Ohio State-Oregon breakdown
QUARTERBACK
The Ducks’ Marcus Mariota not only won the Heisman Trophy, the voting wasn’t close. He has thrown 40 touchdown passes to three interceptions. Ohio State is on its third quarterback, and though all three are talented and have produced, this is an easy call.
■ Advantage: Oregon
RUNNING BACK
Both teams average about 250 yards rushing per game, and each has a go-to running back. For Ohio State, it’s Ezekiel Elliott, who averages 116.6 yards per game and 6.9 per carry. And he’s getting better, with 450 yards in his past two games.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
WIDE RECEIVER
The loss of two key Oregon receivers (one to injury, one suspended for a failed drug test) will be difficult to overcome, though the Ducks’ offense doesn’t rely heavily on any one player. Ohio State is similarly balanced, but Devin Smith’s 27.7-yard average on 32 catches and his team-leading 12 touchdown receptions leap off the page.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINE
This the most improved part of Ohio State’s team, and leading the Big Ten Conference in offense at 509.7 yards per game is a testament to that. But it’s not like the Ducks struggle to move the ball, and linemen Jake Fisher and Hroniss Grasu were named to various first-team All-America squads.
■ Advantage: Oregon
DEFENSIVE LINE
Ohio State’s Joey Bosa is a consensus All-American and finalist for three major awards. He also lines up next to talented players in Adolphus Washington and Michael Bennett. Oregon can’t match up to that lineup, though DeForest Buckner is a quality defender.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
LINEBACKER
Another easy call. The Buckeyes are strong at this spot with Darron Lee, Curtis Grant and Joshua Perry playing well. Lee was the Sugar Bowl Most Valuable Player after making two sacks, and Perry leads the team with 118 tackles.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
SECONDARY
The Ducks suffered a big setback when cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu went down last month with a knee injury, but Oregon overcame that loss in the Rose Bowl against Florida State. Cornerback Troy Hill (18 pass breakups) and safety Erick Dargan (team-best 90 tackles) made this a talented secondary.
■ Advantage: Oregon
SPECIAL TEAMS
Charles Nelson has returned two punts for touchdowns for the Ducks, who also can rely on two quality kickers in Aidan Schneider and Matt Wogan, who have combined to make 16 of 19 field goals. Ohio State has the better punter, with Cameron Johnston averaging 45.3 yards per attempt.
■ Advantage: Oregon
COACHING
Oregon’s Mark Helfrich has been treated by the media as if he’s just along for the ride. That’s an easy — if not completely accurate — assumption to make going against Urban Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida and has taken the Buckeyes to the title game with a third-string quarterback.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
INTANGIBLES
Both teams have suffered injuries, but Oregon has lost two receivers and a star cornerback in the past month. Meyer knows how to win big games and is 5-0 as an underdog at Ohio State.
■ Advantage: Ohio State
SUMMARY
Oregon’s offense will be difficult to stop, and if the Ducks dictate tempo early, they will win. But Meyer and his staff will find a way to slow down the game just enough to cause the Ducks problems and add to his legacy.
■ Ohio State 38, Oregon 34
