{"id":107194,"date":"2026-01-01T06:09:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T06:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/107194\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T06:09:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T06:09:16","slug":"oregon-vs-texas-tech-explosive-offense-meets-top-ranked-defense-in-2025-playoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/107194\/","title":{"rendered":"Oregon vs Texas Tech: Explosive offense meets top-ranked defense in 2025 playoff"},"content":{"rendered":"

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The No. 5 Oregon Ducks<\/a> (12-1) get their shot at quarterfinal playoff redemption on Thursday when they take on No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) in the Orange Bowl.<\/p>\n

Last year, the top-ranked Ducks fell 41-21 to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl during the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. <\/p>\n

RELATED: A shift in how the Ducks prepare for the playoffs, coach Dan Lanning hopes, will lead to greater success<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Oregon has faced just one team on TTU\u2019s level, losing 30-20 to No. 1 Indiana. However, the Red Raiders have arguably not played a team close to the Ducks\u2019 level, creating a bit of mystery as to how well Texas Tech will do making a leap up in competition. <\/p>\n

No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon (12-1)<\/p>\n

When:\u00a0Thursday, January 1Time:\u00a09 a.m. PTWhere:\u00a0Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.TV: ESPN and ABCCoaches:\u00a0Oregon\u2019s Dan Lanning<\/a>, fourth year (47-7). Texas Tech\u2019s Joey McGuire, fourth year (35-17).Latest line:\u00a0Oregon by 2.5.Stream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV<\/a> (free trial) or with Sling<\/a> (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.What\u2019s at stake<\/p>\n

The winner moves on to the Peach Bowl semifinal in Atlanta to face the winner of the Rose Bowl matchup between No. 1 Indiana (13-0) and No. 9 Alabama (11-3). <\/p>\n

Oregon is searching for its first playoff victory since 2014, when the Ducks defeated Florida State in the Rose Bowl. <\/p>\n

This is Texas Tech\u2019s first playoff appearance. <\/p>\n

Oregon\u2019s offense vs. Texas Tech\u2019s defense<\/p>\n

This matchup is the headliner and something must give. <\/p>\n

The Ducks\u2019 39.2 points and 468.9 yards per game each rank ninth nationally. <\/p>\n

Texas Tech ranks third in both total defense, allowing 254.4 yards per game, and scoring defense, surrendering 10.9 points per contest. The Red Raiders lead the nation in rushing defense, giving up 68.5 yards per game.<\/p>\n

\"OregonOregon quarterback Dante Moore (#5) throws to the sideline as the No. 8 Ducks face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Sean Meagher\/The Oregonian<\/p>\n

Mostly desperate opponents trailing TTU by large margins have averaged 185.9 yards per game, 24th in the country, but averaged just 9.3 yards per completion, the second-fewest. <\/p>\n

Texas Tech is led by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (117 tackles), who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Transfer linebacker David Bailey ranked second nationally with 13.5 sacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a great defense on every level,\u201d UO tight end Kenyon Sadiq said. \u201cSo, I think it\u2019s gonna be a good test for us. Iron sharpens iron.\u201d<\/p>\n

UO\u2019s sharpness on offense could depend on its rushing attack. Quarterback Dante Moore has had dominant moments. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis quarterback is special,\u201d McGuire said.<\/p>\n

But Moore is at his best when the rushing attack is humming.<\/p>\n

Teams have struggled to run the ball against the Red Raiders, but UO has the offensive line size and experience to succeed where almost everyone else has failed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur defensive line has got to show up,\u201d McGuire said.<\/p>\n

\"TexasTexas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) defends during the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and BYU Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)<\/p>\n

If Ducks running backs Noah Whittington, Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. can rip off nice gains, the Texas Tech pass rush will become limited, and Moore could unleash passes to a fleet of receivers better than any crew Texas Tech has faced. <\/p>\n

Moore is third nationally in completion percentage at 72.4% and ranks fifth nationally with a passer rating of 170.1.<\/p>\n

If TTU can\u2019t get to Moore, it will be a long day for the Red Raiders\u2019 defense. <\/p>\n

Oregon defense vs. Texas Tech\u2019s offense<\/p>\n

TTU quarterback Behren Morton has passed for 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions and has a fleet of tall pass catchers to work with.<\/p>\n

But UO can\u2019t afford to ignore the Red Raiders\u2019 rushing attack. Running backs Cameron Dickey and J\u2019Koby Williams combined for 1,887 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, each averaging 5.5 yards per carry.<\/p>\n

\"TexasTexas Tech running back Cameron Dickey (8) gains yards after a catch as BYU cornerback Therrian Alexander (1) makes the stop in the first half of a Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)AP<\/p>\n

\u201cExplosive offense,\u201d Lanning said. \u201cThey have receivers outside that can win. They\u2019ve got running backs that are really good in the run game, a quarterback that makes great decisions, tight ends show up in the passing game. They\u2019re able to play with tempo, which will be a challenge at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas Tech ranks second nationally behind Oregon with 90 plays covering at least 20 yards. The Ducks have 91.<\/p>\n

A big advantage for Oregon could come via its pass rush not having to worry too much about Morton getting loose as a runner.<\/p>\n

Morton, who suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg two months ago that cost him two games, said he is about 85% healthy. But he wasn\u2019t much of a runner to begin with.<\/p>\n

If the Ducks can generate a consistent pass rush, Morton could be neutralized. However, one of his strengths is getting the ball out quickly; he\u2019s been sacked just 17 times.<\/p>\n

That leads to the matchup to watch. <\/p>\n

Matchup to watch <\/p>\n

Oregon\u2019s secondary versus Texas Tech\u2019s receivers.<\/p>\n

Morton doesn\u2019t hold onto the ball very long, and why would he? His receivers are typically ready to deliver big plays and routinely get open. <\/p>\n

\"USCSouthern California wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) attempts to hurdle Oregon defensive backs Dillon Thieneman (31) and Jadon Canady, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.AP<\/p>\n

UO\u2019s secondary must lock down TTU\u2019s receiving crew. <\/p>\n

The Red Raiders are led in receiving by 6-foot-4 wide receiver Caleb Douglas, 6-3 wide receiver Reggie Virgil, 6-2 wide receiver Coy Eakin, and 6-2 tight end Terrance Carter. <\/p>\n

Each has produced at least 46 receptions, 552 yards, and five touchdowns. Douglas leads the team with 846 yards and seven touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Oregon\u2019s secondary has helped the Ducks rank sixth nationally in passing yards allowed at 158.1 per game. However, USC, a team with TTU\u2019s combination of efficient quarterback play and elite receivers, found success against the Ducks\u2019 secondary.<\/p>\n

Oregon defeated the Trojans 42-27, but quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 306 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. <\/p>\n

. . .<\/p>\n

What Dan Lanning said: \u201cThe football field is the same length, same width. You get an opportunity to go out there and compete with your teammates, and I think we both are hoping for a great crowd from both sides, so there\u2019s not a lot that\u2019s different. Even though there\u2019s distractions that exist as you go out to games like this, there\u2019s some pomp and circumstance, there\u2019s some fanfare, ultimately the game is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CFPOregon head coach Dan Lanning, left, and Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire shake hands as they pose with the Orange Bowl trophy at a press conference ahead of the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Dania Beach, Fla. (AP Photo\/Rebecca Blackwell) APAP<\/p>\n

What Joey McGuire said on his team not having played since Dec. 6: \u201cI think it\u2019s very important for us to start well in the game. I think one thing we also have to do is we\u2019ve got to weather their storm. They started really fast against James Madison. So, we\u2019ve got to do a good job of weathering their storm. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s one thing that I think as a whole we have to take a look at the structure we have at this level of College Football Playoff that really need to change. But it is what it is right now. So, we\u2019ve got to do a great job of handling it and we really do need to start really fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Key Stat<\/p>\n

The Ducks have allowed opponents to score on 90% of their red-zone trips. Texas Tech has scored on 87.7% of its red zone trips.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s a lot of times where you say they\u2019ve struggled in the red zone, they probably haven\u2019t had a lot of red zone teams having opportunities against their defense,\u201d McGuire said.<\/p>\n

In fact, the Ducks have allowed just 30 such trips, the 11th fewest in the nation.<\/p>\n

Texas Tech\u2019s 73 red zone trips rank second and it ranks first in red zone scores with 64, of which 23 were field goals.<\/p>\n

Prediction<\/p>\n

While this matchup is competitive, Oregon\u2019s overall talent and lessons learned from Indiana give the Ducks a slight advantage.<\/p>\n

Score: Ducks 24, Red Raiders 20. <\/p>\n

Oregon football 2025 season schedule, scores<\/a><\/p>\n

No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon (12-1)<\/p>\n

When:\u00a0Thursday, January 1Time:\u00a09 a.m. PTWhere:\u00a0Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.TV: ESPN and ABCStream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV<\/a> (free trial) or with Sling<\/a> (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-1) get their shot at quarterfinal playoff redemption on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107195,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[24706,261,24707,769,24708,27,29,28],"class_list":["post-107194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-big-ten-football","tag-college-football","tag-ducks-football","tag-oregon-ducks","tag-oregon-football","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}