COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s almost time for the rematch many Buckeye fans have been hoping for. Ohio State is taking on No. 1 Oregon on New Year’s Day in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.
The team left Sunday afternoon and you can always count on fans to follow, no matter how far. “We’ve got to root on our Buckeyes. Man, we are huge Buckeye fans,” fan Brian Fogle said.
Many fans departed from John Glenn International Airport to head to Pasadena, California even before the team landed.
Ohio State made it to the Rose Bowl over a week ago and Fogle said there is nothing stopping him and his friend, Gregory Napier, from following the Buckeyes to the end.
“We talked about this right after the Tennessee game. He asked me if I’d be interested. We’ve been going all year and I said, 'Certainly we can make it happen.' We made it happen,” said Napier.
Fogle said he had no problem booking a last-minute flight and finding tickets.
“Ohio State was sold out of tickets so we went over to Ticketmaster and that was no problem. We found good, reasonable tickets,” he said. This is also not the first time Napier and Fogle have made the trip to Pasadena. “I’ve experienced the Rose Parade. It is absolutely fabulous. To see it up close after seeing it for so many years on television. It’s breathtaking,” said Napier.
Ohio State fell to Oregon 32-31 in the regular season on Oct. 12. These two fans are feeling confident that’s not going to happen again. “If we played like we did against Tennessee, I would say 42 to 20,” said Fogle. They both said they are ready to make some noise in Pasadena.
“We’re going duck hunting,” said Napier.
If Ohio State wins they will travel to Dallas, Texas to play in the semifinals at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10. “I’ve got someone who said I could stay at their house already in Dallas so I’m ready. I’m way ahead of it,” Fogle said.
The Rose Bowl festivities begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday on NBC4 with the Rose Parade. The Buckeyes and Ducks follow with kick-off from Pasadena at 5 p.m.
