It looked like any other game that had come before it instantly. Oregon won the toss, elected to receive and marched down the field with ease. In 2:39, Oregon ran 10 plays and traveled 75 yards to take a 7-0 lead.
However, a couple of uncharacteristic dropped passes and a long list of missed opportunities defined the rest of the game. Ohio State, led by running back Ezekiel Elliot, ran roughshod on Oregon’s defense, eventually easing its way to a 35-20 win to become the first College Football Playoff National Champion.
Oregon’s defense managed to weather the unrelenting storm, forcing four turnovers. Yet, unlike in the Rose Bowl, in which Oregon scored 34 points off them, the Ducks managed to score just 10. They also scored just one touchdown in its four red zone trips and at one point, went 22:36 without putting a point on the board.
Elliott rushed the ball 36 times for 246 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. In other words, he was unstoppable and Oregon didn’t have an answer.
Mariota finished with 333 yards and two touchdowns on 24 completions and Byron Marshall led all receivers with 169 yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
Oregon’s rushing attack gained just 132 yards on 33 carries.
Key plays:
– Capping off their opening drive with a seven-yard touchdown connection between Marcus Mariota and Keanon Lowe, the Ducks recorded the first score of the game. After marching down the field with ease, the Ducks set the tone early on with this play.
– On what should have been a 40-yard completion, actually ended up being a vital drop by Dwayne Stanford who was all alone deep down the field. The Ducks were forced to punt for the first time, eventually giving Ohio State their first score of the game.
– At the 8:46 mark in the second half, and with Ezekiel Elliott charging down the field, Troy Hill laid a hit, forcing a critical fumble. The Ducks however, failed to convert the following drive into points.
– On a 3rd and 12 with roughly seven minutes to go in the second quarter, Jones connected with Devin Smith for a 45-yard pass. The Buckeyes went on to take a 21-7 lead.
– On two separate 3rd downs, Stanford and Charles Nelson, both of whom had key drops early on, recorded big time grabs to keep Oregon’s drive alive. The Ducks ended the drive with an Aiden Schneider field goal.
– After linebacker Danny Mattingly forced an interception on a Cardale Jones pass, Oregon responded quickly. On its first play, Mariota connected with Byron Marshall for a 70-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-17.
– With the score 21-20, Buckeyes running back Elliott rushed in a pair to touchdowns. The first of which came from nine yards out and the second came from the two. Those two touchdowns made the score 35-20.
Oregon passing
Marcus Mariota – 24-of-37 for 333 yards and two touchdowns
Ohio State passing
Cardale Jones – 16-of-23 for 242 yards and one touchdown
Oregon rushing
Thomas Tyner – 12 carries for 62 yards
Marcus Mariota – 10 carries for 39 yards
Royce Freeman – 10 carries for 22 yards
Ohio State rushing
Ezekiel Elliott – 36 carries for 246 yards and four touchdowns
Oregon receiving
Byron Marshall – eight receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown
Dwayne Stanford – four receptions for 61 yards
Keanon Lowe – three receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown
Evan Baylis – five receptions for 25 yards
Ohio State receiving –
Corey Smith – two receptions for 76 yards
Devin Smith – one reception for 45 yards
Jalin Marshall – five receptions for 52 yards
Oregon total offense – 465
Ohio State total offense – 538
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