Ohio State vs. Oregon: How they match up in the championship game

College football writer Chris Dufresne compares Oregon and Ohio State ahead of the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday in Arlington, Texas:Oregon run game vs. Ohio State run defenseOregon became a three-headed rushing monster again in the Rose Bowl with the return of tailback Thomas Tyner from injury. Tyner rushed for 124 yards and two scores in the Ducks’ 59-20 win over Florida State. Oregon’s top three rushers, Royce Freeman, quarterback Marcus Mariota and Tyner, have combined for 2,585 yards and 38 touchdowns. Depth at the position allowed Oregon to move Byron Marshall, last year’s leading rusher, to receiver. The Ducks average 242 rushing yards per game and led the Pac-12 in that category for a league-record ninth straight season. Ohio State’s front seven, led by All-American defensive end Joey Bosa, ranks No. 34 nationally in stopping the run. The Buckeyes allow 142 yards per game and are coming off two strong performances. Ohio State held Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, the nation’s leading rusher, to 76 yards in the Big Ten title game and limited Alabama to 170, which was 36 yards below the team’s average.Edge: OregonOregon passing vs. Ohio State secondaryThe question is how many receivers Oregon can lose before it starts to show. The Ducks lost starter Devon Allen on the first play of the Rose Bowl, but Darren Carrington more than picked up the slack with 165 receiving yards with two touchdowns. …

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