 32-31 victory earlier this year. Photo by Eric Becker

But Howard, who famously bungled the final drive of the game against the Ducks, will need to outduel Gabriel, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year who has thrown for 3,558 yards, 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions this season. What happens when good meets great?

Let’s break it down:

Quarterbacks:

Gabriel’s mastery of Oregon’s offense under offensive coordinator and Jedi master Will Stein has been unparalleled, delivering big plays in crunch time. Howard has been solid but inconsistent, at times playing like a waffling mid with an offensive line that occasionally resembles a sieve. Gabriel’s dual-threat ability and poise in big moments make him the clear leader.

Advantage: Oregon.

Oregon running back Jordan James has been productive and explosive all season, even against stingy defenses. Photo by Eric Becker

Running Backs

Ohio State’s backfield tandem of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson is hefty and effective, combining for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. Oregon’s Jordan James is no slouch and just as explosive and productive, with 1,202 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Along with Noah Whittington, with 537 yards and five touchdowns on the ground and 102 yards receiving and two scores, the pair has allowed the Ducks to open up the passing game by keeping opposing defenses honest to stop the run. Will Oregon’s running backs provide the same level of explosiveness as the Buckeye duo?

Advantage: Push.

Offensive Line

The Ducks’ road grading crew are finalists for the Joe Moore Award, allowing the fewest sacks in the nation for the third straight year. Left tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and right tackle Ajani Cornelius have anchored a line that has paved the way for both an elite rushing attack and a Heisman finalist QB. Ohio State’s patchwork line has improved but remains a liability, especially with injuries to key players like Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin.

Advantage: Oregon.

Oregon’s offensive line submitted an impressive performance against Ohio State earlier this season. Photo by Eric Becker

Defensive Line

Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer are game-wreckers, combining for 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks this season. Oregon counters with Jordan Burch and Matayo Uiagalelei, who have been equally disruptive. The Ducks also boast depth with players like Jamaree Caldwell and Derrick Harmon clogging lanes and rag-dolling thin-necked quarterbacks trying to run for their lives.

Advantage: Push.

Secondary

Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom lead an Ohio State secondary that ranks eighth nationally in pass defense. Highly-touted cornerback Denzel Burke got burnt repeatedly in Eugene against Oregon receiver Evan Stewart, surrendering eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon counters with Jabbar Muhammad and Tysheem Johnson, who have helped the Ducks rank ninth in the same category. That said, Downs has emerged as a true game-changer, so the Bucks get a slight advantage here, at least on paper. (Please keep in mind that last time these teams played, Gabriel skewered the Bucks’ secondary like shishkabob. Was this a one-off or did Oregon expose Ohio State’s secondary? We’ll find out soon.)

Advantage: Ohio State.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is the best quarterback in the country. Can he get the Ducks past the Buckeyes a second time? Photo by Steven Chan

Ducks’ Keys to Victory

To beat Ohio State twice in one season — a rare feat — the Ducks need to stick to what works:

1. Protect Dillon Gabriel: Oregon’s offensive line must neutralize Ohio State’s edge rushers. Gabriel thrives when given time, and his connection with receivers Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden could once again stretch the Buckeyes’ secondary like two fat kids in a tug-o-war over a Charleston Chew.
2. Win the Turnover Battle: Oregon forced two critical turnovers in the first matchup, including Harmon literally wresting the ball away from Judkins like a schoolyard bully snatching a nerd’s Magic cards. Against a Buckeyes team that’s rediscovered its swagger, extra possessions will be golden.
3. Red Zone Execution: Oregon’s Achilles heel has been their red zone defense (ranked 79th nationally). They’ll need to tighten up against an Ohio State team that thrives in short-yardage situations.

Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard runs for his life against the Ducks earlier this season in Eugene. Photo by Eric Becker

The Buckeyes’ Path to Redemption

Ohio State’s keys are simpler but no less daunting:

1. Establish the Run: Judkins and Henderson need to dominate on the ground to keep Oregon’s offense off the field. The Ducks’ run defense at times has been leaky, most recently allowing nearly 300 yards rushing to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game — a performance that can’t happen again if the Ducks want to advance to Dallas.
2. Protect Will Howard: The Buckeyes’ patchwork offensive line must hold up against an Oregon front that can collapse a pocket in an instant. Against the Volunteers’ defense that ranks fourth best in the FBS, Ohio State’s O-line was serviceable. The question becomes is Oregon’s defensive front more of a threat?
3. Limit Big Plays: Gabriel and company feasted on Ohio State’s defensive lapses in October. The Buckeyes can’t afford a repeat performance. Will defensive coordinator Jim Knowles have something dialed up differently this time around? You bet, one of the many advantages of playing a team twice in the same season. Whether they can execute that plan and find an answer for Gabriel, Johnson, Terrance Ferguson, and many others remains to be seen.

Oregon’s defense wraps up OSU’s Quinshon Judkins in October. Photo by Eric Becker

This is it folks. After boasting an undefeated record and a Big Ten championship, Oregon’s “reward” is a difficult quarterfinal game against a talented Buckeyes team at a neutral site.

The Ducks have the tools to dictate the pace of the game, whether it’s Gabriel threading the needle to Johnson or James grinding out tough yards. On defense, Burch, Harmon, Uiagalelei and Caldwell will be key in rattling Howard and stuffing Ohio State’s run game like a Christmas goose.

Expect fireworks. Expect blood. Expect heartbreak. And when the dust settles in the shadow of the San Gabriel mountains, expect Oregon to stand tall. It’s their best shot at finally silencing the doubters and claiming their first national championship.

Prediction: Oregon 38, Ohio State 34.

After all, the Ducks didn’t come this far just to be another notch on Ohio State’s belt of redemption. Not this time. Not this year. See you in Dallas.

Jordan Ingram

Jordan is a lifelong Duck fan currently living in San Diego. Jordan graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, after serving a prestigious fellowship with the Washington State House of Representatives.  Upon graduation, he worked as an English language teaching assistant for the Spanish Ministry of Education’s Ambassadorial Program in Monforte de Lemos, Spain.  Jordan has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and California, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, local politics, and crime. He is VERY excited to be writing about his beloved Oregon Ducks.