Paul Finebaum Reveals 'Reservations' About Ohio State Before Oregon Ducks, Rose Bowl

The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes are set up to face off once again in the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. ESPN's Paul Finebaum questions which Ohio State team will show up vs. the Ducks and if Oregon had too much time off.

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks will have a rematch vs. Ohio State in their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. The Ducks escaped with the win during the Oct. 12 game as Oregon defeated the Buckeyes 32-21.

Although Ohio State dropped another game to Michigan during the regular season, the Buckeyes looked like a national title contender in their 42-17 first-round win over Tennessee. Despite the dominating win over the Volunteers, ESPN's Paul Finebaum remains skeptical of Ohio State in their upcoming Rose Bowl game vs. Oregon.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Rickey Gibson III (1) in the second half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“The biggest question I have for Ohio State is which one shows up? We know what happened last night," Finebaum said after the Buckeyes' win over Tennessee. "Will that same team make the move to Pasadena? If they do then they have a very good chance of beating  because they only lost by one the last time at Oregon."

Ohio State nearly beat the Ducks on the road at Autzen Stadium. In one of the most competitive games of the season, the Buckeyes fell short on their last possession of the game as time expired on Ohio State.

“But I do have serious reservations, as great as that win was. Can this team put two or three wins together in a row? That has been one of the issues for Ohio State all season long,” said Finebaum.

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Oregon Ducks defensive back Brandon Johnson (3) yells in excitement Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions, 45-37. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It will be nearly a full month between games for the Ducks as their 45-37 Big Ten Championship win over Penn State was played on Dec. 7 and they won't play again until Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl.

“The one question I have for Oregon is the layoff,” said Finebaum. “I spoke to Kirby Smart yesterday and he said, yeah, it’s great to sit around on Friday and Saturday to watch football but you worry about three weeks off. That’s exactly what Oregon will have, obviously, since the Big Ten Championship. You like to rest but you also worry about sitting around and not playing football, which Ohio State did.”

Interestingly enough, the Ducks opened as home underdogs in their first game vs. Ohio State. The Buckeyes once again open up as slim favorites. Oregon has only been underdogs in two games this season: both times against Ohio State. Analytics also favor the Buckeyes as ESPN's Football Power Index gives Ohio State a 53.6 percent chance to win the game.

The Rose Bowl will be broadcast on ESPN on New Year's Day at 2 p.m.

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