No. 3 Ducks Defeat No. 2 Buckeyes in an Instant Classic 32-31

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The No. 3 Oregon Ducks (6-0, 3-0) defeated No. 2 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) on Oct. 12 for the second time in a row, 32-31. This game was an instant classic that lived up to all the hype, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if they met up again down the road. Oregon drove down the field late to secure a 19-yard field goal to take the lead late in the fourth. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard led the Buckeyes on a two-minute drill and got them on the fringe of field goal range. Shockingly, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day decided to run one more play from the 38-yard line with 6 seconds remaining, and Howard ran the clock out.

Game Summary

The Buckeyes opened the game with a methodical touchdown drive, intimidating Duck fans into fear. Ohio State forced a stop on defense, but Derrick Harmon stripped Quinshon Judkins, which sparked some momentum for the Ducks. Jordan James capped off a touchdown drive with a short TD run. This game was filled with every possible crazy play you could think of, from botched extra points to missed field goals and even a player spitting in an opposing player's face.

Ohio State responded with a 1-yard Judkins touchdown, increasing its lead to 14-6. Evan Stewart had himself the breakout game Duck fans were waiting for. He hauled in a 10-yard TD reception after reeling in a 69-yard catch on a double move.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel had himself a showout performance. He consistently connected on the deep ball, including a 48-yard TD pass to Tez Johnson. Jeremiah Smith was held to 4 catches for 19 yards in the first half, but woke up in the second half. Smith's final stat line was 9 receptions for 100 yards and a TD. Oregon continued to respond and trade leads with the Buckeyes throughout the game, but ultimately stood tall on the final drive defensively. Ohio State was inside the 35-yard line, attempting to make the would-be game-winning field goal a more makeable distance. Sadly, a Smith offensive pass interference proved costly. Howard scrambled on the final play, not realizing where the clock was, and time ran out.

Turning Point for the Ducks

It's tough to pinpoint a "turning point" in this game because the lead was passed back and forth between both teams. If you had to identify it, late in the third quarter, Oregon was stuffed on fourth down on the goal line, trailing 28-22. Oregon managed to get a stop, and Gabriel pulled out a read option and ran one to the house for 27 yards.

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This gave the Ducks a 29-22 lead, becoming the turning point in momentum. Gabriel deserves his flowers for his poise in the clutch and how he limited the mistakes. Gabriel was 23-of-34 passing for 341 yards and 2 touchdown passes with zero turnovers. Gabriel also tallied 4 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

What Does This Mean for the Ducks?

This is huge for Oregon, and the narrative is that head coach Dan Lanning can't win big games. Oregon holds first place in the B1G with an undefeated 6-0 record. This was the most challenging game on their schedule, so now the sky is the limit. Oregon should also catapult to the top team in the nation with that victory. "College GameDay" was an absolute home run for the Ducks in recruiting purposes as well, as they hosted several blue chip recruits, one of whom is an Ohio State commit. That win could change his mind. That player is Na'eem Offord, a five-star cornerback recruit in the 2025 class.