Following a thrilling College Football Playoff Quarterfinal between Texas and Arizona State at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Wednesday’s second quarterfinal produced a result as decisive as the Ohio State Buckeyes’ blowout victory over the Oregon Ducks.
Ohio State led by as many as 34 points in the second quarter and cruised to a 41-21 victory in the Prudential Rose Bowl. According to ESPN Research, the Buckeyes’ final margin of victory of 20 points was the largest in program history against an AP No. 1 team.
Both sides of the ball performed admirably for Ohio State in the victory;
the Will Howard-to-Jeremiah Smith connection clicked in a big way, with the freshman receiver hauling in seven catches for 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while the defense racked up eight sacks.
Following the game, the Buckeyes poked fun at their opponents by posting a witty game-related caption on X.
Ohio State will now advance to the semifinals of the playoffs, where they will face the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.