Ohio State's Meyer: 'It's college football history'

Dallas — Ohio State and Oregon will meet in a game that has never been played for a trophy that has never been raised.

The winner tonight in North Texas can be called the truest champion in the history of major college football.

The first College Football Playoff national championship game matches the second-seeded Ducks and fourth-seeded Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.

"It's college football history," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Sunday.

The days of bowls, polls and the BCS having the final say about who is No. 1 are over. The playoff that fans wanted for so long — and finally got — will determine a single champion.

Oregon (13-1) and its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota are in search of the program's first national title, the last remaining goal for a school that has barged onto the national stage over the last two decades with ostentatious flare and flashy uniforms.

Ohio State (13-1) is shooting for national championship No. 5, but the first under coach Urban Meyer, who returned to his home state three years ago to take over a college football goliath that was looking to start its next golden age.

Here are some things to know about the ultimate winner-take-all-game:

■ Mariota can become the seventh Heisman Trophy winner since 1996 to win the national championship in the same season he won the Heisman.

Another victory in what is likely his last college game would top off a career that can go down as one of the best in college football history.

Mariota has thrown for 10,463 yards, 103 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions while winning 35 games in three seasons as Oregon's starter.

■ Meyer can become the second coach in college football history to win national championships with two schools, joining Nick Saban, who won the BCS title in 2003 with LSU and then three more titles with Alabama.

Meyer won national titles with Florida in 2006 and 2008. A third would make him the ninth coach in college football's poll era (dating to 1936) to win at least three championships. Bear Bryant leads with the six he won at Alabama.

■ The Ducks will be down their most productive receiver over the last two games.

Darren Carrington is ineligible after failing a drug test. He's second on the team in yards receiving with 704 and averages 19 yards per catch. He's been especially good lately.

In the Pac-12 championship game vs. Arizona and the Rose Bowl against Florida State, Carrington had 14 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

Oregon also lost Devon Allen, second on the team in catches (41) and touchdown receptions (seven), at the Rose Bowl to a knee injury.

"We don't have things in our system that it's, hey, we need to throw this guy the ball in this play period," Helfrich said. "That doesn't exist."

Previewing tonight's game

Key matchup

Oregon defensive front seven vs. Ohio State's running game

Much has been made of the Buckeyes' ability to win while working their way down the quarterback depth chart, but TB Ezekiel Elliott and the running game have taken a lot of pressure off QB Cardale Jones in victories against Wisconsin and Alabama. Elliott ran for 450 yards, surpassing 200 in each game, against the Badgers and Crimson Tide. The Ducks' run defense has been so-so. Oregon ranks 52nd in the nation in yards per carry (4.15), and Florida State was running it well on the Ducks in the Rose Bowl until the fumbles started. If the Ducks can keep Ohio State under its average of 262 yards rushing per game, it'll be a win.

Player to watch: Ohio State

LB Darron Lee was the Sugar Bowl defensive MVP and finished third on the team with 73 tackles. He had 16½ tackles for loss and two interceptions. At 6-foot-2, 228 pounds, Lee's speed and range could be key in how the Buckeyes defend Oregon's quick perimeter passes and Marcus Mariota's running.

Player to watch: Oregon

TB Royce Freeman. The 229-pound freshman leads the Ducks in rushing with 1,343 yards and 18 TDs. He is a pile-mover who complements Oregon's outside speed.

Key matchup

Oregon defensive front seven vs. Ohio State's running game

Much has been made of the Buckeyes' ability to win while working their way down the quarterback depth chart, but TB Ezekiel Elliott and the running game have taken a lot of pressure off QB Cardale Jones in victories against Wisconsin and Alabama. Elliott ran for 450 yards, surpassing 200 in each game, against the Badgers and Crimson Tide. The Ducks' run defense has been so-so. Oregon ranks 52nd in the nation in yards per carry (4.15), and Florida State was running it well on the Ducks in the Rose Bowl until the fumbles started. If the Ducks can keep Ohio State under its average of 262 yards rushing per game, it'll be a win.