A triumphant moment unfolded at the Rose Bowl as several Ohio State players huddled behind head coach Ryan Day, lifting a bucket brimming with red rose petals. With a celebratory flourish, they doused their coach, petals cascading around him. Day’s grin, stretching to his eyes, reflected the pure joy of victory.
Ohio State had just secured a commanding 41-21 win over No. 1 Oregon in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The win propelled the Buckeyes into the Cotton Bowl, where they’ll face Texas with a national championship berth at stake.
This was the Buckeyes team fans had been waiting for—explosive, dominant, and poised for greatness. It didn’t take long for them to showcase their championship potential on Wednesday afternoon at the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State wasted no time, scoring four touchdowns in the first half on drives totaling just two minutes and 58 seconds. The tone was set three plays into the game with a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Howard to freshman standout Jeremiah Smith.
Oregon, previously the most consistent team in the nation, found themselves in an unrelenting storm. By halftime, the Ducks were down 34 points, and the game’s outcome was all but decided.
The Buckeyes didn’t just avenge their one-point October loss to Oregon; they dismantled the Ducks, rewriting the narrative around both teams. Ohio State’s performance erased memories of their earlier defeat and cemented them as the undeniable favorite to win the national title in less than three weeks.
This Ohio State team is no longer just fulfilling its promise—it’s redefining dominance on college football’s biggest stage.
