After years of heartbreaking defeats and losing the “Big One” over and over, a midseason Big Ten matchup proved the game that would silence years of criticism, fair and unfair, against the Ducks. With the eyes of the nation upon Autzen Stadium on Saturday night, the No. 3 Oregon Ducks changed the narrative, defeating No. 2 Ohio State 32-31 to remain undefeated and hand the Buckeyes their first loss of the season.
Often on the wrong side of these mega-games, this was, without a doubt, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning‘s biggest win. Lanning catapulted the program into the outer limits of the mesosphere while simultaneously silencing the cacophony of talking heads, many of whom spent an entire week convincing themselves and their listeners that Ohio State was an unstoppable juggernaut. Mr. FishDuck took some time away from his fun at slotozen casino to share the importance of this win with me.
All week, slack-jawed sports speculators marveled at the Buckeyes’ $20 million roster, hailing it as a masterpiece of modern football engineering. The nebula of nonsense barked incessantly about winning the trenches, painting a picture of Ohio State’s team as loaded with 8-foot mouth-breathing behemoths forged in a darkened void on the outskirts of the universe.
Surely, these Monsters of the Midwest are too much for little ol’ Oregon to handle. And yet, shortly after these football demigods donning silver and crimson landed in Eugene, the winds had started to change. Just under our feet, the tectonic plates of gridiron greatness were shifting the high ground of college football to the Pacific Northwest.
Doth mine eyes deceive me? Doeth my ears tell me lies? Is that former NFL kicker and television host Pat McAfee dancing shirtless at 4 a.m. while leading a crowd in a rousing rendition of “Shout?” Why yes, it is.
Dillon Gabriel executed a perfect Zone Read for a Touchdown. (Screenshot from NBC Sports Video)
For most of the game, the Ducks (6-0) were seemingly able to execute their game plan, and at times, it seemed like there was little Ohio State could do to stop it. While the stat lines for both teams are nearly identical, there were some key differences in the box score. The Buckeyes, boasting the nation’s top-ranked defense, surrendered 496 yards of total offense to Oregon thanks to a masterful performance by Dillon Gabriel, who completed 23 of 34 pass attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
In the backfield, Jordan James rumbled for 115 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Oregon receiver Evan Stewart lit up the turf, racking up 149 yards on seven catches and a score. On the other side of the ball, the Oregon defense, minus defensive end Jordan Burch, who watched the game from the sidelines thanks to an injury sustained during practice in the runup to the game, gave the Buckeyes’ vaunted offense under whiz kid Chip Kelly all it could handle.
The Ducks were hawkish to the ball, constantly dialing up pressure in the pocket, breaking up passes, forcing turnovers (Yes, turnovers plural. Jeffrey Bassa had an interception. End of discussion) and just generally upsetting the Buckeyes’ apple cart.
As one of the country’s leading offenses, Ohio State was able to generate plenty of successful drives, which was to be expected, and finished with 467 yards of total offense. Buckeyes QB Will Howard was dialed in and rarely missed his pass catchers, completing 28 of 35 pass attempts for 326 yards and two touchdowns. True freshman wunderkind Jeremiah Smith effortlessly grabbed nine receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Andrew Boyle’s kickoff fumble was stunning. (Screenshot from NBC Sports Video)
So, what was the difference in the game? Don’t forget Ducks kicker Andrew Boyle‘s surprise onside kick that sent a line-drive at a Buckeyes’ player before bouncing off his chest and into the waiting arms of Oregon’s Roger Saleapaga. The Buckeyes also got slapped with eight penalties for 70 yards, including multiple false starts thanks to the roaring cauldron that is Autzen Stadium, filled to the brim with a record-breaking 60,129 fans.
Oregon protected the football as if precious cargo and won the turnover battle after defensive lineman Derrick Harmon ripped the ball away from Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins. While there were some stutters in the red zone that left the Ducks empty handed, there were no red zone interceptions, bucking the “trend” of two straight games with turnovers at the goal line.
So, what was it? I don’t know, but whatever it is, Lanning and Co. are bottling it up and stocking the fridges. Get ready for the Ducks’ fantastic ascent to the upper echelons of college football. Are you ready for the ride?
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Jordan is a lifelong Duck fan currently living in San Diego. Jordan graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, after serving a prestigious fellowship with the Washington State House of Representatives. Upon graduation, he worked as an English language teaching assistant for the Spanish Ministry of Education’s Ambassadorial Program in Monforte de Lemos, Spain. Jordan has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and California, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, local politics, and crime. He is VERY excited to be writing about his beloved Oregon Ducks.