The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes came out firing on Wednesday night, dominating the unbeaten No. 1 Oregon Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State surged to a commanding 34-0 lead in the first half, led by true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The Oregon secondary had no answer for Smith, who caught touchdown passes of 45 and 43 yards in the first half and finished with seven receptions for 187 yards—the most receiving yards by a freshman in College Football Playoff history.
Following his stellar performance, Ohio State announced Thursday that Smith was named Offensive Player of the Game, alongside running back TreVeyon Henderson, who added two touchdowns, including a 66-yard rush in the second quarter.
Jeremiah Smith is one of the most unique freshman talents in recent college football history. His rapid development has catapulted him into the conversation as possibly the best wide receiver in the country, and he’s put his exceptional skill set on full display in the first two College Football Playoff games.
In the first round, Smith hauled in six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Buckeyes to a 42-17 victory over the Volunteers. Ahead of the Rose Bowl, Smith confidently warned Oregon not to single-cover him, and despite “poking the bear,” he delivered exactly as promised.
Now, the Buckeyes are preparing for the Cotton Bowl, where they’ll face off against the No. 5 Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff semifinals.