The showdown between Ohio State and Oregon is a heavyweight clash that will have huge implications for the College Football Playoff.
The No. 2 Buckeyes will visit No. 3 Oregon on Saturday, which is the first top five college football matchup ever played at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. It’s also the first matchup between Ohio State and Oregon as members of the Big Ten.
Both teams are 5–0 and contenders for the National Championship. The game will impact seeding for the expanded playoffs, where the Buckeyes and Ducks could feasibly meet again.
Ohio State leads the series, 9–1, having won the first nine games with Oregon winning the most recent matchup in 2021 with a 35–28 victory at Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes offense has been playing at a high level all season and is 21–for–21 with scoring inside the red zone.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has completed 71.5 pct. of his passes for 1,248 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. Howard ranks 8th nationally in passing efficiency (178.02), ninth in completion percentage, and is tied for 18th in touchdowns.
Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was named the Big Ten’s co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 35–7 victory over Iowa. He caught nine passes for 71 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Ohio State’s defense is No. 1 in scoring (6.8), No. 1 in total defense (202.4), No. 3 in rushing (72.6) and No. 4 in passing (129.8). Cornerback Denzel Burke leads the Buckeyes with four interceptions, while Lathan Ransom, Jordan Hancock, and Caleb Downs have two apiece.
Jack Sawyer has been a force getting to the quarterback and has 16.5 career sacks.
Under coach Ryan Day, Ohio State is 18-8 against teams ranked in the Top 25 polls for a .692 win percentage that is second-best to Georgia’s Kirby Smart (.723). The Buckeyes are 9–7 against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally.
Oregon also has a high-powered offense, averaging 35.0 points per game.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who spent three seasons at Central Florida and two at Oklahoma, has completed 130–of–167 pass attempts for 1,449 yards and 11 touchdowns. He leads the nation in completion percentage at 77.8, Gabriel also ranks eighth in completions, 13th in passing yards per game (289.8) and 14th in passer rating (168.88).
Gabriel’s favorite target is tight end Terrance Ferguson, who has amassed 107 receptions for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns in 46 games since 2021.
The running attack is led by junior Jordan James who set career highs in carries (24) and rushing yards (166) last week against Michigan State. James entered the season with three career games of 10 or more carries and has run the ball at least 12 times in all five games in 2024.
Defensively, the Ducks allow 17 points per game—ranked 21st in the FBS—and allow 263.4 yards, ranked 10th nationally.
Dan Lanning is in his third season as Oregon’s head coach. He has compiled a 27–5 record with appearances in the Holiday Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” pregame show will be in Eugene for the massive, sold-out game.
