Just five days before the No. 1 Oregon Ducks were set to kick off the Rose Bowl Game against the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, the status of star cornerback Jahlil Florence was still up in the air. Florence has been unavailable throughout the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury suffered in November of last season.
However, Florence was seen working through drills in full pads during an open practice on Friday, Dec. 27 – less than a week before the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game.
Oregon CB Jahlil Florence at the Ducks Rose Bowl practice on Friday morning. He was going through drills during the open portion of practice. pic.twitter.com/EDFrvyipGi
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) December 27, 2024
When Oregon plays in the Rose Bowl Game, it will have been nearly a month since the Ducks last saw in-game action – the Big Ten Championship game was on Dec. 7, 2024. For Florence, it will have been nearly 14 months – his last in-game snap coming on Nov. 18, 2023, against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
During Florence's absence throughout the 2024-25 season, transfer cornerback Jabbar Muhammad has stepped into his prime for the Ducks after joining Oregon during the Washington Huskies' purge. Similarly, safety Kobe Savage, who transferred from the Kansas State Wildcats ahead of the 2024 season, has shined brightly for Oregon through the Ducks' first 13 games.
During the 2023 season, before suffering his knee injury, Florence amassed 27 total tackles, 1 pass deflection, 1 interception, and 1 sack for the Ducks through nine games.
The Ducks and the Buckeyes are scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. PT on Jan. 1, 2025. The game will be played in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA, and will be broadcast on ESPN.