Ohio State Defeats Oregon in Rose Bowl

Ohio State's dominant performance led to a 41-21 victory over No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, securing their advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals against Texas. The Buckeyes, seeded No. 8, took a commanding 34-0 lead by late in the second quarter, with freshman Jeremiah Smith shining with 7 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Will Howard threw for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns, while TreVeyon Henderson contributed a 66-yard touchdown run. Despite a strong season, Oregon, which was unbeaten prior to the game, saw their aspirations for a national title come to an abrupt end. The Ducks struggled to recover from Ohio State's early onslaught and finished with their first loss of the season, ending their campaign at 13-1. The Buckeyes will next face Texas in the Cotton Bowl on January 10.