No. 5 Oregon secured a decisive 51-34 victory against No. 19 James Madison in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday night. Quarterback Dante Moore was instrumental in the win, throwing four touchdown passes and contributing a rushing score in a game held in Eugene, Oregon.
The Ducks, who finished the season with a record of 12-1, are set to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl on January 1. This marks Oregon”s first playoff victory since 2014, when they triumphed over Florida State in the Rose Bowl semifinal before falling to Ohio State.
Meanwhile, James Madison”s loss drops Group of Five teams to an unfortunate 0-4 in playoff history. The Dukes, who held a record of 12-2, faced a tough challenge against Oregon, especially after their earlier playoff opponents, No. 17 Tulane, suffered a 41-10 defeat to No. 6 Mississippi.
The game began with Oregon taking an early lead when Moore connected with Jamari Johnson on a 41-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes in. Johnson made a spectacular catch with one hand, dragging defenders into the end zone. James Madison countered with a 30-yard field goal from Morgan Suarez after a lengthy 15-play drive that consumed over eight minutes.
From that point, the Ducks dominated, scoring four consecutive touchdowns. James Madison managed to add a field goal from Suarez just before halftime, bringing the score to 34-6. The Dukes, known for their strong rushing attack that ranked fifth nationally in average yards per game, were forced to abandon their ground game due to the significant deficit.
James Madison”s Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III completed 23 of 48 passes, including a 47-yard touchdown to Nick DeGennaro on the first drive of the third quarter. However, Oregon quickly responded with two more touchdowns, including a second score from wide receiver Malik Benson and a blocked punt that Jayden Limar returned for a touchdown.
James Madison did manage to score the final three touchdowns of the game, but it was not enough to overcome Oregon”s early lead. This victory extends Oregon”s winning streak to seven games since a loss to No. 1 Indiana on October 11, while James Madison”s eleven-game winning streak has come to an end.
In a noteworthy return, standout freshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore, who had missed the last four games due to a knee injury, was back in the lineup for Oregon. His presence could significantly enhance the Ducks” offensive capabilities as they continue in the playoffs.
On the other hand, James Madison”s run defense, which had been ranked second in the nation for the fewest rushing yards allowed per game, struggled against Oregon. After allowing less than two rushing yards in three of their last four games, the Dukes conceded 201 rushing yards, with 150 of those coming before halftime.
