Back in the day, this game would have been a great Rose Bowl matchup, steeped in the tradition of Big 10 vs. Pac 10 and held in Pasadena as part of the annual New Year's day bowl parade. Now, in the brave new world of college football, it's a battle of top five programs as these two undefeated powers jockey for position in the race for the college football playoffs.
That race puts this game in a very different context. With Georgia and Alabama already gone from the ranks of the undefeated, it would have been for all the marbles. This year one team will definitely go home unhappy, but there will still be plenty of time for both schools to rise to the top of the playoff heap, especially with the way this unpredictable season has played out so far.
Game Details
Fixture: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks
Date and Time: September 12, 2024 @ 7:30 PM EST
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene OR
Ohio State Buckeyes Team Review
Very few teams come into a game like this with no blemishes or warts, but if there is such a thing, Ohio State qualifies. They smoked their first three non-conference opponents, then they won their first two Big Tean games by a combined total of 73-14, holding Michigan State and then Iowa to a single touchdown each.
This is also a game that features a bevy of pro prospects, and as always OSU will contribute more than its share. The short list includes the guys at the glamour positions like receiver Emeka Egbuka and quarterback Will Howard. But if you're paying attention to possible high draft picks, you should also keep your eyes on the likes of linemen like Josh Simmons and Tyleik Williams, not to mention star edge rusher TJ Tuimoloau.
Oregon Ducks Team Review
The Ducks also come into this one with an unblemished record, but they did have one serious scare, courtesy of Boise State and their star running back, Ashton Jeanty. The game turned into a total track meet, but Oregon managed to eke out a 37-34 win against the Broncos. Jeanty ran wild against the Ducks in that one, racking up 192 yards on 25 carries to go with three TDs.
The Ducks got their first real taste of old-school Big Ten competition against Michigan State last week, but they were largely unfazed by the transition, winning that game by a 31-10 count. Oregon may not quite have the star-studded prospect list that the Buckeyes sport, but they bring a balanced attack to the table with running back Jordan James, QB Dillon Gabriel and receiver Tez Johnson.
Who to Watch
Ohio State Buckeyes
Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard has been a great story so far this year, but the Kansas State transfer will take a back seat in the one to star wideout Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka makes the Buckeye offense go, so if this one does turn into a track meet game, expect him to be right in the middle of it with plenty of catches and big plays.
Oregon Ducks
For the Ducks, we'll go with running back Jordan James, whose yards per rush average currently sits at a gaudy 6.3. He'll be hard-pressed to keep that number up against the Buckeyes tough top seven, and where that number lands will likely be a good barometer of how will this game will go for Oregon.
Keep an eye on Dillon Gabriel, too. He's considered a borderline draft pick right now, but that's been known to change with quarterbacks from this school when they have a great game against Ohio State. Gabriel will likely be under pressure all night long, and if he adds to his total of three red zone picks this could be a long night for him and his teammates.