Ohio State defeats Oregon in the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Ohio State avenged one of its two regular-season losses and is now in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

The eighth-seeded Buckeyes got off to a fast start and didn’t shy away from defeating No. 1 Oregon with a 41-21 win in the Rose Bowl.

Wednesday’s game was considered the top quarterfinal game of the playoffs as many expected it to be a back-and-forth affair against the scenic backdrop of the California sunset reflecting off the San Gabriel Mountains.

Instead, by the time most of the country finally saw the game on screens after overtime in the Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes had already gained control and, for much of the first half, it was an Ohio State University showcase befitting even one of the best There have been a lot of teams in the country that need to be overcome.

The first play of the game gave a taste of how the night would go, as Will Howard connected with Gee Scott Jr. for a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith raced past the Oregon defense for a 45-yard score that gave the Buckeyes a lead they would never relinquish.

Ohio State advances to the playoff semifinals in the Cotton Bowl against No. 5 Texas, which defeated Arizona State earlier on Wednesday.

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Smith appeared in “The Granddaddy of Them All” looking like anything but someone playing his first season of college football. He repeatedly made highlight-reel catches past Oregon defenders. Smith already had a career-high 161 receiving yards at halftime and finished the night with 187 receiving yards on seven catches and two touchdowns. His second score, a 43-yard reception that gave Ohio State a 24-0 lead, officially put the game out of reach early in the second quarter.

The stunning victory contrasted with the two teams’ regular-season meeting, which Oregon won 32-31 when Ohio State ran out of field goal range.

Big plays were what gave Ohio State such a commanding lead in the first half, with all four touchdowns going for at least 42 yards. There was the first 45-yard score, a 42-yard catch by Emeka Egbuka, the 43-yard score by Smith and TreVeyon Henderson broke free for a 66-yard run.

While Ohio State’s offense continued to find big play after big play, Oregon struggled to generate momentum and couldn’t handle the Buckeyes’ speed or toughness. They scored three times on the first two possessions of the game and failed to score on the first five possessions of the night. Oregon didn’t get on the scoreboard until the last play of the first half, when it was already down 34 points.

To Oregon’s credit, the Ducks didn’t completely fold. They scored on their final drive of the second quarter and opened the second half with a touchdown to cut their deficit to 19. But after Oregon forced a three-and-out, the Buckeyes regained control and were able to use another Henderson touchdown to extend the lead to 26 points early in the fourth quarter.

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Ohio State defeats Oregon in the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff

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