If not for Will Howard’s final-play blunder against Oregon on Oct. 12, Ohio State might be the higher-seeded team entering a much-anticipated rematch in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
Howard certainly is focused on redemption when the No. 8 seed Buckeyes get another chance against the No. 1 seed Ducks in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Pasadena, Calif.
Ohio State trailed 32-31 and was driving toward a possible game-winning field-goal attempt in Eugene, Ore., in October as a scrambling Howard was on the run and intentionally slid at the Oregon 26-yard line.
One big problem — time had expired. There would not be a field-goal try.
“The way that last one ended doesn’t sit right with me. It still doesn’t,” Howard said after Ohio State’s 42-17 home thumping of No. 9 seed Tennessee in a first-round CFP matchup on Dec. 21. “Still bugs me.”
Howard will look for a different result when the Buckeyes (11-2) try to end the perfect season of Oregon (13-0).
Howard, who transferred from Kansas State after last season, has delivered a solid season by passing for 3,171 yards and 29 touchdowns against nine interceptions. But the mental gaffe against Oregon seems to overshadow everything else.
“I’m excited. It’s going to be a heck of an opportunity for all of us,” Howard said. “I think we’ve all been looking forward to this one, and for another crack at these guys.”
The heavyweight matchup will feature two prolific offenses, with Ohio State averaging 36 points per game and the Ducks at 35.9. Former Oregon coach Chip Kelly is the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator.
Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel has completed 73.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns against just six interceptions this season. The third-place finisher in Heisman Trophy balloting will make his 63rd career start.
Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma after last season. He has thrown 153 career touchdown passes, two off the FBS record held by Houston’s Case Keenum (2007-11).
“I’ve been really impressed with Dillon’s poise,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “It doesn’t matter if there’s just a couple seconds left in the clock or if it’s fourth-and-9, I feel like he treats those plays the same as first-and-10 at the beginning of the game.”
The quarterback matchup was even in the mid-October game between Oregon and Ohio State. Gabriel passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for one TD, while Howard threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns and also had one score on the ground.
Both teams will dissect the first matchup and see how the opponent has evolved since then while formulating their game plans.
“You look at what worked, you look at what didn’t work, you look at how your teams change, and you try to play again through your strengths,” Lanning said. “You look at how your opponent’s teams change. So there’s going to be some differences in this game from the last game, for sure.”
The Ducks are the lone unbeaten team in the nation and have scored more than 30 points on 11 occasions. Running back Jordan James complements Gabriel, having rushed for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He has six 100-yard outings.
Ohio State lost to Michigan 13-10 in the regular-season finale. The Buckeyes have topped 30 points on 10 occasions.
Howard has two big-time targets in Emeka Egbuka — 65 receptions for 824 yards and nine touchdowns — and Jeremiah Smith (63 for 1,037, 12 scores).
The Buckeyes allow an average of 11.4 points per game compared with Oregon’s 17.8.
Who knows — another close game with a quarterback called on to execute during a final drive could be in play again.
“Will, I know, is excited to have an opportunity to play Oregon again,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said.
Ohio State leads the series 9-2, but the Ducks have won the past two games.
–Field Level Media
