The Oregon Ducks weren’t 100 percent healthy when they faced the then No. 2-ranked team in Ohio State in Autzen Stadium the first time around.
Oregon won anyway.
That’s why the Ducks should feel optimistic when they face off against the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, 2025.
Oregon was without defensive end Jordan Burch in that first meeting where the Ducks won 32-31. The Ducks felt his absence in that first game. But it will be Ohio State that feels his presence on New Year’s Day.
[lawrence-related id=71062]
According to Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, just having Burch on the field will be enough. Whatever his stats are or his production will be frosting on that green and yellow cake.
“Just his size and athleticism. God doesn’t make a lot of people that look like Jordan Burch,” Lanning said.
“When people see him, they’re surprised to hear he’s really 300 pounds because he looks really good at his size, but he plays like a beast on the field, with relentless effort, and the fact that we have great depth and several guys that can play edge positions for us, it allows us to make sure that when he’s on the field he’s fresh, and a fresh Jordan Burch is really dangerous.”
In the nine games he played in, Burch has 30 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He also has a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season. When Ohio State played the Ducks, Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard was sacked just one time, but he rushed for 32 yards. Oregon is hoping and figuring that with Burch on the field, Howard’s production will go down, giving them the edge in Pasadena.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]