The matchup in the title game of the new college football playoff system likely would n't have happened in past years . Second-ranked Oregon and fourth-ranked Ohio State will play for the championship after winning the initial semifinal games in the first College Football Playoff . Oregon crushed undefeated and defending national champ Florida State 59-20 in the Rose Bowl on Thursday then Ohio State continued its surge by edging No . 1 Alabama 42-35 in the Sugar Bowl . Under the former system , the Bowl Championship Series , FSU and Alabama probably would have met in the final game . In the first semifinal , Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota completed 26 of 36 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns for Oregon ( 13-1 ) . He also ran for one score . `` You prepare all week to find success . And to execute the way we did , it definitely feels good , '' he told reporters . `` Hopefully we can take a little bit of this momentum heading into the next game . '' Oregon running backs Royce Freeman and Thomas Tyner each scored on two touchdown runs as the Ducks ended the Seminoles 29-game winning streak . Florida State ( 13-1 ) , the defending national champion , was done in by five turnovers . The miscues included a fumble in the third quarter by quarterback Jameis Winston that was turned into a back-breaking 58-yard touchdown return by Ducks linebacker Tony Washington . Oregon scored four TDs in the third period to lead 45-20 going into the fourth . `` We just turned the ball over too many times . We had one of the worst quarters we have ever had , '' Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said . `` They made the plays , and they converted . '' Winston , the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner , was 29 of 45 for 348 yards with one touchdown and one interception . Bleacher Report : Highlights from the Rose Bowl . In the second semifinal , running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 230 yards on 20 carries and had two touchdowns for Ohio State ( 13-1 ) . The key score came on an 85-yard bolt to the end zone . `` Playing for each other . That 's how we did it , '' Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said . Alabama ( 12-2 ) gave up 537 yards of offense to Ohio State . `` It was our goal to play our best in this game so we would have an opportunity to play in a national championship game , but we obviously did n't do the things that we needed to do , '' Alabama coach Nick Saban said . `` But I think there are a lot of winners on this team and I do n't think that you necessarily need to get a trophy to be a winner . '' Bleacher Report : Highlights from the Sugar Bowl . The two semifinal winners will meet for the championship on January 12 in Arlington , Texas , at 8:30 p.m . ET . Bleacher Report : Fumble ends FSU chance at comeback .
Ohio State defeats No . 1 Alabama behind sizzling running of Ezekiel Elliott . This ends defending champ Florida State 's long winning streak . Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen throws for two touchdowns , runs for another .