5 months ago
Matayo Uiagalelei forced a fumble that group up an Oregon touchdown, Jordon Davison rushed for 2 scores and nan fifth-seeded Ducks smothered No 4 Texas Tech successful a 23-0 triumph successful nan College Football Playoff quarter-final astatine nan Orange Bowl connected Thursday.
Dante Moore threw for 234 yards and Atticus Sappington kicked 3 section goals for Oregon (13-1), which will play either No 1 Indiana aliases No 9 Alabama successful nan Peach Bowl – a CFP semi-final – connected 9 January. The victor will return to Miami Gardens for nan nationalist title crippled connected 19 January.
Texas Tech (12-2) entered nan crippled classed 2nd nationally successful scoring (42.5 points per game) and 5th successful full offense, but ne'er recovered its footing. The Red Raiders turned nan shot complete 4 times, grounded connected 3 fourth-down attempts and produced 4 three-and-outs.
Quarterback Behren Morton vanished 18 of 32 for 137 yards and was stripped by Uiagalelei early successful nan 3rd 4th successful Tech territory. Uiagalelei returned nan fumble into nan reddish zone, and Davison scored connected nan adjacent play to springiness Oregon a 13-0 lead.
Morton past threw a red-zone interception early successful nan 4th quarter, earlier Oregon’s defense stopped Texas Tech connected 4th down astatine its ain 30 midway done nan last period. Davison’s one-yard touchdown plunge pinch 16 seconds remaining completed nan scoring.
The consequence continued a striking inclination successful nan expanded playoff. Thursday’s crippled was nan sixth quarter-final nether nan 12-team format introduced past season, and nan sixth clip a squad coming disconnected a first-round bye mislaid to an force that played nan opening weekend.
In 2024, Boise State, Arizona State, Georgia and Oregon were each eliminated successful nan quarterfinals aft byes, while Miami added to nan database connected Wednesday by defeating Ohio State astatine nan Cotton Bowl. Across those six games, bye teams person led for little than 5 minutes of regularisation combined.
Texas Tech hoped to subordinate that pattern. Instead, Oregon recorded their first shutout of an AP top-10 force since 2012. It was nan Ducks’ 113th crippled against a top-10 squad – and nan first clip they allowed nary points.
After expressing dissatisfaction pinch their defense pursuing a 51-34 first-round triumph complete James Madison, Oregon delivered a capacity that near small room for complaint.
