Tag: Oregon Ducks

Oregon scores early and often in CFP triumph over James Madison

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dante Moore passed for four touchdowns and ran for one to help fifth-seeded Oregon torch 12th-seeded James Madison 51-34 in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday night at Eugene, Ore.

Malik Benson caught five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Jeremiah McClellan and Jamari Johnson also had scoring catches for the Ducks (12-1). Dierre Hill Jr. scored on a long run and Jayden Limar scored on a blocked punt return for Oregon.

The Ducks will face No. 4 seed Texas Tech in the quarterfinals on Jan. 1 at the Orange Bowl.

Alonza Barnett III completed 23 of 48 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score for James Madison (12-2). Nick DeGennaro and George Pettaway had scoring catches and Lacota Dippre scored one on the ground for the Dukes, who had an 11-game winning streak halted.

Moore completed 19 of 27 passes for 313 yards and two interceptions as the Ducks won their seventh straight contest.

James Madison earned the final spot in the field when a five-loss Duke squad won the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

There were many critics who ridiculed their inclusion and the Dukes turned out to have few answers at the outset when trying to stop the Ducks’ offense.

Oregon scored touchdowns on its first five possessions, totaling just 21 plays on those drives, while taking a 34-6 halftime lead.

The Ducks needed just four plays on their first drive as Moore tossed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Johnson. A trick-play two-point conversion attempt failed.

James Madison held the ball for 15 plays on its first drive but settled for Morgan Suarez’s 30-yard field goal.

Oregon then needed just five plays to take a 13-3 lead on Moore’s 5-yard keeper with 2:38 left in the opening quarter.

The Ducks went 78 yards on three plays on their next possession with Hill exploding for a 56-yard touchdown run. Next was a four-play drive in which Moore tossed a 20-yard scoring pass to McClellan to make it 27-3 with 9:18 left in the half.

The fifth straight touchdown drive lasted five plays as Moore hit Benson in stride on a 46-yard pass with 4:22 remaining.

Suarez booted a 48-yard field goal with six seconds left to leave James Madison down by 28.

The Dukes struck for their first touchdown early in the third quarter when DeGennaro caught a short pass, eluded a defender, and raced 47 yards to bring James Madison within 34-13.

But Oregon needed just four plays for its next touchdown. Moore spotted a wide-open Benson behind the Dukes’ defense and the 45-yard touchdown pass boosted the lead back to 28.

Later, Blake Purchase blocked the punt of James Madison’s Patrick Rea and Limar picked it up and ran 15 yards to make it 48-13 with 7:05 left in the third.

Barnett tossed a 24-yard scoring pass to Pettaway with 1:15 left in the third and Dippre scored on a 2-yard reverse as the Dukes pulled within 48-26 with 10:26 left.

After a 48-yard field goal by Oregon’s Atticus Sappington, Barnett capped a 99-yard drive by scoring from the 1 and hitting DeGennaro on a two-point conversion throw to cut the James Madison deficit to 17 with 65 seconds left.

The two sides combined for over 1,000 yards of offense, with Oregon edging JMU, 514-509.

–Field Level Media

No. 7 Oregon looking to add firepower in showdown vs. No. 15 USC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 7 Oregon looks to keep a strong hold on their College Football Playoff hopes, while No. 15 Southern California is in a must-win situation to keep its CFP aspirations alive.

It means plenty is at stake on Saturday afternoon when the Ducks host the Trojans in Eugene, Ore.

Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) moved up one spot in the CFP rankings after an easy 42-13 home win over Minnesota last Friday.

Southern California (8-2, 6-1) ascended in the recent rankings following its comeback win in rainy conditions against Iowa.

The Ducks got back a key piece to their offense versus the Golden Gophers with the return of tight end Kenyon Sadiq. He is Oregon’s leader in catches (30) and touchdown receptions (six).

The Ducks hope this week to get wide receiver Dakorien Moore back from an undisclosed injury after two games. He leads the team with 443 receiving yards.

Oregon is running the ball with a lot of success. Freshman Jordon Davison has five touchdowns in the last four games and 12 on the season, and Noah Whittington leads the team in rushing yards with 623 and is averaging 8.2 yards per carry.

Defensively, the Ducks are holding opponents to 13.7 points per game.

“The challenge is fun, and this is certainly a team that’s a challenge,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said of playing USC. “Obviously when (ESPN) ‘College GameDay’ is coming to see you twice, there’s a reason. And it speaks volumes about our fanbase, it speaks volumes about our program and their program as well. When you get opportunities like that, it’s something you want to take advantage of.”

USC’s defense hasn’t always been tough on the road this season, and the Trojans face a difficult challenge trying to limit Oregon’s prolific offense. But the Trojans certainly have the offense to keep up with the Ducks, with two standout wide receivers in Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane as well as improving quarterback Jayden Maiava.

Oregon has been tough against the run of late, so USC could look to go to the air more with the Big Ten’s top passing offense at 298.1 yards per game.

Lemon has been one of the country’s best receivers. He leads the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (109) and receptions per game (7.1).

Maiava leads the Big Ten in passing yards (2,868) and passing yards per game (286.8).

On defense, USC has not allowed opponents to score more than three points in the second half in each of its last three games. But neither of those three teams (Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa) have the Ducks’ firepower on offense.

“It’ll be a good challenge for the whole team, and it’s what games like this should be,” Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley told ESPNLA. “Two really good football teams going at it and a lot on the line, just like it should be at the end of the year.”

–Field Level Media

Oregon running back Jordon Davison carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 25, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

No. 6 Oregon overcomes QB injury, slow start to defeat Wisconsin

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sixth-ranked Oregon survived the loss of starting quarterback Dante Moore for almost all of the second half and a slow start on offense, defeating Wisconsin 21-7 Saturday at rainy Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

The Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) scored touchdowns on their final drive of the first half and first drive of the second, and it was more than enough to hand the Badgers their sixth consecutive loss.

Moore, who had been in the Heisman Trophy conversation earlier this season, went down with a bloody nose after being tackled on a run up the middle early in the third quarter. He returned to the sideline but was without his helmet the rest of the way.

Brock Thomas relieved Moore and led the Ducks on a pair of touchdown drives in the second half that secured the win for Oregon.

Thomas, a Eugene native in his third season in the Oregon program with no major playing time previously, threw a touchdown pass to offensive lineman Gernorris Wilson with 14:17 to play to give the Ducks a three-score lead.

Thomas completed all five of his pass attempts for 46 yards, though one was close to being picked off and was tipped for a completion.

The Ducks had a hard time with Wisconsin’s defense from the start, the Badgers getting a fourth-down stop on Oregon’s first possession and forcing three punts after that.

Oregon’s defense kept the Badgers (2-6, 0-5) off the board until Lance Mason caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Simmons with 7:57 to play in the fourth quarter. The touchdown ended Wisconsin’s run of 11 quarters without a single point in a game.

Simmons completed 7 of 21 passes for 86 yards with a touchdown and interception. Running back Gideon Ituka had 85 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Oregon put the ball in the hands of its running backs more often in the inclement weather, and Jordon Davison had a pair of touchdown runs, one from three yards and a second from 20, as part of his 102 yards on 16 carries. Noah Whittington added 97 yards on 14 carries, including a 36-yard run in the third quarter.

The Ducks executed a fake punt for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it was nullified by a penalty. Moments later, Ducks defensive back Daylen Austin intercepted a Simmons pass to seal the win for Oregon.

Wisconsin lost its 11th straight game to a Power Four conference opponent.

–Field Level Media

Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt hauls in a pass under cover from Oregon defensive back Sione Laulea as the Oregon Ducks host the Indiana Hoosiers Oct. 11, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

No. 7 Indiana hands No. 3 Oregon first regular-season loss in 2 years

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No. 7 Indiana came up with the signature win of head coach Curt Cignetti’s 1 1/2-year tenure, going into Eugene, Ore., and upsetting No. 3 Oregon 30-20 on Saturday afternoon.

The Ducks’ high-volume offense managed just 13 points against Indiana (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), whose defense held Oregon to 14 first downs and 3 of 14 on third downs.

Oregon (5-1, 2-1) saw the nation’s longest active regular-season winning streak (23) and home winning streak (18) come to an end. The Ducks had not lost in the regular season since Oct. 14, 2023, against Washington.

Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza made up for a fourth-quarter pick-6 with a go-ahead touchdown pass with 6:23 to go, and Louis Moore intercepted Oregon quarterback Dante Moore seconds later.

Indiana used the field position for a game-sealing 22-yard field goal from Brendan Franke with 2:06 to play. Isaiah Jones intercepted Moore with 2:01 to play to put the final seal on the win.

The Hoosiers took a 27-20 lead on Mendoza’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt on a third-and-goal. Mendoza marched Indiana 75 yards down the field after the Ducks had intercepted him for a touchdown to tie the game at 20.

Brandon Finney stepped in front of an off-balance Mendoza throw under heavy pressure and took the ball 35 yards into the end zone for Oregon with 12:42 to play.

Indiana’s defense, which held one of the nation’s most prolific offenses to 267 total yards, finished the job by intercepting Moore for the first time with 6:03 to play.

Mendoza finished 20-of-31 passing for 215 yards. Roman Hemby rushed for a pair of touchdowns and 70 yards on 19 carries and Sarratt caught eight passes for 121 yards and a TD.

Moore completed 21 of 34 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, thrown 44 yards to Malik Benson for a 7-3 Ducks’ lead in the first quarter. Moore was under pressure often as Indiana sacked him six times while Oregon’s defense managed just one sack of Mendoza.

–Field Level Media

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, grabs the game-winning interception as Oregon inside linebacker Jerry Mixon celebrates as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

No. 3 Oregon’s pass defense braces for challenge from No. 7 Indiana

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Third-ranked Oregon plays its second top-10 team in as many games when the Ducks host No. 7 Indiana on Saturday in another high-profile Big Ten football matchup at Eugene, Ore.

The Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) were flying high after a 30-24 double-overtime upset of then-No. 3 Penn State on the road on Sept. 27. Now they will be rested coming off a midseason bye week and playing at home.

Oregon is looking for its 36th win in program history over a top-10 team. The Ducks hold the nation’s longest active regular-season winning streak at 23 games and the nation’s longest home victory streak at 18.

The Hoosiers and Ducks have not played each other since 2004, when Indiana edged Oregon 30-24 in Eugene.

This year, the Ducks have scored points on all 23 trips into the red zone on offense, the second most of any team in the nation to have scored on 100 percent of drives inside the 20.

On defense, Oregon is third in the nation at 123.4 yards passing per game allowed, and the Ducks have given up only two passing touchdowns in five games. Their pass defense won the game at Penn State, as an interception ended the second OT.

“These guys have worked really, really hard,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said of his defensive backs. “We pitch a lot at them every single week about understanding how we’re going to play certain coverages or adapt those changes.”

Indiana (5-0, 2-0) survived for a 20-15 win at Iowa on Sept. 27, but the Hoosiers racked up 192 points in the three games prior to playing the Hawkeyes.

Indiana is off to a 5-0 start in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

The play of Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza at quarterback helps make the Saturday game a showcase of two of the nation’s top signal-callers, as he will go up against Oregon’s Dante Moore. Mendoza has completed 89 of 122 pass attempts for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns with only one interception this season.

“I just want Fernando, like the rest of the guys on the team, to relax and play their game. We’re just going to go out there and play our game and play it well,” Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti said. “You prepare for them all the same. Otherwise you’d be doing a disservice to your team if you’re all-in one game and not all-in on another.”

The Hoosiers’ defense is allowing just 9.6 points per game, the third-best average in the nation. Indiana already has a top-20 win, a 63-10 romp over then-No. 9 Illinois at home on Sept. 20.

Indiana also runs the ball well, with a by-committee approach at running back having produced 1,339 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Jordon Davison (0) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

No. 6 Oregon overcomes No. 3 Penn State’s ‘White Out’ in double OT

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Dante Moore tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gary Bryant Jr. in the second overtime and Dillon Thieneman recorded a game-ending interception as No. 6 Oregon produced a 30-24 victory over No. 3 Penn State on Saturday night in Big Ten play at University Park, Pa.

Moore completed 29 of 39 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns as the Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) notched a big victory in front of 111,015 fans during Penn State’s famed annual “White Out” game.

Drew Allar was 14-of-25 passing for 137 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Penn State (3-1, 0-1). Devonte Ross was credited with two touchdown receptions for the Nittany Lions.

Oregon blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead and fell behind 24-17 when Kaytron Allen scored on a 4-yard run in the first overtime session. The Ducks tied the score on Moore’s 2-yard shovel pass to Jamari Johnson.

The Ducks struck on the first play of the second OT as Moore tossed the TD pass to Bryant. The Oregon two-point pass was intercepted by Penn State star Dani Dennis-Sutton.

Penn State took over and Allar threw to the right toward Luke Reynolds on the first play. Thieneman leaped and snagged the pick to end the festivities.
Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for 82 yards and caught a touchdown pass and Jordan Davison added a rushing touchdown for the Ducks, who had a 424-276 edge in total offense.

Penn State star runners Allen (54 yards) and Nicolas Singleton (21) combined for just 75 yards on 23 rushing attempts.

Oregon enjoyed a 17-3 lead before the Nittany Lions rallied.

Allar had just 62 passing yards prior to the drive but connected on all three throws on this one for 56 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to Ross to move Penn State within seven with 10:30 remaining.

Penn State later took over with 7:07 remaining and put together a 15-play, 62-yard drive. The Nittany Lions tied the score on a play in which Ross came in motion and received a forward flip from Allar and raced to the left for a 7-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining.

A key sequence occurred during Oregon’s go-ahead 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the third quarter.

The Ducks were at the Penn State 9-yard line when Chaz Coleman of the Nittany Lions knocked the ball loose from a falling Noah Whittington. Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley scooped up the ball at the 10 and raced 39 yards to his own 49.

However, the officials reviewed the play and determined that Whittington’s right knee hit the ground before the ball was free. Oregon maintained possession at the Penn State 8.

On the next play, Moore tossed the ball to Hill for a touchdown to give the Ducks a 10-3 lead with 3:16 left in the quarter.

Oregon increased its lead to 14 when Davison scored on an 8-yard run with 12:25 remaining in the contest.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart (7) celebrates a catch during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Reports: Oregon WR Evan Stewart injured, season in doubt

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart’s 2025 season could be in jeopardy following a significant injury this week, multiple outlets reported.

CBS Sports called it a “significant” lower-body injury. College Football Headlines posted on X that Stewart sustained a torn patellar tendon.

Stewart finished third on the Ducks with 613 receiving yards last season, adding 48 receptions and five touchdowns in 13 games in his first season with the school. He had 112 yards in a win against Boise State on Sept. 7 and 149 in a win against Ohio State on Oct. 12.

Stewart played his first two campaigns at Texas A&M, tallying 91 catches for 1,163 yards and six scores in 18 games from 2022-23.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) looks for a receiver during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Big Ten championship game capsule: Oregon vs. Penn State

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Big Ten championship game
Oregon (12-0) vs. Penn State (11-1)
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET
Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium
TV: CBS
Early line: Oregon -3.5 (FanDuel)

What’s at stake:
Oregon is a sure-fire pick no matter what happens in this game but the Ducks want the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye. Having your first game being in the quarterfinals is much more preferred than risk being upset in the first round.

Penn State also is part of the 12-team field no matter what transpires in Indy. But stun the Ducks and get a bye and home-field advantage? That would be a huge development for the Nittany Lions.

How they got here:
The Ducks needed a last-second field goal to beat Boise State on Sept. 7 and then won their next three games by at least 21 points. They defeated Ohio State 32-31 in a major showdown on Oct. 12 and then beat four straight Big Ten opponents — including Illinois and Michigan — by an average of 26.5 points. Saturday’s 49-21 whipping of Washington furthered displayed that Oregon is by far the best team in the land.

Penn State won its first seven games before once again falling to Ohio State, dropping coach James Franklin to 1-10 versus the Buckeyes during his tenure. The Nittany Lions bounced back impressively with wins of 29 and 39 points against Washington and Purdue, respectively. Penn State closed with a 44-7 rout of Maryland and landed the championship game spot due to Michigan’s win over Ohio State.

Names to know:
–Oregon
QB Dillon Gabriel
The transfer is always efficient, and he completed 73.5 percent of his passes for 3,275 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

RB Jordan James
Put together a strong season of 1,166 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, contributing 95 or more yards on eight occasions.

S Tysheem Johnson
Leads the team in interceptions with three, ranks second in tackles with 55 and always seems to know where to be in the back end.

–Penn State
QB Drew Allar
Allar completed 71.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,668 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions during the regular season.

TE Tyler Warren
He has 81 receptions for 978 yards and six scores, topped by that memorable career-best outing of 17 catches for 224 yards against Southern California on Oct. 12.

DE Abdul Carter
Put together a dominant season that counts 19.5 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks, while terrorizing opposing offensive linemen.

Xs and Os:
The Ducks departed the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, where wins weren’t supposed to come so easily. But Oregon thrived in its new environment and has been the top team in the nation all season. No matter what happens in the conference title game, the Ducks are the team to beat in the 12-team playoff field.

One narrative Franklin despises is that his program beats all the teams it should and falls short in the big games. Well, here you go coach, a perfect chance to temporarily silence that chatter, especially since a win over the Ducks gives the Nittany Lions a first-round bye.

Prediction:
Oregon 41, Penn State 30

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James (20) carries the ball for a first down during the first half against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

No. 1 Oregon conquers Washington to stay unbeaten

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Top-ranked Oregon, already locked into the Big Ten championship game next weekend against Penn State, finished off a perfect regular season with Saturday’s 49-21 rout of rival Washington in Eugene, Ore.

The Ducks’ defense shut out the Huskies for almost the entire second half, giving up a late touchdown with 1:43 to play. They also matched a single-game record for sacks with 10.

Oregon’s offense overcame an early fumble and a couple of hiccups in execution to dominate.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 209 yards with two touchdowns, and the Oregon ground game gained 236 yards. Jordan James had 99 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns, and Gabriel, Noah Whittington and Da’Jaun Riggs also scored rushing touchdowns for Oregon (12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten).

Terrance Ferguson and Tez Johnson caught touchdown passes from Gabriel. Johnson, Oregon’s most dynamic receiver, returned to action after missing two full games with a shoulder injury.

Ducks coach Dan Lanning finally got his first win over the Huskies after three losses, including a pair of three-point defeats last season. The Ducks ended a three-game losing streak to their archrivals to the north.

Washington (6-6, 4-5) went with Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback over the more experienced Will Rogers, who was benched in the Huskies’ previous game. Williams spent much of the night running from Oregon defenders but ended up 17 for 20 for 201 yards and a touchdown pass.

Defensive lineman Jordan Burch, who also returned from injury, led the Ducks with 2 1/2 sacks, and linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei had two.

The Huskies entered the game with 1,008-yard rusher Jonah Coleman averaging 5.8 yards per carry, but Coleman was held to 3 rushing yards on 11 attempts. As a team, Washington ran for only 43 yards and gained 244 yards in total offense.

–Field Level Media