The highly anticipated game between the #2 Buckeyes and the #3 Ducks is upon us. This is the tenth meeting between the two schools, with the Buckeye's leading the series 9-1. Let's take a look at "What Happened Before."
- The Oregon football team was originally referred to as the Web Foots, but the sports writers shortened it to Ducks to save on space and eventually that became the official mascot.
- In 1947, Oregon reached an agreement with Walt Disney to use the image of Donald Duck.
- As stated above, the Buckeyes lead the series 9-1. OSU is 5-0 when only they are ranked and 2-1 when both teams are ranked.
- Ryan Day is 1-5 vs top 3 teams. Dan Lanning is 0-2 against top 3 teams.
- OSU has victories over the Ducks in 4 of its 8 national championship seasons (1957, 1961, 1968, 2014).
- This is the Buckeyes first game at Oregon since 1967.
THE GAMES:
January 1, 1958: With the final polls already released and the Buckeyes (8-1) ranked #1 in the coaches poll (UPI) and #2 in the AP behind Auburn (who was ineligible in the UPI poll due to recruiting violations. Yes, SEC cheating goes back THAT far!), they traveled out west to play the Oregon Web Foots (7-3) in the Rose Bowl. Oregon lost their last game, to rival Oregon State, in the Civil War, to tie the Beavers (who's has the best mascot in sports), and tie for the Pacific Coast Conference title. But because of the PCC no repeat rule at the time, the Beavers couldn't go back to the Rose Bowl, sending the team from Eugene.
The Buckeyes were 20 point favorites heading into the game, and Woody Hayes hoped his boys were ready. OSU took their opening drive 79 yards for a touchdown to start things off. Oregon was able to tie the score at 7-7 in the second quarter. After a scoreless 3rd quarter, the Buckeyes were able to kick a 34 field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 14:09 to play. The Web Foots had two more scoring chances in the 4th, but fumbled one away on the Buckeye 30 and later turned the ball over on downs with 47 seconds to play. 10-7 Buckeyes!
1961: The #3 Buckeyes (6-0) easily handled the Ducks (4-4) 22-12 in Ohio Stadium. Woody's troops intercepted two Oregon passes, and completed 1 pass of their own in 6 attempts for a whopping 12 yards as the the Buckeyes marched to a Football Writers Association of America national championship, Woody's 3rd and OSU's 4th. They finished #2 in the AP poll behind Alabama (SEC bias, LOL).
1962: The Buckeyes (4-3) beat the Ducks (6-1-1) 26-7, on a cold, rainy November day. Even though it was great weather for Ducks, it wasn't enough.
1967: In a battle of winless teams, OSU (0-1), crushed Oregon (0-4) by a lopsided score of 30-0 in the only shutout in the series. It also is the only game in the series played in Eugene.
1968: Woody's #6 ranked Super Soph's, on their way to an undefeated national championship season, outmanned winless Oregon (0-2) 21-6, in spite of throwing four interceptions and losing 2 fumbles. In spite of the turnovers, the Buckeyes outgained Oregon 456 - 140 yards.
1983: In their season opener, Earle Bruce's #7 ranked Buckeyes intercepted 3 Oregon passes to cruise to a 31-6 victory on the 94 degree September day. OSU quarterback Mike Tomczak had an outstanding day, going 21-25-273 yds and 4 TD's.
1987: The #5 ranked Buckeyes (1-0) stumbled to a 3-0 halftime lead over the Ducks (1-0) and hang on for a 24-14 win in Ole 9-3 Earle's final season.
Jan 1, 2010: The BIG champion and #8 ranked Buckeyes headed to Pasadena to face the Pac 12 and #7 Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes scored on their opening drive, marching 75 yards on their way to a 10-0 first quarter lead. The Ducks roar back to tie the game at 10 before the Buckeyes kick a pair of FG's to lead 16-10 at the break.
The second half opened with Oregon driving the length of the field to take a 17-16 lead, but the Buckeyes immediately responded with a FG. 19-17. Oregon tried to answer that score but fumbled the ball through the Buckeyes end zone. OSU's ball. The third quarter ended with Jim Tressel's troops leading Chip Kelly's boys 19-17. The Buckeyes were then able to mount a drive culminating with Terrell Pryor to DeVier Posey touchdown pass for 17 yards with 7:02 to play. Oregon was able to threaten one last time but missed a 44 yd FG with 5:10 to go. The Bucks then decided to play keep away and ran out the clock to win 26-17.
Jan. 12, 2015: CFP National Championship Game. The #4 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (13-1) faced the #2 seed Oregon Ducks (13-1) for all the marbles. After spotting the Ducks a 7-0 lead, the Buckeyes ran off 21 straight points starting with Ezekiel Elliott's 33 yard touchdown run. The Ducks were able to manage a 26 yd FG with 48 seconds to play in the half. Buckeyes led 21-10.
The Buckeyes received the second half kickoff and they started to drive. But Cardale Jones' pass was intercepted at the Oregon 30 yard line. On the next play, Marcus Mariota's 70 yard pass was completed to Byron Marshall for a touchdown. 21-17. Cardale's woes continued as the ball slipped from his hands as he was trying to pass and Oregon recovered at the Buckeye 23. But the Buckeye defense held and Oregon had to settle for a 23 yard FG. 21-20. The Buckeyes immediately answered, driving 75 yards for a Zeke Elliott 9 yard TD run on the last play of the third quarter. 28-20 Buckeyes.
After forcing an Oregon punt, the Buckeyes drove 76 yards for another Elliott touchdown run. 35-20. After the teams traded punts, Oregon got the ball on their own 15 with 4:17 to play. The Bucks hold and Oregon turns the ball over on downs at their own 14. The Buckeyes decide they want more, so they gave it to Zeke 4 times and he scored his 4th touchdown of the day to go along with his 246 yards rushing. 42-20 Buckeyes! Oregon couldn't muster anything in the final seconds. The Buckeyes had won the first CFP national championship!!!
2021: #12 (1-0) Oregon came a-calling to Ohio Stadium to meet the #3 Buckeyes (1-0) on a sunny September day. After a scoreless first quarter, Oregon opened the scoring when RB CJ Verdell went around left end untouched for a 14 yard touchdown. 7-0. After exchanging punts, the Buckeyes mounted a drive culminating in a 27 yard pass to Garrett Wilson from CJ Stroud. 7-7. The Ducks responded with a 65 yard drive for another Verdell touchdown. 14-7 Ducks at the half.
On the third play from scrimmage after the Ducks received the second half kickoff, CJ Verdell explodes up the gut and doesn't look back on his way to a 77 yard touchdown. 21-7 Oregon. CJ Stroud leads the Buckeyes down the field and hits JSN on a 26 yard touchdown pass to pull within 7. But the porous OSU defense couldn't stop the Ducks offense and they march 75 yards to go back up 28-14. That's how the quarter ended.
In the 4th quarter, the Buckeyes scored, 28-21, then the Ducks scored, 35-21, thee the Buckeyes scored, 35-28. Then the Bucks force Oregon to punt, but can't do anything and have to punt it back. Another Oregon punt, but the Ducks intercept a CJ Stroud pass at the Oregon 35, for all intents and purposes ending the game. The Buckeyes had 612 total yards but the defense allowed 505 yards. CJ Stroud passed for 484 yards, but it wasn't enough.
Hopefully this week's game is like the first nine meetings and not the last one. Go Bucks!!
- The Oregon football team was originally referred to as the Web Foots, but the sports writers shortened it to Ducks to save on space and eventually that became the official mascot.
- In 1947, Oregon reached an agreement with Walt Disney to use the image of Donald Duck.
- As stated above, the Buckeyes lead the series 9-1. OSU is 5-0 when only they are ranked and 2-1 when both teams are ranked.
- Ryan Day is 1-5 vs top 3 teams. Dan Lanning is 0-2 against top 3 teams.
- OSU has victories over the Ducks in 4 of its 8 national championship seasons (1957, 1961, 1968, 2014).
- This is the Buckeyes first game at Oregon since 1967.
THE GAMES:
January 1, 1958: With the final polls already released and the Buckeyes (8-1) ranked #1 in the coaches poll (UPI) and #2 in the AP behind Auburn (who was ineligible in the UPI poll due to recruiting violations. Yes, SEC cheating goes back THAT far!), they traveled out west to play the Oregon Web Foots (7-3) in the Rose Bowl. Oregon lost their last game, to rival Oregon State, in the Civil War, to tie the Beavers (who's has the best mascot in sports), and tie for the Pacific Coast Conference title. But because of the PCC no repeat rule at the time, the Beavers couldn't go back to the Rose Bowl, sending the team from Eugene.
The Buckeyes were 20 point favorites heading into the game, and Woody Hayes hoped his boys were ready. OSU took their opening drive 79 yards for a touchdown to start things off. Oregon was able to tie the score at 7-7 in the second quarter. After a scoreless 3rd quarter, the Buckeyes were able to kick a 34 field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 14:09 to play. The Web Foots had two more scoring chances in the 4th, but fumbled one away on the Buckeye 30 and later turned the ball over on downs with 47 seconds to play. 10-7 Buckeyes!
1961: The #3 Buckeyes (6-0) easily handled the Ducks (4-4) 22-12 in Ohio Stadium. Woody's troops intercepted two Oregon passes, and completed 1 pass of their own in 6 attempts for a whopping 12 yards as the the Buckeyes marched to a Football Writers Association of America national championship, Woody's 3rd and OSU's 4th. They finished #2 in the AP poll behind Alabama (SEC bias, LOL).
1962: The Buckeyes (4-3) beat the Ducks (6-1-1) 26-7, on a cold, rainy November day. Even though it was great weather for Ducks, it wasn't enough.
1967: In a battle of winless teams, OSU (0-1), crushed Oregon (0-4) by a lopsided score of 30-0 in the only shutout in the series. It also is the only game in the series played in Eugene.
1968: Woody's #6 ranked Super Soph's, on their way to an undefeated national championship season, outmanned winless Oregon (0-2) 21-6, in spite of throwing four interceptions and losing 2 fumbles. In spite of the turnovers, the Buckeyes outgained Oregon 456 - 140 yards.
1983: In their season opener, Earle Bruce's #7 ranked Buckeyes intercepted 3 Oregon passes to cruise to a 31-6 victory on the 94 degree September day. OSU quarterback Mike Tomczak had an outstanding day, going 21-25-273 yds and 4 TD's.
1987: The #5 ranked Buckeyes (1-0) stumbled to a 3-0 halftime lead over the Ducks (1-0) and hang on for a 24-14 win in Ole 9-3 Earle's final season.
Jan 1, 2010: The BIG champion and #8 ranked Buckeyes headed to Pasadena to face the Pac 12 and #7 Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes scored on their opening drive, marching 75 yards on their way to a 10-0 first quarter lead. The Ducks roar back to tie the game at 10 before the Buckeyes kick a pair of FG's to lead 16-10 at the break.
The second half opened with Oregon driving the length of the field to take a 17-16 lead, but the Buckeyes immediately responded with a FG. 19-17. Oregon tried to answer that score but fumbled the ball through the Buckeyes end zone. OSU's ball. The third quarter ended with Jim Tressel's troops leading Chip Kelly's boys 19-17. The Buckeyes were then able to mount a drive culminating with Terrell Pryor to DeVier Posey touchdown pass for 17 yards with 7:02 to play. Oregon was able to threaten one last time but missed a 44 yd FG with 5:10 to go. The Bucks then decided to play keep away and ran out the clock to win 26-17.
Jan. 12, 2015: CFP National Championship Game. The #4 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (13-1) faced the #2 seed Oregon Ducks (13-1) for all the marbles. After spotting the Ducks a 7-0 lead, the Buckeyes ran off 21 straight points starting with Ezekiel Elliott's 33 yard touchdown run. The Ducks were able to manage a 26 yd FG with 48 seconds to play in the half. Buckeyes led 21-10.
The Buckeyes received the second half kickoff and they started to drive. But Cardale Jones' pass was intercepted at the Oregon 30 yard line. On the next play, Marcus Mariota's 70 yard pass was completed to Byron Marshall for a touchdown. 21-17. Cardale's woes continued as the ball slipped from his hands as he was trying to pass and Oregon recovered at the Buckeye 23. But the Buckeye defense held and Oregon had to settle for a 23 yard FG. 21-20. The Buckeyes immediately answered, driving 75 yards for a Zeke Elliott 9 yard TD run on the last play of the third quarter. 28-20 Buckeyes.
After forcing an Oregon punt, the Buckeyes drove 76 yards for another Elliott touchdown run. 35-20. After the teams traded punts, Oregon got the ball on their own 15 with 4:17 to play. The Bucks hold and Oregon turns the ball over on downs at their own 14. The Buckeyes decide they want more, so they gave it to Zeke 4 times and he scored his 4th touchdown of the day to go along with his 246 yards rushing. 42-20 Buckeyes! Oregon couldn't muster anything in the final seconds. The Buckeyes had won the first CFP national championship!!!
2021: #12 (1-0) Oregon came a-calling to Ohio Stadium to meet the #3 Buckeyes (1-0) on a sunny September day. After a scoreless first quarter, Oregon opened the scoring when RB CJ Verdell went around left end untouched for a 14 yard touchdown. 7-0. After exchanging punts, the Buckeyes mounted a drive culminating in a 27 yard pass to Garrett Wilson from CJ Stroud. 7-7. The Ducks responded with a 65 yard drive for another Verdell touchdown. 14-7 Ducks at the half.
On the third play from scrimmage after the Ducks received the second half kickoff, CJ Verdell explodes up the gut and doesn't look back on his way to a 77 yard touchdown. 21-7 Oregon. CJ Stroud leads the Buckeyes down the field and hits JSN on a 26 yard touchdown pass to pull within 7. But the porous OSU defense couldn't stop the Ducks offense and they march 75 yards to go back up 28-14. That's how the quarter ended.
In the 4th quarter, the Buckeyes scored, 28-21, then the Ducks scored, 35-21, thee the Buckeyes scored, 35-28. Then the Bucks force Oregon to punt, but can't do anything and have to punt it back. Another Oregon punt, but the Ducks intercept a CJ Stroud pass at the Oregon 35, for all intents and purposes ending the game. The Buckeyes had 612 total yards but the defense allowed 505 yards. CJ Stroud passed for 484 yards, but it wasn't enough.
Hopefully this week's game is like the first nine meetings and not the last one. Go Bucks!!
