Jan 1, 2025 - Sports

Ducks' season over after Rose Bowl loss

Kale Williams

Quinshon Judkins #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled by Devon Jackson #26 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Pasadena, California. — The Ducks struggled to get anything going against Ohio State. Photo: Harry How/Getty Images

The Ducks' season ended at the Rose Bowl Sunday, with a 41-21 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Why it matters: Oregon came into the College Football Playoff as the top seed, but was undone by a Buckeyes team that made the Ducks look ineffective on both offense and defense for much of the game.

State of play: Ohio State got off to a quick start, putting up two touchdowns in the first quarter while the Ducks went scoreless.

The Buckeyes continued to dominate, jumping out to a 34-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Ducks finally got on the board with a touchdown and two-point conversion on the last play of the first half.
Oregon scored again early in the third quarter — offering a glimmer of hope the team might be able to mount a comeback — but they were unable to climb out of the hole they'd dug in the first half.

Catch up quick: The Ducks narrowly beat the Buckeyes the last time they met in October.

Oregon Coach Dan Lanning used a loophole to run time off the clock at the end of the game, forcing the NCAA to issue a new rule interpretation a few days later.

The big picture: Though the team's season ended in disappointment, the Ducks still have plenty to be proud of in their first season playing in the Big Ten Conference.

The team went undefeated in the regular season.
Lanning emerged as one of the nation's top coaches.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist.

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Ducks' season over after Rose Bowl loss

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