Oregon Shuts Out Texas Tech in Orange Bowl, Advances to CFP Semifinal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Oregon blanked Texas Tech 23-0 in a dominant Orange Bowl victory. A relentless Ducks defense forced four turnovers and controlled the game. Oregon now advances to face top-seeded Indiana in the CFP semifinals.
Oregon’s Defensive Showcase: Quick Looks
- No. 5 Oregon defeats No. 4 Texas Tech 23-0 in Orange Bowl CFP quarterfinal
- Freshman Brandon Finney Jr. records two interceptions, one fumble recovery
- Matayo Uiagalelei forces key fumble to set up Oregon touchdown
- Ducks hold high-powered Red Raiders offense scoreless for first time since 2012
- Texas Tech entered game averaging over 42 points per contest
- Oregon’s defense allows just 137 passing yards and forces four turnovers
- Jordon Davison scores two rushing TDs; Moore throws for 234 yards
- Ducks face No. 1 Indiana in Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9
- Oregon earns first shutout of AP-ranked team in program history
- Texas Tech joins trend of CFP bye teams losing in quarterfinals
Deep Look: Oregon Shuts Out Texas Tech in Orange Bowl, Advance to CFP Semifinal
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Oregon’s defense sent a thunderous message to the rest of the College Football Playoff field on Thursday night: the Ducks are more than just explosive on offense — they can dominate on the other side of the ball, too.
With a suffocating performance, No. 5 Oregon shut out No. 4 Texas Tech 23-0 in the CFP quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl, advancing to the semifinals for a much-anticipated rematch with top-ranked Indiana.
Freshman standout Brandon Finney Jr. led the charge with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while Matayo Uiagalelei forced a critical fumble in the third quarter that helped the Ducks break open a tight game. Oregon turned that turnover into seven points just one play later, and from there, the Ducks took full control.
“They’ve earned this opportunity,” said Oregon head coach Dan Lanning. “I told them go get their pound of flesh today. They did that today.”
Defense Defines Oregon’s Victory
Oregon (13-1) entered the game looking to improve on a shaky Round 1 defensive showing against James Madison, where the Ducks gave up 34 points. On Thursday, they looked like a completely different unit — fast, aggressive, and relentless.
Texas Tech came into the Orange Bowl averaging 42.5 points and over 480 yards per game, but was held scoreless for the first time in over a decade. The Red Raiders managed just 343 total yards, turned the ball over four times, and failed to convert three key fourth-down attempts.
“We had a great game plan,” said Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, who completed 18 of 32 passes for 137 yards. “We just didn’t execute base plays.”
Morton was stripped early in the third quarter by Uiagalelei, who returned the fumble deep into Red Raider territory. On the next snap, Jordon Davison powered into the end zone to give Oregon a 13-0 lead. Davison would add another score in the closing seconds of the game to seal the Ducks’ victory.
Meanwhile, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore delivered a poised performance, throwing for 234 yards and keeping the offense steady against a Texas Tech defense that tried to keep the game close.
Atticus Sappington added field goals from 26, 42, and 35 yards to round out Oregon’s scoring.
Texas Tech’s Streak Snapped
For Texas Tech (12-2), the shutout marked an abrupt end to a high-powered season. The Red Raiders had scored at least 10 points in 26 of their previous 27 games dating back to 2023, but nothing worked against Oregon’s surging defense.
“Texas Tech fans, I’m sorry that we let you down,” said head coach Joey McGuire. “This was such a special team and I’m so proud of them. Hats off to Dan Lanning. Hats off to the Oregon Ducks.”
McGuire acknowledged the Ducks’ performance as the best defensive effort they’ve faced all year. “That was the best defense we have faced this year,” he said.
The CFP Bye Curse
Once again, the team with a first-round bye in the CFP format was bounced early. Texas Tech became the sixth straight team with a bye to lose its quarterfinal, continuing an odd trend in the new 12-team playoff format that began in 2024.
Earlier games saw top-seeded teams like Georgia, Arizona State, and Boise State lose after extended breaks. Oregon was part of that trend last year — but flipped the narrative this time with back-to-back wins, including a decisive defensive statement in the quarterfinal.
Later that day, Indiana became the first bye team to win a quarterfinal, rolling over Alabama 38-3 at the Rose Bowl. Still, the CFP format continues to raise questions about how bye weeks affect momentum in postseason play.
Looking Ahead
Oregon now moves on to face No. 1 Indiana on January 9 at the Peach Bowl, a rematch of their October 11 meeting, which Indiana won 30-20. The winner of that semifinal will return to Miami Gardens for the national championship on January 19.
For Oregon, the rematch represents a shot at redemption — and a chance to prove this team has championship-level grit on both sides of the ball.
“They showed up today,” said Lanning. “This is the defense we knew we had.”
Up Next
Oregon: Faces No. 1 Indiana in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal on Jan. 9.
Texas Tech: Opens its 2026 season vs. Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.
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