Final: Oregon dismantles James Madison 51-34

Oregon is heading to the Orange Bowl. 

The No. 5 Ducks defeated No. 12 James Madison 51-34 Saturday night at Autzen Stadium in the first round of the College Football Playoffs. 

Photos: College Football Playoff, Oregon battles James Madison

With the win, the Ducks advance to the Orange Bowl in Miami to take on No. 4 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals. It’s Oregon’s second consecutive trip to the CFP’s quarterfinal round. 

And there wasn’t much drama in the Ducks getting there. 

In the first playoff game in Autzen Stadium history, the Ducks scored touchdowns on each of their first five drives — with no drive lasting longer than 2:38 on the clock — to put the Dukes away well before halftime. 

Oregon led 34-6 at the break — with its kneel down to end the half the only time the Ducks didn’t score on a drive in the half. 

Dante Moore finished 19-of-27 for 313 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Three different Ducks caught touchdowns passes — none of which were Dakorien Moore or Gary Bryant Jr., who both made their return to the field after more than a month away injured. Moore finished with one catch, while Bryant signaled a fair catch on the one punt return he was on the field for. Malik Benson led all receivers with 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Kickoff for the Orange Bowl is set for 9 a.m. (Pacific) on Jan. 1.

Live updates:

4:22 4Q: Atticus Sappington: still good. The Oregon senior kicker just drilled a 48-yarder to give Oregon a 51-26 lead.

10:26 4Q: Well, at least the game line has gotten interesting here. JMU just scored its third touchdown of the second half. And while the Ducks still have this game firmly in hand at 48-26, it’s now a 22-point game. The line, for those needing a reminder, was 20.5.

1:15 3Q: An impressive touchdown drive for the Dukes, but it’s a little too late, it seems, for the visitors from Virginia. Barnett hit George Pettaway for a 21-yard score to bring the score to 48-20 here at the end of the third quarter.

7:05 3Q: Special teams is now getting in on the fun for the Ducks. Oregon just extended its lead to 35 points after Blake Purchase blocked a punt that was recovered by Jayden Limar, who returned it for a touchdown.

Oregon leads 48-13.

10:24 3Q: Dante Moore just threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game — a 45-yard laser to Malik Benson to give the Ducks a 41-13 lead.

12:08 3Q: Must have been a heck of a speech in the James Madison locker room at the half. The Dukes came out for the second and scored in less than a minute after a 47-yard touchdown pass from Alonza Barnett III to Nick DeGenarro.

It’s 34-13 Ducks with 12:08 to go in the third.

HALFTIME: Oregon 34, James Madison 6

James Madison snuck in a 38-yard field goal just before the end of the first half to bring the game within 28 points at 34-6.

The Ducks lead 361-197 in total yardage despite running 22 fewer plays than the Dukes. Oregon has amassed its lead largely in part to five explosive passing plays of 15 yards or longer, highlighted by three touchdown passes from Dante Moore that went for 20 or more yards.

4:22 Q2: The spread was 20 1/2 points. The Ducks are now up by 31 here in the second quarter after a 5-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that took 1:45 off the clock and ended with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Malik Benson.

9:18 Q2: The Ducks keep the trend going. This time it was a 4-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that ate up just 1:18 of clock. The score this time came on a 20-yard pass from Dante Moore to Jeremiah McClellan. Ducks lead 27-3.

11:33 Q2: That’s another quick touchdown drive for the Ducks, this one thanks to a 56-yard Dierre Hill Jr. touchdown run. All three of Oregon’s drives have gone for touchdowns, with no drive lasting longer than 2:40.

Oregon leads 20-3 with 11:33 to play in the half.

13:07 Q2: A promising JMU drive comes up with no points after the Dukes picked up a pair of penalties in the red zone. Electing to kick a field goal on fourth-and-22 from Oregon’s 22, the Ducks blocked the Dukes’ attempt, giving Oregon the ball on the 22 with 13:07 to play in the half. Oregon leads 13-3.

End of first quarter: Oregon 13, JMU 3

2:37 1Q: The Ducks continue to cut through the JMU defense like a knife through butter. Off the heels of another explosive passing play — 40 yards from Moore to Dierre Hill Jr. — the Ducks scored on a 5-yard Moore keeper to push the lead to 13-3 with 2:37 to go in the first quarter. 

5:14 1Q: An impressive opening drive from James Madison, which converted a pair of fourth-and-short attempts to get downfield and eventually kick a 30-yard field goal. The drive for the Dukes ate up 8:03 of clock. With 5:14 to go in the first, Oregon leads 6-3. 

13:17: Rust, what rust? After two weeks off, the Ducks hit the ground flying here in the first quarter. Oregon won the toss, took the ball and quickly moved upfield: highlighted by a 41-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to Jabari Johnson.

The Ducks failed on a two-point try, but the score is now 6-0 with 13:17 to go in the first quarter.

Pregame: The weather is absolutely perfect here at Autzen Stadium 20 minutes before kickoff. Partly cloudy skies, temperatures are in the mid-40s and there’s a nice section of purple here in the stadium from the traveling James Madison fanbase.

All of Oregon’s injured receivers have been out in full pads during warm ups.

***

After all that run-up, we’re finally here: It’s No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison, kicking off this afternoon in the first College Football Playoff game in Autzen Stadium history.

The Ducks open the postseason after an 11-1 season that included battling injuries and a midseason loss to Indiana, before closing the year on a six-game winning streak.

And while Oregon has been respectful all week in discussing a Dukes team that owns a top-10 offense and a top-10 defense, on paper this sets up as a gentler start to the playoffs than a year ago, when the Ducks earned a bye before getting throttled by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

Not that they’re talking about that, Oregon coach Dan Lanning said.

“It’s so far behind us,” Lanning said. “Ultimately, everybody feels that. I think we have a team that’s worked very hard and has been very consistent. Their routine has been very dialed in throughout the season. They’ve done a great job of maintaining that throughout the year.

“They realize right now it’s win or go home, so they want to give their absolute best.”

The Ducks are a 21-point favorite. Texas Tech awaits the winner in Miami.

And despite all of the rain this week, kickoff is forecasted to be somewhat dry.

It’s December. It’s the playoffs. And we can’t wait to take you along for the ride.

Below is what you need to know before the game. Then, make sure you bookmark this page for live updates throughout.

📺 how to watch or listen 📻

When: 4:30 p.m. (PT), Dec. 20

Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

TV Channel: TNT/TruTV/HBO Max

Radio: KUGN-AM 590 and KUJZ 95.3 in Eugene 

who’s playing

Opponent: James Madison (12-1, 8-0 Sun Belt) 

Depth Chart/rosters: Oregon; James Madison

James Madison player to watch: Alonza Barnett III, quarterback

The stats are there. Barnett, Sun Belt player of the year, enters Saturday completing 59.9% of his passes for 2,533 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions along with 544 rushing yards and 14 scores.

He’s a dual threat. He’s the fulcrum. And, according to Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, could soon be playing on Sundays.

“He’s thrown for four touchdowns in a game, he’s rushed for four touchdowns in a game,” Lupoi said. “You can load up the box and try to stop the run, but it’s a quarterback who will have some NFL opportunities.”

And it’s also a quarterback who really wanted to be a Duck.

“I think if you were to ask everybody on this team, especially, you know, this generation, this era, you know, who was your favorite football team growing up? People would probably say Oregon,” Barnett said. “They had the flashy jerseys, Marcus Mariota, Darren Thomas, Darren Carrington, Kenjon Barner — a bunch of people.

“I was one of those kids that grew up watching Oregon. And so, these are the environments you dream of playing in. And, you know, if you are who you say you are, you can’t shut down when the lights are bright.”

Oregon player to watch: Dakorien Moore, wide receiver

Maybe the Ducks don’t need Moore to beat James Madison. Oregon has thrived over the last month throwing together a makeshift group of receivers to cover the losses of Moore and Gary Bryant Jr., who both went down in Oregon’s Nov. 8 win over Iowa.

But this is the playoffs. And with fellow receiver Justius Lowe reportedly heading for the transfer portal, it was good news for the Ducks to see Moore, Bryant and Evan Stewart in pads this week at practice.

And while Lanning played coy about their availability for Saturday, Oregon’s true freshman receiver seemed to give a little clue about his status.

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fit check

🔖 reads to get ready for the game 🔖

In case you missed any of our coverage earlier this week: 

Oregon’s playoff primer: Dates, dollars and December football

‘Over my dead body’: Tosh Lupoi isn’t done with Oregon’s defense

College Football Playoff: Ducks earn No. 5 seed, will host No. 12 James Madison

Learn more about James Madison: 

How a small school in the Virginia mountains slowly became college football’s most unlikely national title contender

From Portland State to James Madison: How Jobi Malary’s journey led back to Oregon for CFP game

Tulane, James Madison ready to ‘surprise’ College Football Playoff doubters

📷 Relive Rivalry Week 📷

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