Oregon vs. Ohio State: 2015 National Championship Preview With TV Schedule
By Connor Muldowney
@Connormuldowney
Getty Images
With the 2014 college football season drawing to a close, it’s time to take a look at the two teams that survived everything thrown at them to make it to the national title game. The Oregon Ducks ran through the Florida State Seminoles, 59-20, to get there while the Ohio State Buckeyes made the Big Ten proud, outlasting Alabama in a thriller. This should be a great start to the College Football Playoff era.
Ohio State has one of the most underrated offenses in the nation and it has become even more overlooked as J.T. Barrett‘s injury has given way to Cardale Jones who started the year as the third-string quarterback. After an electric freshman season for Barrett, the injury made it seem as if there was no chance for the Buckeyes. That couldn’t have been more false as Jones has passed for 618 yards, six touchdowns and just one pick while also rushing for over 250 yards. Ezekiel Elliott has become one of the best running backs in the nation, accounting for 1,632 yards and 14 scores after two consecutive 200-plus yard games. Devin Smith leads the team in receiving with 886 yards and 12 touchdowns while Michael Thomas has 746 yards and nine scores.
Oregon has had the most impressive offense in college football this season with the Heisman winner at quarterback. Marcus Mariota has had quite the season for the Ducks and will likely be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2015. Mariota has passed for an amazing 4,121 yards, 40 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The junior QB has also been effective in the run game, rushing for 731 yards and 15 scores. Mariota is second on the team in rushing only to freshman Royce Freeman who had a solid first collegiate season, rushing for 1,343 yards and 18 touchdowns. Byron Marshall surprisingly leads the team in receiving with 66 catches for 834 yards and five touchdowns. Another freshman, Devon Allen, has been solid in the receiving game, catching 41 passes for 684 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, Ohio State has been a much-improved unit in 2014 and had relied heavily on this unit in a big win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The Buckeyes rank 15th in the nation in yards allowed per contest as well as 20th in points given up per game. Oregon hasn’t been nearly as impressive on this side of the ball this season, ranking just 83rd in total yards surrendered and a much better 28th in points allowed per game.
When: 8:30 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 12
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN
PREDICTION: Oregon 35, Ohio State 31
Want to see Oregon take on Ohio State in the National Championship? Check out ScoreBig for tickets.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
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