Oregon Ducks have to ask themselves a ton of questions this offseason after getting destroyed in the Rose Bowl
It was billed as the best game on the College Football Playoffs slate. Oregon and Ohio State, who battled to a one-point game back in October, met up in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl to kick off 2025 in fashion.Ohio State obliterated the Ducks early. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about it for Oregon. Ohio […]
It was billed as the best game on the College Football Playoffs slate. Oregon and Ohio State, who battled to a one-point game back in October, met up in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl to kick off 2025 in fashion.
Ohio State obliterated the Ducks early. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about it for Oregon. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith dominated the game from the jump. The Oregon defense could do nothing. The Oregon offense, which was so high-flying all season, did nothing. Oregon entered this game averaging 36.9 points per game (5th in the country), averaged 6.6 yards per play (5th), converted their third down tries at a 49.66% clip (5th), and averaged 8.8 yards per pass (7th).
Oregon couldn't move the ball against Ohio State. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist, was 9/16 for only 54 yards late in the first half with the team down 31-0. Jordan James, their lead running back, was held to 14 yards on seven carries before leaving the game injured. Leading wide receiver Tez Johnson had four receptions for 20 yards.
The Buckeyes were in control in aspects of this game. Nothing worked for Oregon. Even the punter was out of sorts, shanking a couple for short yardage.
They were out-muscled and out-worked by Ohio State, and seemed to come into this game unprepared for what Ohio State was going to put on the field.
Oregon now has to ask themselves a ton of questions this offseason, and deal with how to recover and improve from the onslaught that they endured in the Rose Bowl. How was Ohio State able to dominate them physically? What do they do on defense to slow down Jeremiah Smith, who isn't going anywhere for two more years before inevitably getting drafted with a top-5 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft? Is their offense too predictable? There will be plenty of time for that. For now, the team has to recover from a major letdown.
It's going to be a long spring.
Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, as well as follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
