LIVE UPDATES: No. 12 Oregon vs. No. 3 Ohio State
Where: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
When: Saturday, September 11 at approx. 9:05 a.m. PST
TV: Fox
Announcers: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analysis), Jenny Taft (sideline reporter)
Stream: Pac-12 Live, FuboTV
Listen: Oregon Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Live Updates: Follow Max Torres (@mtorressports) and Ducks Digest (@DucksDigest) on Twitter
Game Notes: Oregon vs. Ohio State
FINAL: Oregon 35, Ohio State 28
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OSU drive 0:20
Stroud appears to throw for a first down to Smith-Njigba, but the quarterback may have been down while releasing the ball as Brandon Dorlus brought him to the ground. Bradyn Swinson is down on the field. The completion is confirmed.
DJ Johnson (yes, you read that right) records the sack of Stroud to seal the victory. Oregon earns its first-ever win against Ohio State with a 35-28 thriller in Columbus.
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Oregon drive 2:50
Verdell runs for four, and Ohio State calls its first timeout of the half with 2:45 remaining. Brown runs up the middle for three yards to bring up a crucial third down and three. OSU takes another timeout with 2:42 left.
Joe Moorhead draws up a beautiful play action with a fake to Verdell and a throw to DJ Johnson who lumbers for a first down. Verdell with a couple of runs up the middle, followed by a run by Brown up the middle. Fourth down and one coming up for the Ducks with 30 seconds left as the Buckeyes take their final timeout.
The Ducks line up to try to get the Buckeyes offsides, but Cristobal takes timeout. Oregon will instead punt, and Snee's punt is downed at the 10-yard line with 20 seconds left and no timeouts.
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OSU drive 4:43
Stroud throws to Ruckert for a first down. The defense has not been able to get after Stroud on the last couple of series. Miyan Williams picks up the first down on a run to the left. Bradyn Swinson gets the first sack of the game for an eight-yard loss.
Stroud scrambles right and throws an errant pass, which is intercepted by Verone McKinley with under three minutes left in regulation. The Ducks defense steps up with a massive stop once again.
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Oregon drive 5:44
Oregon gets the ball at the 22, and Brown scrambles for a short gain to start the drive. The Ducks goal is to move the ball down the field and drain the clock with the lead. JT Tuimoloau bats down a pass intended for Johnny Johnson III to bring up third down. Spencer Webb drops a pass that gets through the arm of the Ohio State defender and the Ducks have to punt again.
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OSU drive 7:04
Buckeyes have all three timeouts as they begin at the 29-yard line. Stroud strikes once again to Smith-Njigba for a first down. He can't make consecutive big throws as he overthrows a wide-open Wilson down the field. The secondary is being worn down.
Stroud scrambles for a first down, but Thayer Munford is called for holding to make it third down and 20. Stroud throws short to Olave, who collides with Sewell low to the ground. Sewell is slow to get up, and fans are calling for a targeting call. The Fox broadcasters announce that the play was looked at, but there was no targeting call. Ohio State punts.
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Oregon drive 7:55
Redd drops a would-be first down to bring up a massive third down, but the Ducks jump to create an even more difficult third down and 12. Ohio Stadium is absolutely rocking as Mario Cristobal burns his first timeout of the second half with 7:20 left in the game and the Ducks up one touchdown.
On third and long, Brown throws incomplete to force a punt back to the red-hot Ohio State offense.
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OSU drive 10:10
Now trailing by two touchdowns, Stroud overthrows an open Olave deep down the field. On the following snap, Stroud goes right back to Olave deep, and the receiver makes a catch in tight coverage against Mykael Wright for 34 yards.
Chris Olave is being attended to on the sideline. Stroud throws to the freshman Julian Fleming for another first down in the redzone. The Ducks defense may have given up over 550 yards of offense, but they have been tough when it matters most. This is a spot where they have made big stops throughout the game.
Ducks secondary does a great job on second and third down to prevent the Buckeyes from scoring a touchdown. Ducks began to bring pressure on Stroud as well.
The Ducks can't get a stop here as Stroud throws to Smith-Njigba on a crosser for a 15-yard touchdown. PAT is good. 35-28 Oregon with 7:55 left in the fourth quarter.
CJ Stroud is having himself quite the breakout game. He is 31-of-46 for 437 yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Njigba is up to 111 yards and two touchdowns. Three Buckeyes receivers have over 100 receiving yards.
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Oregon drive 12:46
Brown makes a smart throw to Spencer Webb for 30 yards as the cornerback drops back. Buckeyes penalty on the play moves the Ducks up another 15 yards to the OSU 25. Verdell gets a brilliant block by Ryan Walk on a third-down conversion for seven yards.
The Oregon offensive line has been unbelievable, keeping Anthony Brown's pearly white uniform clean. He has not been sacked today.
Brown throws to a wide-open Moliki Matavao for a 14-yard touchdown, the first of the freshman tight end's career. Extra-long PAT is good after a false start penalty. 35-21 Oregon with 10:10 left in the fourth quarter.
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Buckeyes drive cont.
Stroud uncorks a deep ball but overthrows Smith-Njigba. Ducks defense could use a big stop in their territory once again. On fourth down and three, Stroud throws to Wilson for the Buckeyes first fourth-down conversion.
The Buckeyes go fast and Henderson runs it in for a touchdown to cut the Ducks lead. 28-21 Oregon with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter.
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Fourth quarter begins
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END 3Q: 28-14 Oregon
Oregon's run game is dominating the Ohio State defensive line, putting up 233 yards through three quarters and averaging 8.3 yards per carry.
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OSU drive 0:02
Stroud throws to Smith-Njigba, who is having himself a nice day, for a first down to end the third quarter. The Ducks are 15 minutes away from taking down the No. 3 team in the country in their own stadium.
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Oregon drive 3:43
The Ducks run for a couple of short gains before Brown throws to Jaylon Redd over the middle for a first down. Oregon gets the Buckeyes defensive line to jump offsides.
Ohio State brings pressure on a third down and Brown throws to Redd but it is batted around and incomplete to bring up fourth down.
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OSU drive 7:38
Stroud throws to Wilson underneath for a first down. Buckeyes' offense needs a score, but the defense needs a stop even more.
Stroud throws to the opposite side of the field to Olave for another first down, and the Buckeyes, including Stroud, are finding their rhythm. The Buckeyes quarterback has completed 16 of his last 18 passes.
TreVeyon Henderson evades a tackle in the backfield and sneaks through for a first down on an impressive run. Trikweze Bridges breaks up a pass intended for Jeremy Ruckert that would have been a touchdown.
The fourth-down defense steps up again, as DJ James defends a pass in the endzone intended for Olave. Oregon takes over at the eight-yard line.
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Oregon drive 10:25
Brown carries for 13 yards and gets a beautiful block from TJ Bass. Ohio State's defense has not looked sharp at all in this game. The defensive struggle continues as Travis Dye tears off a 15-yard run, and the Ducks gain another 15 yards on a facemask penalty to move them to the Ohio State 23-yard line.
Oregon keeps running to the left side as Travis Dye runs untouched to the endzone for a five-yard touchdown. 28-14 Oregon with 7:38 left in the third quarter.
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OSU drive 13:37
Buckeyes pick up a couple of first downs, including a 22-yard throw to Wilson to move the Buckeyes into Ducks territory. Buckeyes shoot themselves in the foot with a false start, but Olave picks up a first down anyway on a crossing route.
Stroud throws over the middle to Smith-Njigba for a 26-yard touchdown. PAT is good. 21-14 Oregon with 10:25 left in the third quarter.
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Oregon drive 14:54
CJ Verdell sprints to the end zone on third down and three for a 77-yard touchdown for his third score of the game. PAT is good. 21-7 Oregon with 13:38 left in the third quarter.
Three plays for the Ducks to go 84 yards and take a two-score lead over the No. 3 team in the country.
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Third quarter begins
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HALFTIME: 14-7 Oregon
Both offenses have found their rhythm, but CJ Verdell has paced the Ducks with two touchdowns. Ohio State has outgained Oregon 271-245, but the Ducks defense has gotten some bigs stops, including two on fourth down.
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Anthony Brown: 10/19, 143 yards, 1 TD
CJ Verdell: 9 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 34 yards, 1 TD
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CJ Stroud: 16/22, 190 yards, 1 TD
Miyan Williams: 11 carries, 58 yards
Garrett Wilson: 4 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD
Chris Olave: 6 catches, 37 yards
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OSU drive 0:34
Buckeyes are hurrying to tie the game before halftime. They move the ball down the field but stall as the clock runs out. Oregon has held Ohio State to seven points at the half, the Buckeyes fewest points in a half at home since their loss to Oklahoma in 2017.
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Oregon drive 2:32
On third down and short, Brown trucks a defender on a scramble for a first down. Brown has missed on a couple of shots down the field on this drive. The offensive line has given the Ducks quarterback plenty of time in the pocket, a rarety against an elite Buckeyes defensive line.
The Ducks are moving quickly as the second half winds down. A touchdown here would be colossal as they get the ball to start the second half as well. Brown throws over the middle to Mycah Pittman for a big gain, but Terrance Ferguson is called for holding to negate the play. The Ducks offense can't inch closer and is forced to punt. Snee's punt bounces into the endzone for a touchback.
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OSU drive 4:43
Emeka Egbuka returns the kickoff to the Buckeyes 34-yard line. Treven Ma'ae is back in the game for Oregon.
Miyan Williams carries for 21 yards to start the drive. Oregon's defense seems to be giving the Buckeyes more space, as Olave catches a pass underneath for 13 yards. Dontae Manning plays Chris Olave well in coverage, as Olave drops a ball deep in Oregon territory.
On fourth down and a yard, Noah Sewell flies to Miyan Williams to turn the Buckeyes over on down. Oregon takes over at the 39-yard line. The Ducks defensive line has made its presence felt all day.
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Oregon drive 8:42
The drive begins at the Oregon 35 after the kickoff goes out of bounds. Troy Franklin catches a pass on first down for his first career reception. Brown throws a bullet on the run to Kris Hutson for a gain of 30 yards. Timeout Oregon with seven minutes left in the first half. Oregon burns its last timeout of the half with 6:20 left.
Dawson Jaramillo has been in at left tackle on this drive. Verdell is short on a third down in the red zone. Ohio State bails Oregon out on a likely false start and takes a timeout with 4:57 left in the second. On fourth down and one, Brown pitches to Verdell who sprints around the edge for a 14-yard touchdown. PAT is good. 14-7 Oregon with 4:51 left in the first half.
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OSU drive 10:29
Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a big gain to kick the drive off with a short crossing route and a gain of 26 to move into Oregon territory. The Ducks secondary has done a great job of covering receivers down the field and forcing Stroud to scramble. Stroud throws a dart to Smith-Njigba on third down to keep the drive moving.
The Oregon coverage breaks down as Garrett Wilson catches a wide-open touchdown. 7-7 with 8:42 left in second quarter.
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Oregon drive 13:22
The Ducks start once again at their own one-yard line, and Brown takes a shot down the field but throws incomplete. Oregon burns its first timeout with 12:14 left in the second on third and eight. Ohio State looks confused on the defensive end and is forced to take a timeout. Brown throws to Cam McCormick for a 16-yard gain for his first reception since 2018.
Oregon has been moving the ball down the field efficiently. On another third down, Brown misfires, and the Ducks will punt.
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OSU drive 14:27
Ducks defense is swarming to the ball. Stroud forced a throw on first down that the receiver wasn't ready for, and he scrambled for a gain of a yard. On third down, Verone McKinley defends a throw to Garrett Wilson beautifully, and the Ducks force a three-and-out.
Ducks explode out of the gate in the second quarter. Brown runs for 18 yards, and Verdell carries on the outside for a 14-yard TD. PAT is good. 7-0 Oregon with 14:27 left in second quarter. The Ducks go 99 yards on 10 plays in just under four minutes.
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Second quarter begins
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END 1Q: 0-0
The Ducks are off to a great start and will begin the second quarter at their own 32. The defense is flying to the ball against the rush and the pass. The offense is finding its rhythm, but points are needed against a dynamic offense. Oregon does not look affected by the raucous crowd.
Oregon drive 3:24: The Ducks start inside their own five-yard line, and Verdell gives them some room with a first down run. Brown throws a dart to Devon Williams who leaps over Cameron Brown. The offensive line seems to have settled in since the beginning of the game, and Brown is getting the football out quickly and has great pocket awareness.
Haskell Garrett tackles Verdell behind the line. Former Oregon target JT Tuimoloau is in the game at defensive end. On a third down and 11, Brown checks it down to Verdell to pick up the first down.
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OSU drive 8:47: The Buckeyes start the drive deep in their own territory. Ohio State using tempo to keep the Oregon defense on its heels. Ducks have been doing well against the run. Game takes a pause for an injury to linebacker Treven Ma'ae, who is helped off the field by trainers and appeared to be favoring his left leg/knee.
Buckeyes keep pounding the ball on the ground and using short passes. Ducks continue to defend well against the run, but a late hit out of bounds flag on Dontae Manning after a scramble from Stroud helps move the ball. Strouds's third-down pass to Ryan Watts broken up by a big hit from Verone McKinley III. OSU punts and Oregon takes over at its own one-yard line.
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Oregon drive 11:31: Oregon moves the ball quickly on the first couple plays of the drive with a couple of nice runs from CJ Verdell and Anthony Brown. Brown goes 1 for 3 on the opening drive with the lone completion for no gain to Verdell. Ohio State takes over at their own five-yard line after a 37-yard punt from Tom Snee.
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OSU drive 15:00: Ohio State moves the ball on their opening drive but turns the ball over just short of the red zone against Oregon. Ducks force a turnover on downs. A number of players were rotating for Oregon including DJ James. Keith Brown and Bradyn Swinson get the start in place of the injured Flowe and Thibodeaux. Ohio State went tempo on numerous plays, but were largely held in check with the longest play a 20-yard rush from Miyan Williams.
Oregon wins toss and defers to the second half. Ohio State will receive.
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Pregame (latest updates on top)
-Kayvon Thibodeaux and Justin Flowe ruled out. Thibodeaux exits visiting tunnel wearing street clothes and jersey. Flowe follows shortly after wearing jersey and street clothes and wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
-Defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux seen in street clothes on the sideline while teammates begin warmups
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