Welcome to the Skull Session.
Sam Harachis cooked with this one. He cooked!
Ohio State and Oregon: The Rematch of the Century like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed in the heavyweight championship.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 30, 2024
Download the hi-res version of the Rose Bowl Game Poster here: https://t.co/anvb2ai3ek pic.twitter.com/mkxmlR1EDR
Have a good Tuesday.
THAT'S THE WORD! Two Skull Sessions before Ohio State hosted Tennessee in the College Football Playoff, I wrote about a phenomenon I experienced before the Buckeyes and Volunteers kicked off:
I have a question – the title of the section spoiled it – but I have a question!
What is this phenomenon?
I experience it often.
Years, months or weeks in advance of an Ohio State football game, I have some doubts about the Buckeyes’ chances to beat [INSERT OPPONENT], but as years, months and weeks become hours, minutes and seconds, those doubts vanish, and I start to have complete faith that the Buckeyes will demolish [INSERT OPPONENT] with no problems at all.
I can feel it now.
After Ohio State’s fourth consecutive loss to Michigan, I wasn’t sure if the Buckeyes could beat Kent State. (This is, of course, hyperbolic. Did you see how bad Kent State was this year? They can’t read, can’t write and can’t play football.) But now, with two more sleeps until a College Football Playoff matchup with Tennessee, I’m not sure if the Buckeyes will lose again this season.
Yes, I understand there are concerns about the head coach.
Yes, I understand there are concerns about the offensive line.
Yes, I understand the —
I don’t care.
La, la, la, la, la.
I have experienced this phenomenon, whatever it is called.
Ohio State will beat Tennessee on Saturday.
You can’t convince me otherwise.
Andy Anders told me the phenomenon is called fanaticism. He is correct. Fanaticism, as Merriam-Webster defines it, is a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal or obsessive enthusiasm. That's what I experienced before Ohio State beat the brakes off Tennessee. That's what I have experienced as the Buckeyes prepare to do the same to the Ducks. Well, I don't know if the Buckeyes will beat the brakes off the Ducks. I'd love to see it, of course. but a one-point win will suffice!
THE COACHES CONFIDENTIAL. Before Ohio State and Oregon face off in the Rose Bowl, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic interviewed several Big Ten coaches who have faced the Buckeyes and/or the Ducks to preview the matchup. Here's what some of the coaches said and the teams:
On Ohio State’s win over Tennessee
“It looked like they had a much-needed reset after the way they played against Michigan,” said a Big Ten secondary coach of Ohio State’s 42-17 blowout of No. 9 seed Tennessee in Columbus.
“They looked like they came out to beat the crap out of Tennessee, and Tennessee looked like they wanted to get the hell out of the cold,” said a second Big Ten DBs coach. “That was Ohio State remembering they have more weapons than everybody else and cutting their guys loose. If they keep playing like that, they’re gonna be really tough to beat.”
On Ohio State’s defense against Oregon on Oct. 12
“I think Ohio State played so poorly against them defensively the first time,” said a third Big Ten defensive backs coach. “They weren’t even lined up like on five to eight plays. I would think they’re gonna be a lot more settled in and play a lot more sound, but I could be wrong.”
On how Ohio State and Oregon’s defenses compare
“Ohio State has more talent on defense than Oregon,” said a Big Ten offensive coordinator. “They have a bunch of really good players in their front and at linebacker. I don’t think they have any great ones, but their linebackers don’t get enough credit. (Cody Simon) has really come on for them in the middle of their defense. The Ducks D-line is close to Ohio State’s but the rest of the defense isn’t. Oregon’s smaller on the back end and they don’t have anybody like (safety Caleb Downs), who is all over the field.”
On Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks’ offense
“He gets rid of the ball so fast,” said the second Big Ten DBs coach. “He’s very accurate. He does a good job with full-field reads. They don’t ask him to do too much, but he’s an older player. He’s been in college for so long. He knows what he’s doing out there.”
“You kinda get lulled to sleep by watching them throw the ball in space and run around,” said the third Big Ten secondary coach. “Gabriel is very good. He’s so poised. He’s a catch-throw guy. When he claps and that ball is snapped, they’re like a track team getting off. It’s more high-low or two-on-one than reading concepts and getting the ball out there. They do a really good job with tempo, and you’re gonna get all the smoke-and-mirrors stuff.”
On Oregon receiver Tez Johnson
“He’s tiny as hell, but he is so elusive and you can’t catch him,” said another Big Ten DBs coach. “He is so dangerous with the ball in his hands. He’s an issue. He’s their best receiver without a doubt.”
All of those confidential quotes are awesome, but this one – this one is the most important quote if Ohio State needs some more bulletin board material: “They may be more talented (than Oregon), but that doesn’t mean they’re the better team.”
Those coaches said the same thing about Ohio State and Penn State.
The Buckeyes won.
Those coaches said the same thing about Ohio State and Indiana.
The Buckeyes won.
Go be the better team tomorrow, Ohio State.
UNSUNG HEROES. According to Alec Dietz of the Eugene Register-Guard, Oregon has had (at least) four unsung heroes this season: Defensive back Nikko Reed, defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell and offensive linemen Nishad Strother and Dave Iuli.
Here are some quotes Dietz collected on the three underrated Ducks:
Nikko Reed
"Another great example of a guy trusting and believing in the process," Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi said. "His improvement has been awesome to see the way he competes, day in and day out. He knows that the challenge to him is when he puts together great bodies of practice and finishes to a standard, that typically shows up on gameday as well. The main thing that jumps out is he's always been an extremely competitive individual."
Jamaree Caldwell
"That dude's a beast," linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. "He doesn't get a lot of recognition that he deserves but man he eats up those double teams like crazy. He makes my job easy. He lets me run through those gaps with ease. A great teammate and a great guy off the field, so I just love having him on my team."
Nishad Strother
"He's had a great year for us," offensive coordinator Will Stein said. "Really stepped up and been the player we wanted when we brought him in here."
Dave Iuli
"It makes my decision-making process that much faster knowing that those guys are going to be where they are supposed to be," running back Jordan James said. "Through the season we've built a great connection with each other and a great trust with each other."
Note that Dietz quoted running back Jordan James in his breakdown of Iuli’s performance this season.
When I discussed Dillon Gabriel’s performance in the regular-season matchup between Ohio State and Oregon, some commenters reminded me that James also had a stellar performance against the Buckeyes. He did, indeed. Gabriel handed James the rock 23 times against Ohio State, and the 5-foot-10, 210-pound ballcarrier converted those attempts into 115 yards and one touchdown.
A second-team All-Big Ten selection, James has been dominant all season for Oregon. In his 13 appearances, James has carried the ball 226 times for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also proven to be a receiving threat out of the backfield, collecting 24 catches for 202 yards.
Like Gabriel, James is elusive, so Ohio State’s front seven must keep him in front at all costs. If James gets behind them – or Gabriel, Johnson or Stewart, for that matter – Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom must be able to make open-field tackles and keep the Ducks from recording the explosive plays that have made their offense so successful all season. Luckily, both Buckeyes have been excellent in that area in 2024, so I have confidence that the trend will continue on Wednesday.
NO MORE DISNEYLAND?! Joey Kaufman of The Columbus Dispatch posted an article on Monday about how much the expanded College Football Playoff has impacted Ohio State’s Rose Bowl itinerary.
The answer?
A lot.
When Ohio State traveled to Pasadena for past Rose Bowls, the Buckeyes visited Disneyland in Anaheim and the Beef Bowl at Lawry’s in Beverly Hills. That will not be the case in 2024, Pasadena Tournament of Roses CEO David Eads told Kaufman. Because of the new College Football Playoff format, Ohio State and Oregon arrived in Los Angeles on Dec. 29 instead of Dec. 26 or Dec. 27, leaving less time for traditional festivities.
“We really want to showcase Los Angeles and Southern California,” Eads said. “We just have to do it in a ballroom instead of taking them to some of our iconic locations.”
Trips to Disneyland for Rose Bowl participants had been nearly as old as the theme park itself. In fact, 1955 Rose Bowl participants Michigan State and UCLA visited Disneyland five months after it opened. Two years later, Ohio State visited the park ahead of its first Rose Bowl meeting with Oregon.
“While it’s unfortunate we’re not able to do those off-site events,” Eads said, “we want to do what’s best for the participating teams.”
Where does that leave Ohio State?
With a normal game week, Cody Simon explained Friday.
“We can just go out here, play our game, go home and get ready for the next one,” he said.
It’s sad when traditions end. But that’s life. While I would have loved to see another picture of Day smiling with his hands on his hips, standing next to Mickey Mouse...
... I can also appreciate the fact that the Buckeyes are strictly business in Los Angeles. Fewer distractions means more focus on the task at hand. The more prepared Ohio State is for Oregon, the better.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Going the Distance" - Bill Conti.
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