PASADENA, Calif. — The prestigious Rose Bowl marks the next chapter in No. 1 Oregon’s pursuit of a national championship. The Ducks will face either Ohio State or Tennessee in the 111th iteration of this iconic game, known as the Granddaddy of Them All.
With a flawless record of 13-0, Oregon secured the top seed in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, prompting celebrations for the Ducks as they head to Pasadena for the ninth time in school history, driven by their quest for a first national title.
Before settling on their opponent for the Rose Bowl Game—also a playoff quarterfinal—Ohio State (10-2) and Tennessee (10-2) will clash in Columbus on Saturday, December 21. This matchup brings together two storied programs with minimal history, as the Volunteers previously defeated the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 1996, their only encounter to date.
Ohio State earned the home-field advantage despite a disappointing loss to Michigan, which saw them miss out on a Big Ten title showdown with Oregon. The Buckeyes also previously fell to the Ducks in a gripping 32-31 game in Eugene earlier this year. Nevertheless, a potential rematch in California remains on the table.
Oregon has emerged as the standout team throughout this unpredictable college football season. They finished as the lone undefeated team in the FBS, clinching the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 after defeating Penn State 45-37 to win their first Big Ten championship.
Historically, the Rose Bowl has been a revered venue for matchups primarily between Big Ten teams and West Coast representatives, particularly from the Pac-12. However, the recent disbanding of the Pac-12 and shifts in postseason alignments have altered the bowl’s trajectory, creating an uncertain future.
Oregon’s return to Pasadena next month will help ease this transition, preserving the bowl’s traditional allure. Should the matchup feature the Ducks and Buckeyes, it would satisfy both the modern and traditional elements of the game, despite any recent upheaval. The two teams have previously met in this bowl, once in 1958 and again on January 1, 2010, when Terrelle Pryor led Ohio State to a 26-17 win.
Historically, Oregon maintains a balanced record of 4-4 in Rose Bowl appearances and has had a notable presence in Pasadena since 2010, including three consecutive victories, the latest being a 28-27 win over Wisconsin in 2020, marking the end of quarterback Justin Herbert’s tenure with the Ducks.
Ohio State, holding the third-most Rose Bowl appearances at 16, follows USC (34) and Michigan (21) in the rankings. The Buckeyes boast a record of four straight wins in Pasadena, with victories over Washington in 2019 and Utah in 2022.
Tennessee’s devoted fan base would greatly appreciate a trip to Pasadena, as the Volunteers last journeyed to the Rose Bowl in the 1940s, specifically not returning since 1945.
Oregon and Tennessee have faced each other on two occasions, both times resulting in victories for the Ducks in 2010 and 2013.
