CFP: Defense carries the day for No. 5 Oregon in 23-0 win over No. 4 Texas Tech for spot in semifinals
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Matayo Uiagalelei forced a fumble to set up an Oregon touchdown, Jordon Davison rushed for two scores and the fifth-seeded Ducks silenced the No. 4 Texas Tech offense for a 23-0 victory in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Dante Moore threw for 234 yards and Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals for Oregon (13-1), which will face either No. 1 Indiana or No. 9 Alabama in the Peach Bowl — a CFP semifinal — on Jan. 9.
The winner of the Peach Bowl will return to Miami Gardens for the national title game on January 19.
Texas Tech – which finished 12-2 – came in second nationally in points per game (42.5) and fifth in yards per game (480.3), but got absolutely nothing. The Red Raiders turned the ball over four times, were stopped three more times on fourth downs and had four three-and-outs.
Tech quarterback Behren Morton — who finished 18 of 32 for just 137 yards — was stripped by Uiagalelei early in the third quarter in Red Raiders territory. Uiagalelei drove deep into the red zone and Davison scored a play later to make it 13-0.
Morton threw an interception in the red zone early in the fourth quarter, and a fourth-of-30 stop midway through the fourth quarter doomed any comeback chances that existed for the Red Raiders. Davison dove from the 1 with 16 seconds left to cap the scoring.
And once again, a CFP bye meant a team was going bye.
It was the sixth quarterfinal in this 12-team tournament format that began last year — there were two more games later Thursday — and the sixth time a team coming off an extended break lost to a team playing a first-round match.
In 2024, Boise State (vs. Penn State), Arizona State (vs. Texas), Georgia (vs. Notre Dame), and Oregon (vs. Ohio State) all exited in the quarterfinals after first-round byes. Miami added to that list Wednesday night by beating Ohio State in the quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl. In those six games, including Thursday, the bye team held the lead for less than five minutes – combined – of regulation time.
Texas Tech thought it could avoid that fate. It couldn’t, and Oregon posted its first shutout against an AP-ranked opponent since 2012. Oregon was facing a top 10 team for the 113th time – and for the first time allowing no points.
Oregon faced James Madison in the first round this year, winning 51-34, and was generally unhappy with the way it played defensively.
There was nothing not to like on that side of the ball on Thursday.
Takeaways
Oregon: The Ducks are heading home to Eugene, instead of staying in the Eastern time zone to prepare for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta next week. It’s a decision the Ducks made shortly after seeing how the CFP bracket could collapse.
Texas technology: It was simply an unusual offensive performance from the Red Raiders, who had scored at least 10 points before halftime in 26 of their last 27 games dating back to 2023 and had not been shut out in the first two quarters of a game since November 20, 2021.
To be continued
- Oregon: The Ducks, who tied the school record for wins in a season, await the Indiana-Alabama winner.
- Texas technology: The Red Raiders are scheduled to open the 2026 season at home against Abilene Christian on September 5.
