Important questions about Oregon football vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes

In big games like this, the Oregon Ducks have seen game-changing wide receivers disrupt the game.

Last year in October against the Washington Huskies, Rome Odunze rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns while Ja’Lynn Polk rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown. Later that year, in the Pac-12 championship game, Odunze and Jalen McMillan combined for 233 yards on 17 catches. On the biggest stages, it’s fair to say that Oregon’s secondary has been a liability at times, especially when going up against receivers who will play Sunday in the future.

We know that Ohio State has two of the best receivers in the country in Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. Smith in particular — a true freshman who was ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class — is an exceptional talent who catches highlight plays on tape every week. Can the Ducks slow them down?

The offseason was spent putting together a secondary capable of competing in this type of matchup. With Jabbar Muhammad and Kobe Savage, who were brought in via the transfer portal, as well as the improved play of Tysheem Johnson, Nikko Reed and Dontae Manning, the Ducks have a good chance in this duel. That will be one of the most important things to watch, however, because if Ohio State can run freely in the passing game, it could be a long day.