Will Howard finds redemption as Ohio State trounces No. 1 Oregon to book Cotton Bowl showdown with Texas

The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes delivered a statement win at the Rose Bowl, dismantling No. 1 seed Oregon 41-21 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Wednesday in Pasadena, California.

The No. 8 seed Ohio State Buckeyes delivered a statement win at the Rose Bowl, dismantling No. 1 seed Oregon 41-21 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Wednesday in Pasadena, California. With the win, the Buckeyes advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal, where they will face No. 5 seed Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10, for a national title game berth. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith spearheaded the Buckeyes’ offense as they jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the first half. Howard passed for 269 yards and three touchdowns before halftime, while Smith hauled in five catches for 161 yards and two scores as the Buckeyes dominated the undefeated Ducks. Oregon showed signs of life in the final seconds of the first half, with Dillon Gabriel leading a touchdown drive capped by a successful two-point conversion to make it 34-8 at the break. The Ducks added another touchdown early in the third quarter, narrowing the gap and sparking a glimmer of hope for Oregon’s faithful. But Ohio State’s defense proved too much, regrouping to limit the Ducks’ offense. Gabriel, a Heisman Trophy finalist, struggled under the Buckeyes’ relentless pressure, enduring eight sacks in the game – nearly matching the 13 sacks the Ducks gave up coming into the Rose Bowl.