The Ohio State football team came into the College Football Playoff with a lot of questions. How were they going to respond following the crushing loss to Michigan? Were they in the right frame of mind to be able to beat Tennessee and advance to the Rose Bowl? They answered those questions.
The Ohio State Buckeyes answered all of those questions and more. They drubbed the Volunteers 42-17 to move on to the Rose Bowl. In that Rose Bowl game on New Year's Day, they will get a rematch with the Oregon Ducks. The Buckeyes lost that game by just one point, on the road. Will Howard still could have won that game, too.
This will be a much different game between the two teams than it was when they first matched up in October. Ohio State's defense is much different and their mentality is much different. This is going to be another close game at a neutral site instead of one of the toughest environments to play in football.
Ohio State football vs. Oregon early prediction
Looking at this game, it's going to be another close battle. Oregon has shown all year long that they can score points at will. In their final game, they hung 45 on Penn State in the Big Ten Championship. They also got some extra rest with the bye week.
After that Oregon game, the Buckeyes rebuilt their defense. Since that game, Ohio State's defense has been lights out. The Ducks have been the only team that Ohio State has played to score more than 20 points against them. Ohio State's offense is still cleary able to score points, too.
Early prediction: Ohio State football 38 Oregon 35
This is going to be another close game. Oregon was able to win the first time because the Buckeyes lost their best offensive lineman and the game was in Eugene. Ohio State has figured out its offensive line and this game is at a neutral site location.
This is going to be a great battle between two fantastic teams.