University of Oregon
13-1 , 9-0
Ohio State
12-2 , 7-2
Season Ends In CFP Quarterfinal
01/01/25 | Football
An historic season for the Oregon football program came to an end Wednesday at the Rose Bowl.
Facing Ohio State for the second time this season, this time in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the Ducks were hit with an avalanche of big plays in the first half and couldn't fight back from a big early deficit. The Buckeyes won, 41-21, the only blemish on a 13-1 season for Oregon — but one that will sting deeply nonetheless.
"Proud of our guys, certainly proud of our season," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "But as a competitor, there's no way you're not going to be disappointed tonight."
Ohio State mixed big-play offense with outstanding play up front defensively to end Oregon's season. The Ducks allowed six pass plays of 29 yards or longer in falling behind 34-0 in the second quarter, and offensively Oregon was sacked eight times and finished with minus-23 rushing yards.
With running back Jordan James sidelined prior to halftime and receiver Evan Stewart unable to play at all — after being a big-play threat in Oregon's regular-season win over the Buckeyes — Traeshon Holden stepped up to lead the Ducks on Wednesday with seven receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Dillon Gabriel finished 29-of-41 passing for 299 yards and those two touchdowns to Holden.
Bryce Boettcher led the UO defense with seven tackles, and Derrick Harmon had two tackles for loss. The Ducks weren't able to record a sack, nor force a turnover.
"I just don't think our plan was good enough, and they had a great plan to attack us," Lanning said. "So, credit to those guys."
Ohio State received the opening kickoff and scored in three plays, including pass plays of 30 and 45 yards. A 42-yard scoring reception made it 14-0 later in the first quarter, and a 43-yard touchdown catch pushed the lead to 24-0 in the second.
The Buckeyes also had a 66-yard rushing touchdown on the way to that 34-0 lead late in the second, before Holden scored on the last play of the first half. The Ducks then received the kickoff to open the second half and drove to a rushing touchdown by Noah Whittington, igniting hopes for a comeback. But the momentum proved fleeting.
"They clicked tonight; we didn't," Lanning said. "That's a great team. When you play a great team like Ohio State, you can't not be clicking on all cylinders. And they were."
Wednesday's loss brought to an end a historic season for the Ducks. Playing for the first time as members of the Big Ten, Oregon was the only unbeaten team in the FBS by the end of the regular season, then beat Penn State in its first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.
In the new 12-team playoff format, that earned the Ducks a first-round bye. Ohio State bounced back from a loss to Michigan at the end of its regular season by beating Tennessee at home in the first round of the playoff, regaining confidence that fueled the Buckeyes for their chance at revenge against Oregon on Wednesday.
"We haven't faced a lot of moments like that this year," Lanning said. "… That's a team that has the ability to go win it all."
Team Stats
OSU 7, ORE 0
OSU - Smith,Jeremiah 45 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:00
OSU 14, ORE 0
OSU - Egbuka,Emeka 42 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 3 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:05
OSU 17, ORE 0
OSU - Fielding,Jayden 46 yd field goal 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:53
OSU 24, ORE 0
OSU - Smith,Jeremiah 43 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 2 plays, 48 yards, TOP 00:43
OSU 31, ORE 0
OSU - Henderson,TreVeyon 66 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 1 plays, 66 yards, TOP 00:12
OSU 34, ORE 0
OSU - Fielding,Jayden 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 43 yards, TOP 04:51
OSU 34, ORE 8
ORE - Holden,Traeshon 5 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Lowe,Justius pass) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:59
OSU 34, ORE 15
ORE - Whittington,Noah 2 yd run (Sappington,Atticus kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:05
OSU 41, ORE 15
OSU - Henderson,TreVeyon 8 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 6 plays, 56 yards, TOP 03:15
OSU 41, ORE 21
ORE - Holden,Traeshon 27 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon () 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:36
