PASADENA, Calif. — Throughout most of the regular season, Oregon appeared to be the top team in the nation.

After initially struggling in a few matches, the Ducks finally found their rhythm and became a formidable opponent. With a potent offense that could score effortlessly, they seemed on the brink of clinching their first national title and establishing themselves as a dominant force in football.

Even as Ohio State outclassed Tennessee to earn a spot against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, the sentiment from both teams was clearly different: Oregon had steamrolled through the Big Ten in their debut season, while Ohio State fans were still reeling from their defeat to Michigan. With another potential slip-up, the most passionate Ohio State supporters, dubbed as the “lunatic fringe” by commentator Kirk Herbstreit, were prepared to call for coach Ryan Day’s dismissal before the game concluded.

So, as a stealth bomber flew overhead in Pasadena moments before kickoff, Oregon fans were filled with optimism for their first playoff appearance in ten years, while Ohio State fans braced themselves for another rocky ride.

However, on New Year’s Day, the Ducks faltered.

Oregon fell short of its previous performances and was decisively defeated by the Buckeyes, concluding a dream season in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

This outcome was unexpected. Oregon had recently scored 45 points against a strong Penn State defense in the Big Ten championship and had previously triumphed over an Ohio State team in a thrilling matchup just over two months earlier. But in the Rose Bowl, the game was effectively over by halftime.

What went wrong?

“Sometimes it’s just not your day. I think that was the case for us today,” remarked coach Dan Lanning.

Ohio State demonstrated its superiority within just one quarter. They quickly jumped to a 7-0 lead after only a minute, and Oregon struggled with two consecutive three-and-out series. By the end of the first quarter, Ohio State had a commanding 14-0 lead while Oregon was unable to generate any offensive momentum.

Things escalated quickly, with a score of 34-0 by the second quarter, leaving no chance for Oregon to stage a comeback.

“We simply could not stop them, and offensively, we weren’t able to find our rhythm,” Lanning stated. “We faced a great team and unfortunately, we didn’t bring our A-game.”

Oregon’s downfall stemmed from Ohio State’s explosive plays. The Buckeyes’ first four touchdowns tallied 40 yards or more, significantly demoralizing a defense that had ranked among the top 15 nationally. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith continually impressed with highlights, while quarterback Will Howard skillfully exposed the defense.

Lanning, in his third year at the helm for the Ducks, accepted responsibility for the defeat. He acknowledged that the coaching staff failed to prepare an adequate game plan and when adversity hit, adjustments were not implemented swiftly to stabilize the team. Ohio State effectively set up their receivers for advantageous matchups, resulting in substantial gains.

“They capitalized on their early opportunities,” senior linebacker Jeffrey Bassa noted. “They were functioning at a high level. Hats off to them.”

Concerns over the new College Football Playoff format?

Many individuals involved in college football are closely monitoring the initial 12-team College Football Playoff and it’s already apparent that changes may be required soon.

In the first three quarterfinal games, the teams that had to compete in the first round advanced to the semifinals, whereas those who received first-round byes were eliminated quickly.

Did the long break negatively impact the conference champions facing opponents with momentum?

“I consider that to be an excuse,” Lanning stated. “I believe our players were well-prepared. Obviously, they just had a more effective game plan than we did.”

Right from the moment the bracket was unwrapped, it was clear that Oregon wasn’t adequately rewarded for its stellar regular season. Facing a challenging opponent in the quarterfinals felt unfair, while teams like Penn State appeared to have easier paths toward a championship.

Nonetheless, Lanning doesn’t harbor resentment about the circumstances. He remarked that regardless of when they faced tough teams, they would have had to confront them eventually.

“We had our chance. We just didn’t seize that opportunity. I won’t make excuses for our situation,” Lanning stated. “We have no complaints about receiving that opportunity. (Ohio State) took full advantage of it while we fell short.”