Amid a weekend of heart-stopping close calls and outright stunners, the show-stealer Saturday in college football was Oregon’s win over Ohio State. Beyond a story of resilience, it was also the latest example in one of those indelible reminders about how unpredictable this gamecan be. While these aforementioned moments will be remembered forever, what means more are the results as they alter how things look in college football, with so many teams vying for playoff positioning. But now — catching up for lost time yet again, what a 2020! etc. — the chief games of Saturday will be memorable so we want to both recap the crucial scores and break down some big wins in Oregon which is excellent.
Oregon-Ohio State Battle Out-West! 4.
Facing off in a matchup that had been highly anticipated all year, Oregon and Ohio State met at the legendary Ohio Stadium with fans packed nearly to capacity venue. Their strong records, both had plenty of expectations going into the game and it appeared to be a great one.
Game Recap
The Ducks were able to score a 35-28 victory, an impressive performance of their own as they picked up one for the Pac-12 in Columbus. Some of the highlights are here:
Fast Start: Oregon jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on two touchdowns. True freshman quarterback Bo Nix was impressed with his ability to diagnose the defense, connecting on play after play.
How Ohio State Answered: The Buckeyes never flinched. They answered with a series of TDs, bringing the game to even and lighting up their home crowd. The Buckeyes kept themselves within striking distance with their combination of a powerful running game and the same spirit that made Ohara, Hicks and Ertz so formidable in 1975.
How it went wrong Dramatic Turn of Events: Oregon’s defense started causing some big turnovers and all the momentum shifted away from us in what was left in this game. The key INT produced the go-ahead touchdown, and Oregon stayed on top due more to its defense.
Bo Nix- Different Story: For Bo Nix, the star of this game was his ability to not only shine at an efficient rate throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns but also showcase what he can do with his legs. Stingy defense led by strong safety Noah Sewell racking up 8 tackles putting the game away with some big stops.
Scores101 Key Scores From Around the League
A colorful day of college football was dominated by Oregon’s triumph. Among key indices, here are some notable scores of the day:
Alabama vs. LSU: Alabama held on to edge visiting LSU 27-24 in a wild SEC game that saw the lead change hands multiple times throughout the contest.
Clemson vs. Florida State: Clemson wins 42-38 in a shootout on offensive fireworks weekend (about them chickens).
Michigan vs Penn State: Michigan looked the part of a genuine contender in the Big Ten and stayed on pace for another winning season by beating up hapless at home.
USC 31, Arizona 21: USC is still undefeated after a remarkable performance by its quarterback.
Implications of Oregon’s Win
Overtime in ColumbusOregon’s Week 2 win at Ohio State could have major consequences for both teams the rest of the season:
College Football Playoff: The win puts the Ducks in a position to be considered for a College Football Playoff spot. A quality resume and key wins mean they will ascend in the rankings and earn a favorable postseason placement.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes (6-1, 4-0) had very little room for error if they hope to make the Playoffs after last season’s embarrassing loss against Iowa. Ohio State has some work to do if they want to keep in the thick of the playoff race.
Michigan State: The Pac-12 desperately needs Oregon to be great and the win over Michigan State gives the league some modicum of national respect. The better Oregon does, the more it will help raise everyone else’s bar in this conference.
Big Win Recruiting Impact: Something like this can do wonders for recruiting efforts. Friction between two high schoolers who seek to play for Oregon and voluntarily sign divorces with their orthodox parents.
Looking Ahead
READ MORE: Purdue’s Tim Brando Calls CFP Rankings ‘Flawed,‘ Won’t Take a Stand on Jim HarbaughMichigan, meanwhile, has zero Top 25 wins and just one good win, against Wisconsin. Both sides are fighting for position in upcoming matchups that could determine one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff. And yet they can look forward to even more excitement, closer finishes and shocks in the race for silverware.
In a season that has already been upended constantly and filled with chaos, Oregon’s wild victory over Ohio State slotted right into college football lore. A good all-round team display highlighted by star major performances makes the sport so popular. While the games for regular season round-robin are limited in quantity, each one matters while teams fight to determine who stands atop as king of the hill.
