At the University of Oregon, a tradition has fans singing “Shout” from the classic film “Animal House” during the transition between the third and fourth quarters. This past Saturday, the excitement escalated to furious cheers as fans celebrated on the field at Autzen Stadium after the third-ranked Ducks narrowly defeated the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 32-31. This game marked the second time this college football season that a contest between top-10 teams was decided at the last moment.
The Ducks, now 6-0, maintained their unbeaten record by stopping Ohio State’s final drive, as the Buckeyes (5-1) found themselves pushed out of field goal range. Much to the dismay of the crowd, their last play disintegrated before quarterback Will Howard could make a throw into the end zone.
This matchup highlighted the evolving landscape of college football, showcasing two experienced transfer quarterbacks from teams located nearly 2,500 miles apart, yet competing against each other due to recent conference realignments. A rematch could be on the horizon in two months, thanks to the College Football Playoff’s expansion. The early-season showdown certainly lived up to expectations, raising the question of who might face off again later in the season.
Howard put on an impressive performance, completing 28 of 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, while Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel matched him with 23 completions on 34 attempts for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Until the final moments, the competition was tightly contested, with both teams showcasing negligible differences in performance.
Oregon gained just 14 more rushing yards and 15 more passing yards than Ohio State, which committed the game’s sole turnover. The score fluctuated throughout the game; Ohio State led 7-6 after the first quarter, Oregon took a narrow 22-21 lead at halftime, and Ohio State held a 31-29 advantage with just under two minutes left. The Ducks faced a pivotal moment on third and goal from two yards away; despite gaining only a yard, they succeeded in kicking a 19-yard field goal for a 32-31 edge.
The game’s winning field goal proved decisive as Ohio State’s subsequent drive stalled after eight plays covering 49 yards, leaving them 38 yards shy of the end zone. Historically, Ohio State dominated their first nine meetings with Oregon since their first encounter 66 years ago; however, the Ducks have now won the last two matchups.
In previous seasons, such a clash might have effectively eliminated the loser from playoff contention, intensifying the stakes each week and enhancing the sport’s appeal, differentiating it from the NFL. Nonetheless, Saturday’s exhilarating contest underscored the potential benefits of the playoff’s 12-team expansion. Both teams displayed elite performances over the full 60 minutes, ensuring that both will have the chance to compete again in December and possibly January, rather than being penalized for a single outcome in early October.
This thrilling game certainly gave fans something to be excited about.