Ohio State and top-seeded Oregon will meet in the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day in a highly-anticipated rematch from the regular season.
The stakes are even higher in this second meeting. Ohio State breezed past Tennessee, 42-17, in the first round of the Playoff to advance. The Ducks secured a first-round bye and have not played a game since defeating Penn State in the Big Ten Championship on December 7.
Ohio State is in the College Football Playoff for the sixth time in the CFP’s 11-year existence. Oregon will look to advance to the CFP semifinals for just the second time in program history.
Keep reading for how to watch Wednesday’s Rose Bowl game, a preview, players to watch, betting odds and the head-to-head record between the two teams.
How to watch Ohio State vs. Oregon College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup
No. 8 seed Ohio State will face top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, January 1 at 5 p.m. EST.
Ohio State will be playing in its 17th Rose Bowl in program history, where the Buckeyes have posted a 9-7 record. The New Year’s showdown will mark Oregon’s ninth all-time appearance in the Rose Bowl, and fifth since 2010. The Ducks have won their last three Rose Bowl appearances.
· Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
· Time: 5 PM EST
· Site: Rose Bowl Stadium
· City: Pasadena, California
· TV/Streaming: ESPN
Ohio State vs. Oregon preview
The Ohio State-Oregon matchup is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round. The last time these two teams met, Ohio State lost by just one point but had the chance to take the lead in the final seconds if not for better clock management.
Watch full highlights from the Week 7 matchup below:
Oregon enters the game as the only undefeated team remaining, posting a 13-0 record and winning the Big Ten Championship in the team’s first year in the conference. Over the course of the season, the Ducks have established themselves as one of the nation’s most well-rounded teams. In the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff though, much has been said about Oregon drawing the toughest path to the championship despite securing the No. 1 seed. If the Ducks secure a spot in the championship game, they will certainly have earned it.
Ohio State’s season had far more ups and downs than Oregon’s. The Buckeyes finished with an 11-2 overall record, losing to Oregon in Week 7 and then to rival Michigan in the final week of the regular season. Coach Ryan Day has not defeated Michigan since 2019 and he is still searching for a statement program win. After being upset by the Wolverines, the Buckeyes are trying to do the one thing that might earn fan’s forgiveness: win a national championship.
Ohio State vs. Oregon players to watch
Ohio State
- QB Will Howard: Delivered a stellar performance in the team’s win vs. the Volunteers, posting 311 passing yards while completing 20 of his 24 attempts. Against Oregon, Howard will have the chance to redeem his late-game mistake from earlier in the season (His lack of clock awareness cost the team a chance at a field goal to win).
- WR Jeremiah Smith: He proved his dominance and game-changing ability vs. Tennessee, when he caught six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. During his freshman season at Ohio State, Smith recorded 63 receptions for 1,037 yards and a conference-leading 12 touchdowns. If Smith is at the top of his game, he will be tough to stop.
- RB Quinshon Judkins: The junior posted 157 attempts for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
- DB Caleb Downs: The top transfer of the 2024 offseason from Alabama has more than lived up to the hype in Jim Knowles’ defense. Downs has recorded 69 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three passes defended and one interception. Because of his versatility, Downs will be atop many 2025 NFL mock drafts.
- DL Jack Sawyer: He posted impressive numbers in the Buckeyes’ first round matchup, recording 1.5 sacks, two batted passes and five tackles.
2024-25 College Football Playoff full bracket and scores, schedule, matchups
Oregon
- QB Dillon Gabriel: The Heisman Trophy finalist has been pivotal to the Ducks’ success this season. In his first year with the Ducks after transferring from Oklahoma, Gabriel led the team to a 13-0 season and a Big Ten Championship win. The Ducks were the only team to finish the regular season perfect and their success allowed them to secure the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Gabriel averages 274 yards passing per game and has thrown 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate is second in the nation. Gabriel’s 35 total touchdowns are tied for seventh nationally, and his career total of 187 is the highest in NCAA history.
- WT Tez Johnson: Despite missing multiple games during the season, Johnson led the Ducks with 78 catches for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 78 receptions are the third-most in Oregon single-season history. Last time the Ducks faced the Buckeyes, Johnson recorded seven catches for 75 yards and one touchdown.
- RB Jordan James: Currently fifth all-time at Oregon with 31 career rushing touchdowns. James is also tied for 20th in the nation with 1,253 rushing yards this season — 11th most in Oregon single-season history.
- DL Matayo Uiagalelei: One of the best pass rushers in the College Football Playoff, Uiagalelei tallied 37 tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception this season.
Ohio State vs. Oregon odds
*odds courtesy of BetMGM
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-140), Oregon (+115)
- Spread: Ohio State (-2.5)
- Over/Under: 54.5 points
The 2025 Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon - Odds, expert picks, QB matchup, betting trends and stats
Ohio State vs. Oregon head-to-head record
The Rose Bowl will mark the 12th all-time meeting between Oregon and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a 9-2 advantage in the series, but the Ducks have won each of the last two matchups.
Ohio State and Oregon also played in the 1958 Rose Bowl, which Ohio State won, 10-7.
The winner of the Rose Bowl will face either Texas or Arizona State in the Cotton Bowl.
