Saturday, October 12
Eugene, Ore.
4:30 PM
University of Oregon
6-0 , 3-0
32
vs
31
Ohio State
5-1 , 2-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Ohio St.
7
14
7
3
31
Oregon
6
16
0
10
32
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Titanic Top-Five Tilt Goes To Oregon
10/12/24 | Football
No. 3 Oregon outlasted No. 2 Ohio State before the biggest crowd in Autzen Stadium history Saturday night.
EUGENE, Ore. — A new tradition for games at Autzen Stadium this year sees the playing of a Dolly Parton song after the final gun.
"Eugene, Oregon, I'll remember you for the rest of my life," Parton sings. "I won't forget how good you were to me."
On Saturday night, Autzen was filled with a stadium-record 60,129 fans. Any of them not wearing scarlet could relate to Parton's sentiment whole-heartedly.
The biggest game in stadium history lived up to its billing Saturday, as No. 3 Oregon outlasted No. 2 Ohio State, 32-31. The Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) outscored the Buckeyes in the fourth quarter, 10-3, coming from behind twice in the final period and ultimately winning on a 19-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 remaining.
Dillon Gabriel threw for 341 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, Jordan James rushed for 115 yards and a score and Evan Stewart broke out with seven receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. Tysheem Johnson and Kobe Savage had eight tackles each to lead the UO defense, and Matayo Uiagalelei — filling in for injured defensive lineman Jordan Burch — had two tackles for loss including a sack on Ohio State's first play after the go-ahead field goal.
A day that dawned with thousands of Oregon fans crowding the Memorial Quad on campus for ESPN's "College GameDay" ended with thousands more rushing the field at Autzen to celebrate one of the most consequential wins in the venue's more than half-century existence. Right in the middle of it all was UO coach Dan Lanning, who was on set for "College Gameday" early Saturday morning and then in the midst of the crowd for the postgame celebration late in the evening.
"It's a fun moment, man," Lanning said. "It's a fun moment that I know that everyone in that stadium that's wearing green got to enjoy and celebrate, and everybody that worked so hard got to enjoy. For me, that's the rewarding part, is that so many other people could share joy in a moment like that. Our players, our fans, the people this program means so much to — that's as much for them as anybody else. And I was just glad that they got that moment tonight."
Saturday's game was the first top-five matchup in Autzen Stadium history, made even more consequential by conference realignment that had the Ducks and Buckeyes battling as Big Ten rivals. Add in the fact that a previously scheduled meeting in Autzen four years earlier was cancelled by the pandemic, and anticipation was at a fever pitch.
Somehow, it more than delivered. Elite playmakers on both sidelines showed out. Some of the brightest minds in coaching, including Lanning on Oregon's sideline, and former UO coach Chip Kelly as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, engaged in a stirring chess match. The result saw a game unfold in which the final seven scoring plays of the night all resulted in a lead change.
"We all knew we were getting into a dogfight, and two heavyweights going at it," Gabriel said. "But that's what college football is all about. We were excited for that opportunity, and took advantage of it."
Before the back-and-forth final three quarters, the Ducks had to dig themselves out of an early hole. They trailed 14-6 moments into the second quarter, and 21-15 late in the first half. It was 28-22 Buckeyes entering the fourth, before a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Gabriel put the Ducks back in front.
The teams then traded field goals, and Ohio State got the ball with 1:47 to play, trailing by just a point. Field position was critical in that moment — and Oregon immediately put the Buckeyes in a hole when Uiagalelei, filling in for Burch, sacked Ohio State's Will Howard to open the drive.
The game ended with Ohio State snapping the ball at Oregon's 38-yard line, and Howard being forced to scramble and slide to the turf as time expired. Had the ball been at the 29-yard line instead, might the Buckeyes have tried for a game-winning field goal? Uiagalelei's sack to open the possession made all the difference.
"Going in I knew it was a big game, but I'm not trying to let it get to my head," Uiagalelei said. "But shoot, I'm thinking about making plays like that before the game. In the moment, I make the play, and it's like, boom, on to the next. But looking back, it's pretty exciting to make a play like that."
The Oregon defense initially struggled to contain Ohio State's rushing attack. Howard ran for the game's first score in the opening quarter, and after James rushed for a UO touchdown — with the Ducks unable to convert the extra point — Quinshon Judkins made it 14-6 early in the second with another rushing score.
The Buckeyes ran for 122 yards in the first half, and an average of 5.8 yards per carry. It was a different story after halftime — the Ducks limited Ohio State to 19 rushing yards, and 1.6 yards per carry.
"We knew that they had an elite offense with an elite quarterback back there, and elite playmakers on the perimeter," UO linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said. "So it was really just about swarming to the ball."
Oregon got within 14-12 later in the second quarter, when Stewart caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. Two plays earlier he caught a 69-yard bomb, dragging a defensive back down the sideline for most of his yards after the catch.
Later in the second, after an Oregon field goal and then an Ohio State touchdown that put the Buckeyes up 21-15, Tez Johnson caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel. For as good as the Ohio State receiving corps is — and it produced as advertised Saturday — Oregon's was every bit as good.
"We just went into this game knowing we are who we are, and they ain't seen us yet," Stewart said. "So we're gonna give 'em a show."
Sappington's first field goal of the night, a 27-yarder that put Oregon up 15-14 in the second quarter, began the run of seven straight scoring plays that saw the lead change hands. After Johnson's touchdown put the Ducks up at halftime, 22-21, the Buckeyes regained the lead on Howard's second touchdown pass of the night in the third quarter.
Each team got a defensive stop after that, and Oregon took over late in the third. The Ducks were at the Ohio State 27-yard line early in the fourth when Gabriel read a defensive end crashing down on James, kept the ball on an option run, juked a defensive back in the open field and ran for a score.
The Buckeyes answered that with a field goal, to lead 31-29 with 6:00 left. Gabriel then coolly drove the Ducks to a go-ahead field goal of their own, the big play on the drive a reception by tight end Terrance Ferguson that got Oregon near the red area.
Sappington's 19-yard field goal got the lead back for the Ducks. Uiagalelei's sack put Ohio State in a hole to start its next drive. The Buckeyes couldn't made up the deficit by the time the clock expired.
Autzen Stadium was jubilant. Oregon was drawing discussion as potentially the No. 1 team in the country. And the Ducks' rocky start to the season, albeit in wins over Idaho and Boise State, was a distant memory.
"There's been a lot of growth," Lanning said. "But I'd say we're not done. And there's a lot more to do."
"Eugene, Oregon, I'll remember you for the rest of my life," Parton sings. "I won't forget how good you were to me."
On Saturday night, Autzen was filled with a stadium-record 60,129 fans. Any of them not wearing scarlet could relate to Parton's sentiment whole-heartedly.
The biggest game in stadium history lived up to its billing Saturday, as No. 3 Oregon outlasted No. 2 Ohio State, 32-31. The Ducks (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) outscored the Buckeyes in the fourth quarter, 10-3, coming from behind twice in the final period and ultimately winning on a 19-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 remaining.
Dillon Gabriel threw for 341 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, Jordan James rushed for 115 yards and a score and Evan Stewart broke out with seven receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. Tysheem Johnson and Kobe Savage had eight tackles each to lead the UO defense, and Matayo Uiagalelei — filling in for injured defensive lineman Jordan Burch — had two tackles for loss including a sack on Ohio State's first play after the go-ahead field goal.
A day that dawned with thousands of Oregon fans crowding the Memorial Quad on campus for ESPN's "College GameDay" ended with thousands more rushing the field at Autzen to celebrate one of the most consequential wins in the venue's more than half-century existence. Right in the middle of it all was UO coach Dan Lanning, who was on set for "College Gameday" early Saturday morning and then in the midst of the crowd for the postgame celebration late in the evening.
"It's a fun moment, man," Lanning said. "It's a fun moment that I know that everyone in that stadium that's wearing green got to enjoy and celebrate, and everybody that worked so hard got to enjoy. For me, that's the rewarding part, is that so many other people could share joy in a moment like that. Our players, our fans, the people this program means so much to — that's as much for them as anybody else. And I was just glad that they got that moment tonight."
Saturday's game was the first top-five matchup in Autzen Stadium history, made even more consequential by conference realignment that had the Ducks and Buckeyes battling as Big Ten rivals. Add in the fact that a previously scheduled meeting in Autzen four years earlier was cancelled by the pandemic, and anticipation was at a fever pitch.
Somehow, it more than delivered. Elite playmakers on both sidelines showed out. Some of the brightest minds in coaching, including Lanning on Oregon's sideline, and former UO coach Chip Kelly as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, engaged in a stirring chess match. The result saw a game unfold in which the final seven scoring plays of the night all resulted in a lead change.
"We all knew we were getting into a dogfight, and two heavyweights going at it," Gabriel said. "But that's what college football is all about. We were excited for that opportunity, and took advantage of it."
Before the back-and-forth final three quarters, the Ducks had to dig themselves out of an early hole. They trailed 14-6 moments into the second quarter, and 21-15 late in the first half. It was 28-22 Buckeyes entering the fourth, before a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Gabriel put the Ducks back in front.
The teams then traded field goals, and Ohio State got the ball with 1:47 to play, trailing by just a point. Field position was critical in that moment — and Oregon immediately put the Buckeyes in a hole when Uiagalelei, filling in for Burch, sacked Ohio State's Will Howard to open the drive.
The game ended with Ohio State snapping the ball at Oregon's 38-yard line, and Howard being forced to scramble and slide to the turf as time expired. Had the ball been at the 29-yard line instead, might the Buckeyes have tried for a game-winning field goal? Uiagalelei's sack to open the possession made all the difference.
"Going in I knew it was a big game, but I'm not trying to let it get to my head," Uiagalelei said. "But shoot, I'm thinking about making plays like that before the game. In the moment, I make the play, and it's like, boom, on to the next. But looking back, it's pretty exciting to make a play like that."
The Oregon defense initially struggled to contain Ohio State's rushing attack. Howard ran for the game's first score in the opening quarter, and after James rushed for a UO touchdown — with the Ducks unable to convert the extra point — Quinshon Judkins made it 14-6 early in the second with another rushing score.
The Buckeyes ran for 122 yards in the first half, and an average of 5.8 yards per carry. It was a different story after halftime — the Ducks limited Ohio State to 19 rushing yards, and 1.6 yards per carry.
"We knew that they had an elite offense with an elite quarterback back there, and elite playmakers on the perimeter," UO linebacker Jeffrey Bassa said. "So it was really just about swarming to the ball."
Oregon got within 14-12 later in the second quarter, when Stewart caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. Two plays earlier he caught a 69-yard bomb, dragging a defensive back down the sideline for most of his yards after the catch.
Later in the second, after an Oregon field goal and then an Ohio State touchdown that put the Buckeyes up 21-15, Tez Johnson caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel. For as good as the Ohio State receiving corps is — and it produced as advertised Saturday — Oregon's was every bit as good.
"We just went into this game knowing we are who we are, and they ain't seen us yet," Stewart said. "So we're gonna give 'em a show."
Sappington's first field goal of the night, a 27-yarder that put Oregon up 15-14 in the second quarter, began the run of seven straight scoring plays that saw the lead change hands. After Johnson's touchdown put the Ducks up at halftime, 22-21, the Buckeyes regained the lead on Howard's second touchdown pass of the night in the third quarter.
Each team got a defensive stop after that, and Oregon took over late in the third. The Ducks were at the Ohio State 27-yard line early in the fourth when Gabriel read a defensive end crashing down on James, kept the ball on an option run, juked a defensive back in the open field and ran for a score.
The Buckeyes answered that with a field goal, to lead 31-29 with 6:00 left. Gabriel then coolly drove the Ducks to a go-ahead field goal of their own, the big play on the drive a reception by tight end Terrance Ferguson that got Oregon near the red area.
Sappington's 19-yard field goal got the lead back for the Ducks. Uiagalelei's sack put Ohio State in a hole to start its next drive. The Buckeyes couldn't made up the deficit by the time the clock expired.
Autzen Stadium was jubilant. Oregon was drawing discussion as potentially the No. 1 team in the country. And the Ducks' rocky start to the season, albeit in wins over Idaho and Boise State, was a distant memory.
"There's been a lot of growth," Lanning said. "But I'd say we're not done. And there's a lot more to do."
Team Stats
OSU
ORE
Total Yards
467
496
Pass Yards
326
341
Rushing Yards
141
155
Penalty Yards
70
25
1st Downs
22
18
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
33:09
26:51
1st Quarter
OSU 7, ORE 0
OSU - Howard,Will 1 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:00
OSU 7, ORE 6
ORE - James,Jordan 3 yd run (), 2 plays, 28 yards, TOP 00:43
2nd Quarter
OSU 14, ORE 6
OSU - Judkins,Quinshon 1 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 4 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:21
OSU 14, ORE 12
ORE - Stewart,Evan 10 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon () 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:51
OSU 14, ORE 15
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 27 yd field goal 5 plays, 32 yards, TOP 02:17
OSU 21, ORE 15
OSU - Egbuka,Emeka 15 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:16
OSU 21, ORE 22
ORE - Johnson,Tez 48 yd pass from Gabriel,Dillon (Sappington,Atticus kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:36
3rd Quarter
OSU 28, ORE 22
OSU - Smith,Jeremiah 6 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 6 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:08
4th Quarter
OSU 28, ORE 29
ORE - Gabriel,Dillon 27 yd run (Boyle,Andrew kick), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 01:51
OSU 31, ORE 29
OSU - Fielding,Jayden 40 yd field goal 13 plays, 53 yards, TOP 07:20
OSU 31, ORE 32
ORE - Sappington,Atticus 19 yd field goal 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 04:13
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
23
TD
2
YDS
341
INT
0
Players Mentioned
ILB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
TE
/ FootballQB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OLB
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Tuesday, September 09
Ify Obidegwu: "Going the extra mile."
Tuesday, September 09
Emmanuel Pregnon: "Starting early, starting fast."
Tuesday, September 09
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