PASADENA, Calif. — Oregon faced several hurdles this season to emerge as the only unbeaten team and earn the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Yet, their journey came to a disappointing end as they fell to Ohio State 41-21 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night, ending the Big Ten champions’ quest for their first national championship.
Defensive back Kobe Savage expressed his shock at the defeat, remarking on how Ohio State’s aggressive approach early on caught the Ducks off guard. “They came out and punched us in the mouth. We tried to make adjustments, but it was definitely different,” he stated.
The game began on a sour note for Oregon, as they quickly went behind on just the third play when Jeremiah Smith caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard. The Ducks struggled to keep pace, allowing scores on six out of Ohio State’s first seven drives. Throughout their first six possessions, Oregon only made it into Ohio State territory once and faced four three-and-out situations before finally scoring on their seventh attempt.
Coach Dan Lanning acknowledged the team’s slow adjustments, recognizing that they were unable to respond effectively to Ohio State’s game plan. Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks’ quarterback, had a successful outing in a prior meeting against the Buckeyes but faced difficulties this time around. His only completion over 28 yards—a 44-yarder to Traeshon Holden—came just 30 seconds before halftime.
Receiver Tez Johnson noted the stark contrast in defensive schemes between their previous match and this one. “They dropped eight. First game they played us man. That was their game plan to stop us, and they did it to the best of their ability and they succeeded,” he explained, citing a drop in his own productivity compared to earlier games.
Ohio State’s first-half offensive strategy was effective, showcasing nine plays that gained at least 15 yards while exploiting communication breakdowns within Oregon’s secondary. “Every time we had bad eyes or miscommunication, they capitalized on those moments,” said Savage.
Despite coming into the game boasting a strong record in third-down conversions, Oregon struggled, converting just 1 of 4 in the first quarter and 5 of 12 overall in the half. Gabriel lamented the impact of their inability to execute during critical situations, emphasizing that creating explosive plays was essential in maintaining offensive momentum.
Gabriel was pressured substantially more than in their previous encounter, where he had ample protection, finishing the game with eight sacks against him. Compounding Oregon’s offensive woes, running back Jordan James exited the game early due to injury, and their leading receiver, Evan Stewart, was unable to play after suffering a back injury in the Big Ten Championship.
Reflecting on the drastic change in environment, Stewart expressed disbelief at how one-sided the confrontation became, especially compared to their previous competitive match at Autzen. “It was definitely a different atmosphere we hadn’t been in this year,” he said. Moving forward, the Ducks can be proud of their achievements in their inaugural season in the Big Ten, but they will face significant transitions as they lose key players, including Gabriel.
Savage pointed out the legacy left by the senior players, highlighting their resilience and setting a standard for the upcoming generation. “I feel like there’s a lot of underclassmen and a lot of young guys that are going to come in and fill those roles and also maintain that standard,” he concluded.
