By TIM REYNOLDS
MIAMI GARDENS — The very first thing that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore did after profitable the Orange Bowl was salute the hundreds of followers who made the cross-country journey to South Florida.
If the Geese’ protection retains taking part in like this, these followers is likely to be again in Miami earlier than lengthy.
Matayo Uiagalelei triggered a fumble to arrange an Oregon landing, freshman Brandon Finney Jr. had three takeaways — two interceptions and a fumble restoration — and the fifth-seeded Geese silenced No. 4 Texas Tech’s offense for a 23-0 win within the School Soccer Playoff quarterfinal on the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
“They’ve earned this opportunity,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned. “I told them go get their pound of flesh today. They did that today.”
Jordon Davison rushed for 2 scores, Moore threw for 234 yards and Atticus Sappington kicked three discipline targets for Oregon (13-1), which is able to play both No. 1 Indiana or No. 9 Alabama within the Peach Bowl — a CFP semifinal — on Jan. 9.
The Peach Bowl winner will likely be again in Miami Gardens for the nationwide title recreation on Jan. 19.
“I believe we have the best defense in the country,” Finney mentioned.
Texas Tech most likely wouldn’t argue with that.
Texas Tech — which completed at 12-2 — got here into the day second nationally in factors per recreation (42.5) and fifth nationally in yards per recreation (480.3) however bought completely nothing going. The Purple Raiders turned the ball over 4 instances, have been stopped on fourth downs three different instances and had 4 three-and-outs.
“Texas Tech fans, I’m sorry that we let you down,” coach Joey McGuire mentioned. “I hope you’ve enjoyed every second of this year. Man, this was such a special team and I’m so proud of them. Hats off to Dan Lanning. Hats off to the Oregon Ducks. Just an incredible football team … and I told Dan after the game I hope he wins the whole damn thing.”
Tech quarterback Behren Morton — who completed 18 of 32 passing for simply 137 yards — was stripped by Uiagalelei early within the third quarter in Purple Raider territory. Uiagalelei rumbled deep into the purple zone and Davison scored one play later to make it 13-0.
Morton threw a red-zone interception early within the fourth quarter and a fourth-down cease from their very own 30 halfway by way of the fourth quarter doomed no matter comeback possibilities existed for the Purple Raiders. Davison plunged in from the 1 with 16 seconds left to cap the scoring.
“We had a great game plan,” Morton mentioned. “We just didn’t execute base plays.”
And as soon as once more, a CFP bye meant a workforce went bye-bye.
It was the sixth quarterfinal beneath this 12-team event format that began final yr — there have been two others coming later Thursday — and the sixth time that the workforce coming off an prolonged break misplaced to a workforce that performed a first-round recreation.
In 2024, Boise State (towards Penn State), Arizona State (towards Texas), Georgia (towards Notre Dame) and Oregon (towards Ohio State) all went out within the quarterfinals after first-round byes. Miami added to that listing Wednesday evening, beating Ohio State in a quarterfinal on the Cotton Bowl. In these six video games, together with Thursday, the workforce with the bye has held the lead for lower than 5 minutes — mixed — of regulation.
Texas Tech thought it may keep away from that destiny. It couldn’t, and Oregon completed off its first shutout of an AP-ranked opponent since 2012. Oregon was taking part in a top-10 workforce for the 113th time — and for the primary time, allowed zero factors.
Oregon performed James Madison in Spherical 1 this yr, profitable 51-34, and usually was sad afterward with the way it performed defensively.
There wasn’t something to not like from that aspect of the ball on Thursday.
“Last week a lot of people talked about our defense,” Lanning mentioned. “They showed up today.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Oregon: The Geese are flying dwelling to Eugene, as an alternative of staying within the Jap time zone to organize for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta subsequent week. It was a call the Geese made not lengthy after seeing how the CFP bracket may shake out.
Texas Tech: It merely was an uncharacteristic offensive exhibiting from the Purple Raiders, who had scored a minimum of 10 factors earlier than halftime in 26 of their final 27 video games going again to 2023. “That was the best defense we have faced this year,” McGuire mentioned.
UP NEXT
Oregon: The Geese, who’ve tied the varsity file for wins in a season, await the Indiana-Alabama winner.
Texas Tech: The Purple Raiders are scheduled to open the 2026 season at dwelling towards Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.
