Here are the 10 plays that shaped the outcome:
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FIRST QUARTER
1.Third-and-8, Ohio State 2-yard line With the Buckeyes facing third-and-8 from their own 2-yard line, Cardale Jones delivered a 26-yard completion to Corey Smith. The Buckeyes hit two more 25-yard plays after, including a 33-yard touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott for a 97-yard drive to tie the score at 7-7.2. Third-and-12, Oregon 28-yard line Marcus Mariota rolled right and found a wide-open Dwayne Stanford, but the Oregon receiver backpedaled and dropped the football, which forced a punt. The Buckeyes took a 14-7 lead on the ensuing possession.
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SECOND QUARTER
Fourth-and-goal, Ohio State 3-yard line Oregon trailed 14-7 and opted to go for it instead of taking the field goal, and running back Thomas Tyner was stopped short of the goal line by Ohio State’s Michael Bennett.
First-and-10: Ohio State 41-yard line Jones found a wide-open Corey Smith for a 47-yard reception, but Oregon’s Troy Hill stripped Smith, and Rodney Hardrick recovered for the Ducks.5. Third-and-12, Ohio State 49-yard line Cardale Jones stepped up in the pocket and delivered a 45-yard bomb to Devin Smith, who made a leaping catch. That set up a 1-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak by Jones for a 21-7 lead.
Third-and-11, Oregon 24-yard line The Ducks converted a key third down when Mariota hit Stanford for a 28-yard catch across the middle. Oregon hit a field goal to cut the lead to 21-10 at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
First-and-15, Oregon 37-yard line After a false start penalty, Jones threw a pass to Jalin Marshall, but Oregon’s Danny Mattingly ripped it away for an interception. Mariota hit Byron Marshall for a 70-yard touchdown on the next play.
First-and-10, Ohio State 49-yard line Jones looked to take a deep shot, but he fumbled the ball, and Oregon’s Arik Armstead recovered for the Ducks at the 23-yard line. Oregon converted into a field goal to cut Ohio State’s lead to 21-20.
First-and-goal, Oregon 9-yard line Elliott scored on a 9-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter and broke 200 yards for the game in giving Ohio State a 28-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Third-and-5, Oregon 31-yard line Jones fired a 19-yard strike to Marshall across the middle for a first down, and that set up a 2-yard touchdown by Elliott to give Ohio State a 35-20 lead with 9:44 remaining.
