Jeremiah Smith scored two touchdowns and the Ohio State defense played great. Ohio State defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Jeremiah Smith is only a freshman and teams do not have an answer for him. With the convincing victory, Ohio State averaged its 32-31 defeat at Oregon in October. Ohio State jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the first half. Ohio State outgained Oregon by more than 300 yards in the first half and Oregon was dismantled.
The Incomparable Jeremiah Smith
Jeremiah Smith is still just a freshman. He had a 45-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and a 42-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. The second one gave Quarterback Will Howard three touchdown passes in the first half. On the second touchdown reception, Smith was wide open. There was not an Oregon defender within four or five yards of him. One wonders how Jeremiah Smith gets so open.
Jeremiah Smith had 7 receptions for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. The wide receiving trio for Ohio State of Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate is incomparable, and Smith will be back next year.
Ohio State-Oregon Scoring Summary
Ohio State again jumped out fast and was up 14-0 after two drives. With 7:31 left in the first quarter, Ohio State was leading 14-0. The fast start was reminiscent of Ohio State’s quick start against Tennessee. In the first quarter, Jeremiah Smith caught a short pass and scampered 45 yards giving Ohio State a 7-0 lead. Then star Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka scored a touchdown on a 46-yard catch. This gave Ohio State a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. In the first quarter, Jeremiah Smith had 4 receptions for 118 yards.
In the second quarter, Jayden Fielding hit a 46-yard field goal to give Ohio State a 17-0 lead. Fielding has been much maligned as kicking is the weakness of the Buckeyes. The field goal by Fielding was a good sign for Ohio State. Then Jeremiah Smith scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio State a 24-0 lead with 10:28 remaining in the first half.
Ohio State Piles On
Running Back TreVeyon Henderson scored on a 66-yard touchdown run to give Ohio State a 31-0 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first half. Henderson is now in third place all-time in touchdowns at Ohio State. Then Fielding hit a 36-yard field goal giving Ohio State a 34-0 lead with 2:59 remaining in the half. Just before halftime, Traeshon Holden caught a short touchdown pass and Oregon successfully converted a 2-point conversion to cut the Ohio State halftime lead to 34-8.
In the third quarter, Oregon scored a touchdown and the card did not say go for 2 so they kicked an extra point. Ohio State now led 34-15 after Noah Whittington rushed in for 2 yards. Then Henderson rushed for his second touchdown of the game. Ohio State took a 41-15 lead. This touchdown iced the game.
In the fourth quarter, Dillon Gabriel hit Holden to make the score 41-21 Ohio State. That touchdown pass by Gabriel tied him for the record for most career touchdown passes in a career with Case Keenum. That ended up being the final score.
Game Notes
Tennis legend Billy Jean King was the chairperson of the Tournament of Roses. She participated in the pre-game coin toss. Smith is completing his freshman season and big things will happen to him if he stays healthy. Smith will be drafted high in the first round of the NFL Draft.
With the win, Ohio State advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Texas, which needed double overtime to defeat Arizona State. Ohio State outgained Oregon 390-139 in a dominant first half.
A capacity crowd of 92,542 saw the game in the Rose Bowl. Attendance was about sixty percent of Oregon fans and they were disappointed with today’s result. This win marked the third time Ohio State defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State won in 2010 and they also defeated Oregon in the 1958 Rose Bowl which gave Woody Hayes his first national title.
Ohio State had 8 sacks and Gabriel could not outrun the Buckeyes defense. Gabriel killed Ohio State running in their first meeting All three teams so far that had a first-round bye fell behind right away and lost. None were favored. Ohio State outgained Oregon 500-276 and Ohio State held Oregon to -23 yards rushing.
Conclusion
Ohio State now plays Texas in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. If Ohio State plays like it did against Tennessee and Oregon they will win the national title in football. They seem like they are on a mission. The Ohio State-Texas game will take place on January 10 in Dallas.
