Ducks Digest

Oregon Ducks Spare No Expense Creating Playoff Atmosphere In Autzen Stadium

The Oregon Ducks won the first-ever College Football Playoff game in Autzen Stadium in Eugene. The game atmosphere impressed with fireworks and a drone show in front of 55,124 fans. Oregon beat James Madison, 51-34, to punch their ticket to the Orange Bowl quarterfinal game vs. Texas Tech.
Bri Amaranthus|
oregon ducks coach dan lanning greets fans before a college football playoff first round game vs. James Madison at Autzen Stadium
oregon ducks coach dan lanning greets fans before a college football playoff first round game vs. James Madison at Autzen Stadium | Oregon Ducks on SI Jake Bunn

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Oregon DucksJames Madison DukesTexas Tech Red Raiders

EUGENE - The Oregon Ducks made history Saturday night, winning the first-ever College Football Playoff game played at Autzen Stadium and turning Eugene into a full-blown postseason spectacle.

Fireworks lit up the sky and a drone show set the tone in front of a full crowd of 55,124 fans, creating an atmosphere that electrified. The Ducks cruised to a 51-34 victory over James Madison and it was clear the Ducks went all out for game day activations.

oregon ducks dakorien moore dan lanning college football playoff injury dante moore
oregon ducks dakorien moore dan lanning college football playoff injury dante moore | oregon ducks on si jake bunn

Oregon coach Dan Lanning was clearly not happy with the second-half performance of the team. After the win, no music echoed from Oregon's locker room like normal and receiver Malik Benson said, "It almost felt like we lost."

The Ducks have 11 days to refocus and find their momentum heading into the quarterfinal game vs. No. 4 Texas Tech.

However, Lanning was very pleased with the Oregon fans who make their presence felt. The Ducks fan roared and James Madison committed six false start penalties.

“Our crowd was outstanding," Lanning said. "They've been outstanding every time. We knew we could always count on those guys to show up and make it an unbelievable atmosphere. I think is really special for our seniors to get to enjoy that and proud for them.”

oregon ducks Drew Mehringer dakorien moore dan lanning college football playoff injury dante moore
oregon ducks Drew Mehringer dakorien moore dan lanning college football playoff injury dante moore | oregon ducks on si jake bunn

Autzen Stadium Drone Show and Fireworks

The drone show at half time featured the Oregon Duck mascot on a Harley, the Ducks' iconic helmets, the 'I Love My Ducks' song with a hand gesture doing the "O" and the College Football Playoff logo.

Also, the fireworks lit up the sky during Oregon's entrance and during the national anthem. Autzen Stadium does not regularily use fireworks so it was a playoff treat.

Notably, the Duck mascot was ready to play with multiple costumes: a present, the leg lamp from 'A Christmas Story,' the uncle from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and an elf.

In the first half, Oregon’s offense matched the energy in the stands. The Ducks played fast, physical, and relentless, overwhelming James Madison with explosiveness and an exciting early lead. Big plays came in waves as No. 5 Oregon imposed its will and exemplified why it could be a dangerous College Football Playoff team.

The second half did not echo the first. Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi described the Ducks' second half performance as "complacent and comfortable." Lupoi pointed out that there was a play when there was a defensive plater lined up on the wrong side of the field. James Madison finished the game with 23 first downs, compared to Oregon's 22 first downs.

The win not only marked a historic moment for the program, but also propelled the Ducks into the Orange Bowl - for the first time ever- where they will face No. 4 Texas Tech on Jan. 1 at 9 a.m. PT.

MORE: Three Biggest Takeaways From Oregon's Playoff Win Over James Madison

MORE: Oregon Coach Dan Lanning Is Turning Heads For Ducks' Playoff Entrance

MORE: National Championship Betting Odds After Oregon's Win Over James Madison

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With Autzen once again proving its reputation as one of college football’s toughest environments, Oregon now turns its focus to the next stage of a playoff run that continues to gather steam.

Ducks fans have turned Autzen into a house of doom for opponents who make their way west. The Ducks have an impressive 26-2 record in Autzen Stadium under coach Dan Lanning. The Ducks are 55-4 at home since the start of the 2017 season. 

The Ducks have reached double-digit wins in all four seasons under Lanning and in each of the last five overall. Oregon’s 47-7 record since 2022 ranks third-best in the nation, and the Ducks lead the country in winning percentage (90.0) since 2023 while tying for second nationally with 37 wins during that span.

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.

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