Game predictions for Ohio State vs. Oregon in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff

No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State will battle for the second time this season in just a few days. This time, the stakes are going to be a whole lot bigger.

The Rose Bowl will decide who gets to move onto the semifinals in the College Football Playoff. Back in October, Oregon edged Ohio State by a score of 32-31. It was a game played out in Oregon that the Buckeyes had a chance to win late.

Since then, Oregon has gone unblemished and won the Big Ten. Ohio State has a very disappointing loss to Michigan at the end of the season still leaving a stain.

A to Z Sports has staff predictions for this one, as we do every big college football game.

Ohio State 30, Oregon 28

The first time around when these teams met, I took the Ducks in a close one. That is what it ended up being and this time around I’ll take the Buckeyes. Ohio State showed exactly what they need to against Tennessee and will go far if they can play to that level. The Buckeyes’ defense has been the best in CFB this season and they need to show that against Oregon. This would be a huge win for Ryan Day. - Brandon Little 

Ohio State 30, Oregon 27

This is a battle between perhaps the best two teams in the nation, yet it’s happening in the quarterfinals. Ohio State fell short by one point when they faced off against Oregon last time in Eugene, and this game should be close again. Both teams boast double-digit 2025 NFL Draft prospects. Both have top-five offenses and top-15 defenses. However, Ohio State’s slight talent edge, more dominant defense that continues to improve, and otherworldly set of skill position players prove just enough to win late in the game, 30-27. - Travis May

Ohio State 31, Oregon 30

Winning against a rival with a similar roster is hard enough, but doing it twice is statistically unlikely. The Buckeyes have successfully revamped their offensive line, and that might be enough to take advantage of Oregon's woeful run defense. Quinshon Judkins is healthier this time around as well. Factoring in Oregon losing its home-field advantage, the chances of almost every break going Oregon's way again being low, and Ohio State's adjustments against Tennessee, the Buckeyes emerge with a narrow victory. - Ian Valentino

Oregon 31, Ohio State 28

The winner of the Rose Bowl might just win the whole thing. Oregon is the top team in the country, and Ohio State is coming off a lights-out performance against Tennessee that has them looking lethal. Beating a team twice in a season is no easy feat, but Dan Lanning was built for hard moments. Ryan Day said this game could come down to preparation, so give me the team with an extra week to prepare and with an incredibly aggressive and creative group of coaches to pull it off and assert their dominance over the Big Ten even further in year one. - Jon Helmkamp