Buckeyes bury Ducks in final
OHIO STATE 42 OREGON 20
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State entered the inaugural College Football Playoff as the most debated of the four selections, but the Buckeyes finished Monday night as national champions. With Eagles coach Chip Kelly watching from the sideline, Ohio State overpowered Oregon in a 42-20 win that signaled the Buckeyes’ return to prominence under coach Urban Meyer.
It was not Oregon’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Marcus Mariota, who was the star on Monday. Rather, it was Ohio State’s sophomore running back, Ezekiel Elliott, who put the game away in the second half with three touchdown runs. Elliott finished with 36 carries for 246 yards and four TDs.
Voorhees native Eli Apple punctuated the win by intercepting a Mariota pass on the final play of the game.
The national title was the third of Meyer’s career, and it came in his third season with the Buckeyes. Meyer has won 38 of 41 games at Ohio State and 84.5 percent of the games in his 14 years as a head coach.
It’s the eighth national championship in Ohio State’s 125-year history and the first since 2002. That was also the last time a Big Ten squad ended the season as the top team.
The win completed an improbable championship run. Ohio State lost star quarterback Braxton Miller before the season and then dropped a Week 2 game to Virginia Tech. Backup quarterback J.T. Barrett excelled thereafter, but he broke his ankle on Nov. 29. Thirdstring quarterback Cardale Jones led the Buckeyes to wins in the Big Ten champi- onship and the Sugar Bowl, and on Monday he delivered on his chance to put his name in college football lore.
Ohio State’s victory was helped by a 21-10 first-half lead that could have been even bigger if not for two fumbles.
Oregon appeared as fast as advertised when it opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took only 2 minutes, 39 seconds off the clock. The Ducks never reached third down, and they only had two plays of fewer than six yards. Mariota found Keanon Lowe for a seven-yard touchdown pass to take the early lead.
When the Buckeyes were forced to punt on the ensuing possession, Oregon had a chance to build its lead. Meyer acknowledged the perils of needing to play from behind against the Ducks, and his defence helped keep Oregon from piling on. The Buckeyes forced a punt after four plays and reclaimed possession at their own three-yard line.
Then came a 97-yard touchdown drive that swung the momentum in the game. Jones completed two 26-yard passes to help bring the ball into Oregon territory and also converted a fourth and two from Oregon’s 35-yard line.