PASADENA — Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Rose Bowl sound system blasted “Shout,” the well-known Animal Home track performed throughout each Oregon residence sport. Tens of 1000’s of followers wearing inexperienced sang in unison because the shadows grew lengthy and the solar set behind the San Gabriels. However on Oregon’s sideline, gamers stood immobile or huddled quietly with coaches.
The scene was fairly totally different throughout the sector, the place Ohio State’s star defensive ends, Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, instantly acknowledged “Shout” and started dancing to the music.
Ohio State had taken all the pieces else from the Geese over the course of a exceptional Wednesday afternoon. Why not hijack their beloved custom, as effectively?
And so the group that didn’t play for the Huge Ten title laid waste to the convention champions with a 41-21 victory within the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinal that was way more lopsided than even the rating suggests.
The end result propelled eighth-seeded Ohio State right into a matchup with Texas subsequent week, eradicated the top-seeded Geese and undoubtedly left one onlooker with combined feelings.
Huge Ten commissioner Tony Petitti attended the sport however was not accessible for interviews, in accordance with a convention spokesperson. So we’re left to guess his response.
In a single regard, Petitti might be delighted: Penn State will be a part of Ohio State within the semifinals after a decisive victory over Boise State on Tuesday within the Fiesta Bowl.
However Petitti might need walked away from the Rose Bowl pissed off that his convention couldn’t place a 3rd group within the semifinals — that Oregon and Ohio State have been matched in opposition to one another due to a flawed CFP course of that prioritizes convention championships.
Had the CFP’s choice committee seeded the 12 groups primarily based on the ultimate rankings, the Geese and Buckeyes wouldn’t have performed an elimination sport within the quarterfinals.
Ohio State would have been the No. 6 seed, not the No. 8, and confronted Texas within the quarters. And because the No. 1 seed, Oregon would have confronted the winner of the Nos. 8-9 sport, Boise State or Indiana.
Each the Buckeyes and Geese might have superior to the semifinals, together with Penn State, which might have been the No. 4 seed in a bracket primarily based on rating.
Petitti and the opposite convention commissioners who make up the CFP administration committee are scheduled to collect in Atlanta in three weeks.
It stands to cause that Petitti will push for the format change. Over the course of years, the highest groups within the Huge Ten are prone to be ranked increased than the champions of the ACC, Huge 12 and Group of 5.
Our hunch: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will agree with Petitti, maybe in trade for Petitti’s assist on no matter problem is nearest and dearest to Sankey’s coronary heart.
With the intention to make format adjustments in time for subsequent season, the Huge Ten and SEC would want unanimous assist from the opposite FBS conferences (and Notre Dame).
However that’s not the case with the 2026 postseason. There isn’t any agreed-upon format. There aren’t any unanimity necessities. The Huge Ten and SEC can — with ESPN’s blessing, after all — ram via no matter adjustments they need.
Eliminating the seed deference given to convention champions might be atop the checklist.
Different reactions from the Rose Bowl:
— The Geese appeared slower and extra out of sync than they’ve all season — and never by just a little. Clearly, the 24-day break impacted their efficiency.
That has been the case with quite a few playoff groups previously. It’s not an Oregon-specific problem. The layoff creates rust and heavy legs.
The distinction this time: Oregon’s opponent didn’t have a 24-day break. The Buckeyes performed 11 days in the past, within the CFP’s opening spherical.
In different phrases, the No. 1 total seed confronted a aggressive drawback in opposition to the No. 8.
That, too, should change.
(Of word: The upper-seeded quarterfinalists with multi-week breaks, Oregon, Boise State and Arizona State, have been outscored 42-3 within the first quarter by lower-seeded opponents that performed 10 or 11 days in the past.)
— The scores of Oregon’s final two playoff video games are as follows:
Ohio State 42, Geese 20 (2014 championship)
Ohio State 41, Geese 21 (2024 quarterfinals)
The opponent is a part of the issue, after all — Ohio State is as gifted as any group within the nation on an annual foundation. However the endgame is unchanged: The Geese stay in pursuit of a nationwide championship for 86-year-old benefactor Phil Knight.
Was 2024 their greatest likelihood?
Sure and no.
This group was a stellar mixture of expertise, expertise, teaching and circumstance. The Geese have been higher ready for all times within the Huge Ten than Washington and USC and benefitted from Michigan’s substandard season.
However it’s solely doable {that a} barely lesser common season will produce a extra profitable postseason — that tweaks to the CFP format and never having 24 days off and never enjoying with the stress of an unbeaten season will mix to generate an sudden run via the postseason.
Playoff enlargement has created a event setting akin to March Insanity, the place momentum comes from nowhere and dynamics are fluid.
Don’t overlook: The yr the Geese reached the Closing 4, they have been a No. 3 seed.
Initially Printed: January 1, 2025 at 7:18 PM PST
