Oregon Rebounds in Columbus, Now Must Back It Up Against Michigan
A month ago, Oregon's season looked to be slipping away. Without starting quarterback Dante Moore, lost for the year to a concussion, the Ducks had dropped two of their next three games. Last Saturday, they delivered their best win of the fall: 41-28 at Ohio State after trailing 14-0. Up from No. 23 to No. 16 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Dan Lanning's team (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) hosts Michigan on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, with some significant absences.
38 unanswered points in the Horseshoe
The start was a nightmare. Ohio State, playing without injured quarterback Julian Sayin (arm) and relying on Luke Fahey, struck first: Bo Jackson ran for touchdowns of 16 and 8 yards, and the Buckeyes led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Oregon then scored 38 straight points.
Gage Hurych got the Ducks on the board with a 33-yard field goal. The real spark was a fake punt: on fourth-and-9, linebacker Teitum Tuioti took the snap and found Matayo Uiagalelei near the sideline for a 30-yard gain. Six plays later, Dierre Hill Jr. scored the first of his two touchdowns (14-10). After a Fahey interception, tight end Jamari Johnson put Oregon ahead on the final play of the half: 17-14.
Out of the locker room, Hill broke three tackles on a 48-yard touchdown run (24-14). Dakorien Moore then made a one-handed 11-yard catch in the back corner of the end zone (31-14), and a 15-yard screen to Brandon Smith made it 38-14. Ohio State only closed the gap once the game was decided, and much of the crowd had already left by the middle of the fourth quarter.
Dylan Raiola has found his rhythm
A transfer from Nebraska, Dylan Raiola had an uneven start as Oregon's starter. In Columbus, he played his most complete game in green and yellow: 25 of 40 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. After a shaky first half, he kept converting on third down and never let Ohio State back in. Hill finished with 75 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns, valuable production with the starting running back sidelined.
The good news this week involves Jeremiah McClellan. The receiver, who led the team in receiving yards before breaking his foot, is back and should see his role grow. Alongside Dakorien Moore, he gives Raiola a second target who can stretch a defense downfield, a weapon Oregon had been missing for weeks.
A growing injury list
The win came at a price. Tuioti, who threw the pass on the fake punt, injured his knee early in the fourth quarter. He will need surgery and will not play again this season. It is a blow to Oregon's defense, which loses one of its best pass rushers and one of its most respected voices in the locker room. Young Nasir Wyatt is among the players expected to pick up the slack on the edge.
On offense, running back Jordon Davison is out for a second straight week. Oregon should again lean on Hill and freshman Brandon Smith in the backfield. Dante Moore, of course, remains unavailable.
Michigan, then the sprint to the College Football Playoff
Michigan arrives in Eugene in turmoil. Kyle Whittingham's Wolverines (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten), who still need one more win to become bowl-eligible, are coming off a loss to Michigan State and have fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck. The quarterback spot remains unsettled: Tommy Carr is expected to start, but Bryce Underwood, once the nation's most coveted recruit, could also play. Michigan's offense is struggling, but its defense remains dangerous, especially up front. Oregon's offensive line will have to keep Raiola clean.
The Ducks' path is now clear. After Michigan, they travel to Michigan State and then host Washington to close the regular season. With three losses, a trip to the Big Ten title game, where UCLA remains unbeaten, looks remote. The road to the College Football Playoff therefore runs through three wins and a résumé the committee respects: five of Oregon's nine opponents are in the latest CFP rankings, and the Ducks are the highest-ranked three-loss team.
In Columbus, Oregon showed it can still land a big punch. It has three Saturdays left to prove it was not a one-off.
