Oregon Advances in College Football Playoff with Victory Over James Madison
Eugene, OR – The Oregon Ducks secured a spot in the next round of the College Football Playoff with a 51-34 win against the James Madison Dukes on Saturday. The game, played in Eugene, Oregon, saw Oregon build a significant lead early on, though James Madison rallied in the later stages.
Oregon (12-1) will now prepare to face Texas Tech in the quarterfinal round at the Orange Bowl on January 1. This marks Oregon’s first playoff victory since 2014, when they advanced past Florida State before falling to Ohio State in the final.
The game initially seemed to heavily favor Oregon, as they established a commanding 48-13 lead midway through the third quarter. However, James Madison showed resilience, scoring 20 points to Oregon’s 3 in the final quarter and a half, narrowing the score difference.
Dante Moore, Oregon’s quarterback, played a key role in the victory. He connected with Jamari Johnson for a 41-yard touchdown in the opening minutes of the game, giving Oregon an early lead they maintained throughout. Johnson’s impressive catch and run into the end zone set the tone for the Ducks’ offensive performance.
James Madison (12-2), despite the loss, displayed moments of strong play. After Oregon’s initial touchdown, they responded with a 30-yard field goal by Morgan Suarez, following a lengthy 15-play drive. However, Oregon then surged ahead, scoring four consecutive touchdowns before James Madison managed another field goal before halftime, bringing the score to 34-6.
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison’s quarterback and Sun Belt Player of the Year, completed 23 of 48 passes. One of his key plays was a 47-yard touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro early in the third quarter.
Oregon responded to James Madison’s efforts with two more touchdowns, including a touchdown by wide receiver Malik Benson and a blocked punt recovered and returned for a touchdown by Jayden Limar. James Madison managed to score three touchdowns in the closing stages of the game.
Oregon’s victory extends their winning streak to seven games, since their defeat to Indiana on October 11. Before this game, James Madison had been on an 11-game winning run.
