Texas Tech starts its College Football Playoff campaign in the Orange Bowl while Oregon hopes to avoid a quarterfinal loss for the second straight season.
It’s the first Orange Bowl appearance ever for both teams and the two programs’ second meeting in the past three seasons after Oregon visited Lubbock in 2023.
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Here’s how to watch all the College Football Playoff games (scroll for live updates).
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon (Noon ET, ESPN)
The Red Raiders ran roughshod over the Big 12 outside of a four-point loss to Arizona State in October. Texas Tech is outscoring opponents by nearly 31 points per game.
The Ducks nabbed their seventh straight victory in a win over James Madison in the first round, but they weren’t exactly impressive down the stretch in their blowout win.
Even though Oregon QB Dante Moore is a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Oregon leans more on its run game. The Ducks average nearly six yards a carry as a team and had 26 carries for 201 yards against James Madison.
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How well can Oregon run against Texas Tech? The Red Raiders allow just 2.3 yards per carry. Part of that is due to Texas Tech’s great pass rush, but even without sacks added, Tech is incredibly tough to break open.
Against JMU, Oregon used its team speed to get Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. to the perimeter. That mismatch doesn’t exist against Texas Tech’s defense. Oregon and offensive coordinator Will Stein may need to get even more creative to move the ball consistently.
Live27 updatesThu, January 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:49 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
If only to further highlight Tech’s struggles, here’s how the two QBs stack up so far:
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:37 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
What a listless half for the Texas Tech offense. It has 88 yards so far, and 50 of those came on a single run.
It goes without saying, but the Red Raiders will need to find something on that side of the ball to hang around with Oregon in the second half. The Ducks could be up multiple possessions if they’d settled for field goals instead of going for it on fourth down so often.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:33 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders couldn’t do anything with the ensuing possession and gave it right back to the Ducks, who nearly added to their lead before a self-inflicted fumble in the backfield took them out of field goal range.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:27 AM PST
Nick Bromberg
The TD was a long shot. So was a single first down, apparently
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:24 AM PST
Nick Bromberg
This game would feel so, so much different.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:23 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Dan Lanning and the Ducks finally settle for a field goal on fourth-and-short and Atticus Sappington nails the 39-yard kick.
Oregon 6, TTU 0 | 1:37 left in Q2
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:17 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks have it right back after Cameron Dickey fumbled the ball and Oregon’s Brandon Finney recovered it for his second takeaway of the game.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:13 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks were facing a fourth-and-goal at the 2 and went for it….again. This time Dante Moore’s pass was batted down at the line by David Bailey.
What a huge stand for the Red Raiders!
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:08 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks are not hesitating when facing fourth down. That’s their third conversion in four attempts so far as Dante Moore found Noah Whittington for the first down.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:02 AM PST
Nick Bromberg
That was a well-designed fake as it appeared to give Ferguson-Reynolds the option to punt if Grace was covered as he released from the backfield.
Related: a short throw on a fake punt to a wide-open player on a short fourth down should not be considered a massive gamble.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 10:01 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks were facing a fourth-and-short at midfield and punter James Ferguson-Reynolds passed to Zach Grace to convert.
Oregon will have a fresh set of downs in TTU territory.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:58 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders come away empty after the explosive run play as Stone Harrington pulled the 54-yard attempt badly.
It’s still 3-0 Oregon.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:56 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
J’Koby Williams broke a tackle in the backfield and bolted down the sideline for a 50-yard gain to give the Red Raiders their first big play (and first down) of the game.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:51 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks weren’t able to do much with the ensuing possession and give it right back to TTU.
The Red Raiders will have it back at their own 10. They’re still searching for their first first down of the game.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:48 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders have turned it right back over to the Ducks after a poor pass by Behren Morton!
The nightmare start continues for Texas Tech’s offense as Brandon Finney Jr. jumped a pass to the outside and nabbed the pick.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:44 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks are facing a fourth-and-6 in their own territory as the first quarter comes to a close.
It’s been a hard-hitting opening quarter.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:40 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Red Raiders have had just six offensive plays so far and there’s just over a minute left in the first quarter. Not great.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:35 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks found themselves in another fourth-and-short situation, but Texas Tech was able to stop them this time as Oregon’s Jordon Davison came up short.
It’ll be TTU ball at its own 25.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:34 AM PST
Nick Bromberg
Oregon has gotten yards early in drives, but that dominant defensive line of the Red Raiders has taken over every time the Ducks approach the end zone.
Thu, January 1, 2026 at 9:30 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Ducks are over midfield again after a gutsy fourth-and-2 conversion on a completion from Dante Moore to Kenyon Sadiq.