Buckeyes Playing Their Best When It Matters Most

It is one thing to be playing your best ball at the end of the season, but it is an entirely different thing to be playing your best against the best competition along the way. Those two things don’t generally go hand in hand, but that’s where Ohio State is right now as they have reaffirmed their status as a serious problem for anybody who would like to take a shot.

The Buckeyes made a statement in the first round of the College Football Playoff with a 42-17 win at home over Tennessee, and then on the field Wednesday in Pasadena they turned to the nation and said, “Watch this.”

On New Year’s Day, Ohio State took on the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in the 2025 Rose Bowl and the college football world quickly found out just how good this OSU football team is when it is playing at its best.

The Buckeyes led the game 31-0 midway through the second quarter. In just 25 plays, they scored 31 points. They had two touchdown drives of three plays, one touchdown drive of two plays, and a fourth touchdown drive of just one play.

The final score read 41-21 in the Buckeyes’ favor, but this game was never close. Every snap felt like Oregon was just hanging on, and the last hand-hold was gone by early in the second quarter.

This was Ohio State flexing every last muscle.

The Buckeyes went from making a statement against the Vols to issuing a warning to the rest of the CFP field. When Ohio State is playing at its best, your best will not be good enough.

It won’t even get you to the third quarter.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and his players could do nothing but congratulate the Buckeyes after the Rose Bowl win. After all, what else is there to say when there are too many highlights to fit into a single news broadcast.

“Due to time constraints, we move to further action in this highlight package of Ohio State’s domination in the Rose Bowl.”

It was a performance worth celebrating, and celebrate the Buckeyes did. But there are still two more rounds to go. The Rose Bowl trophy is nice, but it would look awfully lonesome by itself.

Since the regular-season finale loss to Michigan, this Ohio State football team has reforged itself, sealing any cracks that may have shown up. They look stronger than ever, but are still the kind of hungry that can cost you an arm or leg if you get too close.

The Buckeyes were averaging 15 yards per play well into the first half on Wednesday, and their defense was so dominant that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles finished with more rushing yards (0) than the Ducks did (-23).

There is firing on all cylinders and then there is what the Buckeyes did from the first snap of the Rose Bowl.

Quarterback Will Howard completed 17-of-26 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers. It was his third 300-yard passing game of the year — and second against Oregon. It was also his second 300-yard passing game in as many College Football Playoff games.

In the Buckeye locker room after the game, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was asked if this was Howard’s best game. His answer? “I hope not.”

There is still more work to do.

With the end of the season on the horizon and facing what was thought to be the best team in the nation, Ohio State played their best game of the year.

So far.

That last part is important because if your best game is behind you, then your next loss may be right in front of you.

The Buckeyes don’t look like they have any plans on letting up. They have been conditioned too well to stay on the attack. Offensively and defensively, there is an unrelenting nature that has been impressive to watch.

As Oregon showed after the game, even the opponents can’t help but be impressed.

And as long as the Buckeyes remain as focused and hungry as they’ve been so far, whoever the opponent is will remain just a footnote while one of the best stories in Ohio State football history continues to be told.

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