TreVeyon Henderson played one of, if not the best game of his season against Tennessee. The 5’10 senior was everywhere on the field, including 29-yard and 24-yard touchdown runs in the first and fourth quarters to help the Buckeyes pull away with a 42-17 victory against the Volunteers. Ohio State needs Henderson and the other Buckeye seniors to use their past experiences in The Rose Bowl to guide a group that has not been in this significant of a game yet in their careers. 

Henderson is one of eight current Buckeyes who have had the opportunity to play in The Rose Bowl. Seniors Emeka Egbuka, Tyliek Williams, Jack Sawyer, and JT Tuimoloau are also notable former participants.

Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson Vs Tennessee:

🔴 14 Touches
🔴 134 Total Yards
🔴 2 Touchdowns@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/yUGflPpLVN

— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 22, 2024

This season, consistency has been a major question mark for Chip Kelly’s run game. This is partly due to the offensive line changes and injuries that have occurred. But in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the run game was lights out, scoring 28 of the 42 points. The question is can the Buckeyes keep succeeding with the run game? The last time Ohio State and Oregon played it was the best game on the ground for the Buckeyes, as Henderson had 87 total rushing yards and Qunishon Judkins had a rushing touchdown as well in the one-point loss to the Ducks. 

On New Year’s Day, college football fans will expect to be watching a National Championship-caliber game for a second time this season between Ohio State and Oregon. Ohio State is coming into this game with the most momentum that any team can go into a game with after their domination of the Volunteers. Oregon has been able to rest for the past two weeks after a nail bitter with Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game. Both teams have everything to lose as they have each been the favorites to take home the Championship trophy, but only one can get the job done. 

Fellow Penn State running back Nick Singleton gained 90 total rushing yards (3.2 average) in three games that followed his 10/5 injury-related absence vs UCLA.

Singleton has averaged at least 4.8 yards in six straight games since, hitting at least a 6.4-yard average four times. https://t.co/f7VmQeuuxE

— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) December 24, 2024

The Buckeyes need to come into this game with the mindset that Oregon has seen everything Ohio State did against Tennessee and will double-cover Jeremiah Smith, which would mean the Buckeyes need to rely on the backfield of Judkins and Henderson. Ohio State is expected to start the same offensive line they did against Tennessee, with a L-R lineup of Donovan Jackson, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Tegra Tshabola, and Josh Fryar, with Austin Siereveld rotating off the bench at both guard spots. Ohio State’s decision to add Quinshon Judkins proved to be a good one, as the Buckeyes have received good play from both backs and were able to keep both healthy late in the season, one of the reasons that Judkins transferred to Ohio State in the first place.

The Ducks are coming into the game recently allowing Penn State to rush for 300 yards in the Big Ten title game, as well as earlier this season allowing Ashton Jeanty to rush for over 200 yards. If Judkins and Henderson can rush for a combined 150 or more yards Ohio State has a good chance at sending the Ducks home quacking.