If this season was a year ago, Oregon and Ohio State would have met in the Rose Bowl and in actuality, it would’ve served as an exhibition game. The road would’ve ended there regardless of the outcome. Now, in this new format, both teams have ended up in the first ever College Football Playoff final.
Let’s take a look at how both teams got here.
One season, three quarterbacks:
During the preseason, the Buckeyes lost starting quarterback and two-time Big Ten player of the year Braxton Miller. Next up: J.T. Barrett, a freshman from Wichita Falls, Texas. After a solid showing in their win at Navy, Barrett and Ohio State crumbled in their home opener against unranked Virginia Tech, losing 35-21.
However Barrett quickly turned his game around and the entire team followed suit. Ohio State won 10 consecutive games, including wins over No. 8 Michigan State and No. 25 Minnesota on the road. Barrett passed for 2,834 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But in Ohio State’s season finale against Michigan, Barrett broke his ankle.
Cardale Jones, a sophomore, who is listed at 6-foot, 5-inches and 250 pounds, was his replacement. Before his first career start  against No. 13 Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship game, Jones had only attempted 19 passes in his career.
At Lucas Oil Stadium, he led a rout.
Jones threw for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns, and in doing so led the Buckeyes to their first Big Ten title since 2009 and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State snuck into the playoff as a four seed and faced No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. On New Years Day, Jones was good enough to lead the Buckeyes past the Crimson Tide, 42-35. Now the third-string quarterback will make his third start in the National Championship against Oregon.
One loss sparks a revamped Oregon:
In Oregon’s first four games, there were glimpses of greatness – especially in its win over No. 7 Michigan State. But it wasn’t consistent. The defense was struggling against the pass and the offensive line was in shambles, by no means was the sailing smooth.
That line of thinking took on more heat following the Ducks’ fifth game of the season against Arizona. Looking out of whack for the majority of regulation, Oregon sputtered in a 31-24 loss. But those problems quickly became resolved.
Oregon won its next seven games in dominating fashion and set up a reunion date with Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship. This time, the outcome was more indicative of the Ducks’ potential, as Oregon torched the Wildcats in a 51-13 win.
Nearly a month later Oregon returned to a familiar setting: the Rose Bowl, but this time competing in the College Football Playoffs against the defending champions, No. 3 Florida State. All around Oregon made it look easy, cruising to a 59-20 win.. A dominating win.
Next stop, Arlington, Texas.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly