Defense carries the day for Oregon,
as Ducks move into CFP semifinals by topping Texas Tech 23-0
[January 02, 2026]
By TIM REYNOLDS
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The first thing that Oregon quarterback
Dante Moore did after winning the Orange Bowl was salute the
thousands of fans who made the cross-country trip to South Florida.
If the Ducks' defense keeps playing like this, those fans might be
back in Miami before long.
Matayo Uiagalelei caused a fumble to set up an Oregon touchdown,
freshman Brandon Finney Jr. had three takeaways — two interceptions
and a fumble recovery — and the fifth-seeded Ducks silenced No. 4
Texas Tech's offense for a 23-0 win in the College Football Playoff
quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
“They’ve earned this opportunity,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “I
told them go get their pound of flesh today. They did that today.”
Jordon Davison rushed for two scores, Moore threw for 234 yards and
Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals for Oregon (13-1), which
will play No. 1 Indiana (14-0) in the Peach Bowl — a CFP semifinal —
on Jan. 9. It's a rematch of a game from Oct. 11, when the Hoosiers
beat Oregon 30-20.
The Oregon-Indiana winner will be in Miami Gardens for the national
title game on Jan. 19.
“I believe we have the best defense in the country,” Finney said.
Texas Tech probably wouldn't argue with that.
Texas Tech — which finished at 12-2 — came into the day second
nationally in points per game (42.5) and fifth nationally in yards
per game (480.3) but got absolutely nothing going. The Red Raiders
turned the ball over four times, were stopped on fourth downs three
other times and had four three-and-outs.
“Texas Tech fans, I'm sorry that we let you down,” coach Joey
McGuire said. “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 finished 18 of 32 passing for
just 137 yards — was stripped by Uiagalelei early in the third
quarter in Red Raider territory. Uiagalelei rumbled deep into the
red zone and Davison scored one play later to make it 13-0.
Morton threw a red-zone interception early in the fourth quarter and
a fourth-down stop from their own 30 midway through the fourth
quarter doomed whatever comeback chances existed for the Red
Raiders. Davison plunged in from the 1 with 16 seconds left to cap
the scoring.
“We had a great game plan," Morton said. "We just didn’t execute
base plays.”
And once again, a CFP bye meant a team went bye-bye.
It was the sixth quarterfinal under this 12-team tournament format
that started last year and the sixth time that the team coming off
an extended break lost to a team that played a first-round game.
That odd streak ended later Thursday, when Indiana — which had a
first-round bye — rolled past Alabama 38-3 in another quarterfinal
at the Rose Bowl.
[to top of second column] |
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, second left, celebrates with
quarterback Dante Moore (5), defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. (4),
and defensive lineman Bear Alexander after defeating Texas Tech in
the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game,
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca
Blackwell)
In 2024, Boise State (against Penn State), Arizona
State (against Texas), Georgia (against Notre Dame) and Oregon
(against Ohio State) all went out in the quarterfinals after
first-round byes. Miami added to that list Wednesday night, beating
Ohio State in a quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. In those six games,
including Thursday, the team with the bye has held the lead for less
than five minutes — combined — of regulation.
Texas Tech thought it could avoid that fate. It could not, and
Oregon finished off its first shutout of an AP-ranked opponent since
2012. Oregon was playing a top-10 team for the 113th time — and for
the first time, allowed zero points.
“In this program you don’t make excuses,” McGuire said, “and you
don’t let anybody make them for you.”
Oregon played James Madison in Round 1 this year, winning 51-34, and
generally was unhappy afterward with how it played defensively.
There wasn't anything to not like from that side of the ball on
Thursday.
“Last week a lot of people talked about our defense,” Lanning said.
“They showed up today.”
The takeaway
Oregon: The Ducks are flying home to Eugene, instead of staying in
the Eastern time zone to prepare for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta next
week. It was a decision the Ducks made not long after seeing how the
CFP bracket could shake out.
Texas Tech: It simply was an uncharacteristic offensive showing from
the Red Raiders, who had scored at least 10 points before halftime
in 26 of their last 27 games going back to 2023. “That was the best
defense we have faced this year,” McGuire said.
Up next
Oregon: The Ducks, who have tied the school record for wins in a
season, get a rematch with Indiana.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are scheduled to open the 2026 season at
home against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
