The Ohio State Buckeyes weren't going to let a rookie from the Big Ten conference steal all the spotlight this season.
The Buckeyes will advance to the CFP semifinals after a 41-21 victory over top-ranked Oregon in Wednesday's Rose Bowl.
During Ohio State's sensational 34-point first half, Jeremiah Smith caught two of Will Howard's three long touchdown passes. Howard passed for 319 yards, Emeka Egbuka also caught a long TD pass, and Treveyon Henderson got revenge for the Rose Bowl on a 66-yard touchdown run for the Buckeyes (12-2, CFP). No. 8 seed) achieved the big win. At times this season has fallen short of their formidable talent.
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Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Gee Scott Jr. makes a first down during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2025. Jump to decide. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ohio State took the second opportunity created by the first 12 team CFP and emphatically defeated the tournament's No. 1 seed. The Buckeyes scored on six of their first seven drives and took a 34-0 lead late in the second quarter against the Grandfather of All, the nation's only undefeated team.
Ohio State will play No. 4 Texas in the Cotton Bowl on January 10th for a spot in the national title game. The Longhorns barely made it through the Peach Bowl early Wednesday, holding off Arizona State 39-31 in two overtimes.
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Ohio State Buckeyes running back Treveillon Henderson, 32, runs for a touchdown during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. ). (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns to Traeshon Holden for the Ducks (13-1, No. 1 seed in the CFP). Dreams of their first national title were dashed on the turf of the famed Rose Bowl. Oregon's winning streak ended at 14.
Eleven days after beating Tennessee to open the playoffs, Ohio State dominated in a thrilling regular-season rematch of the Big Ten teams in Eugene on Oct. 12, with the Ducks winning 32-31.
Smith, the Buckeyes' standout freshman playmaker, had seven receptions for 187 yards and had five catches for 161 yards in the first half alone, with scoring passes of 45 and 43 yards. It was a great bowl debut.
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, 4, plays quarterback for the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. , catches a pass in front of Dillon Gabriel, 8. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oregon State's sensational first season in the Big Ten will end with a blowout loss. This also marks the end of Gabriel's six-year college career.
Gabriel is one of the best quarterbacks this season. He was named the 2024 All-American, Big Ten MVP and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He led the Big Ten this year with 3,558 passing yards and 297 completions.
The quarterback started his career at the University of Central Florida, where he played for three years before heading to the University of Norman to play for the Oklahoma State Sooners. In December, with one year of eligibility remaining, Gabriel decided to head to the Pacific Northwest to play for the Oregon Ducks.
Gabriel will now turn his attention to the NFL Draft, where he is expected to be a second-tier quarterback prospect.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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