You remember where you were on New Year’s Day 2025. Honestly, if you’re an Oregon fan, you probably want to forget. If you’re a Buckeye, you’ve likely got the highlights on a loop. The ohio state oregon football score ended up at a staggering 41-21 in favor of the Buckeyes during that Rose Bowl CFP Quarterfinal, but the final numbers don't even tell half the story.
It was a beatdown. A total "statement" game.
Basically, Ohio State walked into Pasadena with a massive chip on their shoulder after losing a 32-31 heartbreaker in Eugene earlier that October. They didn't just want to win; they wanted to erase the memory of Dillon Gabriel's late-game heroics at Autzen. And man, did they ever. By the time the first half ended, the Buckeyes were up 34-8. Oregon looked like they’d seen a ghost.
The Night the Freshman Became a Legend
We have to talk about Jeremiah Smith. If you haven't been following, he's not just another recruit. The kid is a cheat code. In that 41-21 win, he put up 187 yards and two scores on just seven catches.
Think about that. He was averaging nearly 27 yards every time he touched the ball.
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Oregon’s secondary is usually elite, but they had zero answers for him. Will Howard, who some critics thought might crumble under the Rose Bowl lights, looked like a surgeon. He finished with 319 yards and three touchdowns. It was the kind of performance that silenced the "transfer portal skeptic" crowd in Columbus once and for all.
The Ducks, entering as the No. 1 team in the country, just couldn't get the engine started. Jordan James was stifled. Dillon Gabriel, who had been a Heisman frontrunner, found himself under constant duress. The Buckeyes' defense recorded eight sacks. Eight! Cody Simon was everywhere, playing like a man possessed with 11 tackles and two of those sacks.
Why the Regular Season Score Was a Lie
Kinda crazy how much can change in three months, right? Back in October 2024, the ohio state oregon football score was 32-31 in favor of Oregon. That game was an instant classic—seven lead changes, a raucous Autzen crowd, and a weird ending where Will Howard slid a second too late as time expired.
People thought that game proved Oregon had finally leaped over the Buckeyes in the Big Ten hierarchy. Dan Lanning looked like a genius. Ryan Day looked like he was under the hottest seat in America.
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But the Rose Bowl proved that the October "loss" was actually the best thing that could've happened to Ohio State. It forced them to fix their defensive rotations. It made them realize they couldn't just coast on talent. By the time the rematch hit on January 1, the Buckeyes were a completely different animal.
Key Stats From the 41-21 Rose Bowl Rematch
- Total Yards: OSU 500, Oregon 276
- Rushing Yards: OSU 181, Oregon -23 (Yes, negative yardage due to sacks)
- Third Down Efficiency: Oregon was a decent 8-of-19, but they couldn't finish drives.
- Turnovers: Neither team coughed it up, which makes the point differential even more shocking.
Oregon’s rushing game being held to negative yardage is still the stat that blows my mind. You don't see that against a Dan Lanning-coached team. Ever. It was a physical mismatch from the opening kickoff.
What This Means for the 2026 Rivalry
So, where does that leave us now? It’s early 2026, and the Big Ten is basically the Wild West. We've got news that Dante Moore is returning to Oregon for the 2026 season instead of heading to the NFL. That is massive. Oregon is going to be hungry for revenge when they head to Columbus later this year.
The 2025 season actually ended with Ohio State winning the National Championship, cementing their status as the kings of the "New Big Ten." But they lost some heartbreakers recently too, like that Big Ten title game to Indiana.
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The Buckeyes are going to be playing "ticked off" in 2026.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
If you're betting on the next chapter of this rivalry, keep a few things in mind. The venue matters. Oregon has shown they can win in the loud, rainy confines of Eugene, but they struggled with the neutral-site atmosphere of the Rose Bowl. When they travel to Ohio Stadium in 2026, the environment will be even more hostile.
Keep an eye on the quarterback battle. With Dante Moore staying at Oregon and Julian Sayin expected to take a bigger role for the Buckeyes, we're looking at a potential Heisman preview whenever these two meet.
Your next steps as a fan:
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Dates for the Ohio State-Oregon matchup in Columbus are being finalized soon; bookmark the official Big Ten site.
- Watch the Tape: If you haven't seen the full Rose Bowl replay, go find the "B1G in 60" version—it highlights how the Buckeyes' defensive line completely neutralizes the Ducks' perimeter speed.
- Track the Portal: Both teams are active right now, and a single offensive line transfer could flip the script for the 2026 game.
The score from last year might be in the books, but the bad blood is only getting started.