Ohio State vs. Oregon score, takeaways: Newcomer Ducks outduel Buckeyes to take command of Big Ten title race

The Ducks notched their first win over an AP top-two team in a heavyweight fight

By Will Backus

& Brandon Marcello

Oct 13, 2024 • 1 min read

It's Oregon's world, the rest of the Big Ten is just living in it -- even in the Ducks' first year as league members.

The No. 3 Ducks made college football's loudest statement Saturday night with a seismic 32-31 win against No. 2 Ohio State, establishing themselves as the sudden favorite to win their brand new conference in Year 1 while staking their claim as the best team in college football.

Oregon certainly showed championship-level resilience as it traded blows with a preseason national title favorite. The Ducks had a resounding response for every punch that the Buckeyes threw, but no answer was more important than the one that Oregon's defense came up with as time expired.

It looked for a minute as if the Buckeyes were going to waltz their way into field goal range as they moved the ball all the way to Oregon's 28-yard line thanks to some cerebral passing from quarterback Will Howard. But a pass interference call on freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith pushed the ball back 15 yards -- outside of kicker Jayden Fielding's range.

Then, on third-and-20, Howard ran for a gain of 12 yards as Oregon's coverage blanketed the Buckeyes' wide receivers down the field. The only problem? Time expired before Howard could slide down, and the Buckeyes were left without a chance to dial up a potential game-winning play.

The 60,000-plus fans packed inside Autzen Stadium stormed the field moments after the clock hit zero.

This is Oregon's first-ever win against an AP top two opponent. The Ducks were previously 0-19.
Oregon also snapped Ohio State's 45-game win streak against non-Michigan Big Ten opponents.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire game providing updates, analysis and highlights. Keep it locked here and read on below for takeaways from the game.

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Ryan Day lets another big game slip by

Ohio State coach Ryan Day certainly isn't beating the narrative that he's incapable of winning the games that matter. In recent years, it's been Michigan that has served as a constant thorn in his side. Ohio State had a 45-game winning streak against conference opponents that weren't the Wolverines, dating back to 2018.

That was until Saturday, at least. With Oregon storming ahead in the Big Ten race, Day's Buckeyes have now lost four straight games against opponents ranked inside the top five of the AP Poll. Their last win came in 2022 against No. 5 Notre Dame.

Day is also 2-6 against AP Top 5 opponents in his time at Ohio State's helm. The elimination of divisions means that Ohio State is still in the race for the Big Ten Championship Game, at the very least, and should be seen as an outright favorite to make it back to Indianapolis.

But the Buckeyes are going to have a dark cloud surrounding them the rest of the season, and their mystique as preseason national title favorites has certainly taken a hit.

Gabriel brings his best when it matters most

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel came under plenty of scrutiny amid a lackluster start to his time with the Ducks. He wasn't great in Oregon's first two games against Big Ten opponents: he threw three interceptions -- two of which came in the red zone.

Turns out he was saving his best for the biggest game of the season. Gabriel was lights-out against an Ohio State defense that many heralded as the best in the nation -- it's certainly stocked with plenty of future NFL talent -- as he completed 23 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

It was his ninth consecutive game with at least two passing touchdowns, which is tied for the second-longest streak in the nation. It was also his 10th career game with 300-plus yards passing, at least two touchdowns passing and at least one touchdown rushing.

Ohio State's defense allowed an average of 3.4 yards per play entering Saturday's game. Gabriel completed four passes of at least 30 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Tez Johnson and a 69-yard connection with Evan Stewart. Gabriel also rushed for a 27-yard touchdown near the start of the fourth quarter to give his team a 29-28 lead.

A heavyweight fight that lived up to the hype

Final: No. 3 Oregon 32, No. 2 Ohio State 31

In a game that featured nearly everything you could possibly want, the sun set on Autzen Stadium with a pair of heavyweight fighters staggering back to their corners bruised and battered -- and left us wanting more.

Every time Ohio State fired a haymaker, Oregon bounced off the mat and delivered a staggering blow of its own. Results matter, and Oregon came up on top, but it wouldn't be shocking to see these two back in Indianapolis playing for the Big Ten Championship in December.

Ohio State is a well-oiled machine and the best constructed mechanism in college football, but Oregon didn't back down and even attacked the perceived strengths of the Buckeyes, including cornerback Denzel Burke, who gave up two touchdowns, to prove it isn't just worthy of top-five consideration, but it is most definitely better than the early season hiccups against Boise State and Idaho.

Oregon back in front

Late 4Q: No. 2 Oregon 32, No. 3 Ohio State 31

Buckle up, it seems like we're careening towards an all-time finish. Oregon answered Ohio State's go-ahead field goal with a big kick of its own. Atticus Sappington nailed a 19-yard field goal, as the Ducks were able to move the ball just outside of Ohio State's goal line. That being said, they did leave Ohio State's explosive offense 1:47 left, and all the Buckeyes need to potentially win the game is a field goal.

Ohio State jumps back ahead

Late 4Q: No. 2 Ohio State 31, No. 3 Oregon 29

Another possession, another lead change. A promising Ohio State drive stalled just outside of the red zone after a false start penalty put the Buckeyes behind the chains. Quarterback Will Howard couldn't hit wide receiver Jeremiah Smith for a first down on third-and-13. So the Buckeyes had to settle for a 40-yard field goal from kicker Jayden Fielding, who nailed the boot. While the Buckeyes would have liked a touchdown, they're certainly not going to balk at taking a lead.

There's still six minutes to play, so plenty of time for momentum to change hands multiple times before the final bell ends. So far neither team has been able to take a clear advantage.

Dillon Gabriel hits the gas pedal

Early 4Q: No. 3 Oregon 29, No. 2 Ohio State 22

Hello, Dillon Gabriel. The Oregon quarterback has carved Ohio State's defense up with his arm the whole night. At the same time, he has been a bit hesitant to run. Turns out he was just saving himself for a game-changing play. On third-and-2 from Ohio State's 27-yard line, Gabriel kept the ball on a read option. Ohio State's defense was caught completely off guard as Gabriel raced around the tackle and into the secondary. He did make a couple of very nice moves to force misses from Ohio State's second-level defenders.

Ohio State surges ahead in third

End 3Q: No. 2 Ohio State 28, No. 3 Oregon 22

Oregon had a chance to take a huge advantage in this game, as it received the second half's opening kickoff. But the Ducks' drive stalled after just seven plays. Ohio State took full advantage. The Buckeyes moved the ball into Oregon territory quickly and, on second-and-goal from Oregon's 6-yard line, quarterback Will Howard found freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith for a crucial touchdown to give the Buckeyes their first lead since early in the second quarter.

Oregon then embarked on a 13-play, 73-yard drive that was smothered on fourth-and-goal from inside Ohio State's 5-yard line. Howard has had a great game, with 18 completions in 21 attempts for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He's had a good connection with both Smith and Egbuka.

Oregon's gamble comes up short

Oregon coach Dan Lanning is rolling the dice, to mixed results. The Ducks made a gutsy decision to go for it on fourth-and-inches from their own 48-yard line and cashed in on a 32-yard completion to tight end Terrance Ferguson. That gave them the momentum they needed to move the ball all the way to Ohio State's 2-yard line, where they lined up to go for it again on fourth-and-goal. This time, though, the Buckeyes were all over it. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel came under immediate pressure and his pass fell short at the intended receiver's feet. It was a huge momentum-swinging play for the Buckeyes, who still hold a 28-22 advantage.

Biggest sequence yet goes in Ohio State's favor

Ohio State's defense successfully halted Oregon at the 2-yard line on back-to-back plays for a huge turnover on downs. Dillon Gabriel missed his big receiver in the back of the end zone on third down, and then had Tez Johnson open to the right on fourth down but didn't look his way. Instead of taking the lead, Oregon turns over the ball on downs and Ohio State will try to build on its 28-22 lead. This is the quietest Autzen Stadium has been all evening.

The largest crowd in Oregon history

No surprise here, but Autzen Stadium has set a record for the largest crowd in Oregon history with 60,129 fans In attendance. One of the loudest environments In college football is living up to the billing tonight.

Ohio State recaptures lead with Jeremiah Smith's help

Early 3Q: No. 2 Ohio State 28, No. 3 Oregon 22

A different receiver has stepped up for both teams to define go-ahead drives. Freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith is the latest to etch his name on this game, catching a pair of passes, including a diving 6-yard grab to give Ohio State a 28-22 lead with 9:27 remaining in the third quarter.

Smith's incredible body control saved an underthrown ball by Will Howard for a 38-yard gain. Howard then hit a wide-open Will Kacmarek for a 25-yard dart in the middle of the field to set up a shorter field for Smith to deliver.

Smith has caught a touchdown in all six games.

Oregon has a chance to seize real momentum

Oregon gets the ball to start the second half after an explosive close to the first 30 minutes of play. That means the Ducks, who scored on three out of their last four drives in the first half, have a chance to expand on their 22-21 lead. If Dan Lanning wants to roll the dice, he could even make it a two-possession game by going for two -- in the event of a touchdown, of course.

Oregon up at the half

Half: No. 3 Oregon 22, No. 2 Oregon State 21

Oregon enters halftime with a slight advantage after a back-and-forth 30 minutes of play. The Ducks and the Buckeyes scored two touchdowns in the last four minutes. Ohio State started the ping-pong match with a 15-yard reception from star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. The Ducks responded just over two minutes later, as quarterback Dillon Gabriel connected with Tez Johnson for a huge 48-yard touchdown.

Gabriel, who entered Saturday's game with some lingering questions, after a lackluster start to Big Ten play with the Ducks, had a very nice first half. He completed 11 of his 16 pass attempts against Ohio State's loaded defense for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He had three passes of at least 30 yards, including the 48-yard bomb to Tez Johnson and a 69-yard connection with Evan Stewart.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was efficient, but the Buckeyes got a lot of work done on the ground. Running back TreVeyon Henderson had the Buckeyes' most explosive play with a 53-yard run, and Howard and Quinshon Judkins each had touchdowns on the ground.

Call him Dealin' Gabriel

Late 2Q: No. 3 Oregon 22, No. 2 Ohio State 21

Back and forth we go. Both quarterbacks are extremely locked in thus far, but Oregon's Dillon Gabriel just delivered one of the prettiest throws of the night to quickly put the Ducks back ahead. Gabriel uncorked a bomb to star wide receiver Tez Johnson, who raced behind Ohio State's secondary and caught the pass in stride to score a crucial 48-yard touchdown. No shenanigans after the score -- Oregon nailed the extra point to take its slight advantage.

Will Howard strikes, Ohio State retakes the lead

Late 2Q: No. 2 Ohio State 21, No. 3 Oregon 15

Ohio State has regained control – for now – after a wild early second quarter.

Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka in stride across the field at the 1-yard line for an easy 15-yard score to cap an in-command drive for the Buckeyes, who pushed 75 yards on 12 plays and burned 6:16 off the clock. The drive included a fourth-down conversion by Quinshon Judkins on a three-yard run that quieted what had become a thunderous crowd in Autzen Stadium. Just minutes earlier, they rallied the Ducks to a 15-14 lead after a surprise onside kick turned into a field goal.

Ohio State needed a drive like that to gain some form of control of a wild game that has already included an ejection for spitting, an onside kick, two injuries on Ohio State's offensive line and an interception on a failed extra-point attempt that was nearly turned into 2 points by the Buckeyes.

On that calming drive amid the chaos, Howard was 4 of 5 passing for 54 yards on the drive.

Oregon WR Holden ejected for spitting

Oregon wide receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected from Saturday's clash between the second-ranked Ducks and No. 3 Ohio State for spitting on Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun as the two got tangled up near the end zone on a play run from Ohio State's 10-yard line.

Broadcast cameras caught Holden spitting on Igbinosun after the two players traded words following the whistle. Holden's penalty also backed Oregon up 15 yards and made the Ducks settle for a field goal despite having a prime opportunity to score a touchdown. Atticus Sappington's 27-yard kick did give Oregon a 15-14 lead early in the second quarter.

WATCH: Oregon WR Traeshon Holden ejected vs. Ohio State for spitting on Buckeyes player

Will Backus

Ohio State LT Josh Simmons carted off field

Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons had to be carted off the field after an injury near the 40-yard line. That's a huge loss for the Buckeyes. Simmons attempted to stand, and managed to hobble in doing so on his feet, but went back to the turf and had to be carted off the field.

He's the second offensive lineman to be lost with an injury. Right guard Tegra Tshabola left the game in the first quarter.

Zen Michalski is in to replace Simmons at left tackle with about 9 minutes remaining in the first half.

Oregon scores after surprise onside kick

Early 2Q: No. 3 Oregon 15, No. 2 Ohio State 14

Oregon pulled a trick out of its hat and it worked with an onside kick — more like a knuckleball — deflecting off up-man Max Lomonico's chest. Oregon recovered at the Buckeyes' 41-yard line.

Evan Stewart taking over

Early 2Q: No. 2 Ohio State 14, No. 3 Oregon 12

Oregon needs to feed Evan Stewart some more. The former five-star prospect and Texas A&M transfer is taking over the game. He just had a huge 69-yard catch on a beautifully thrown ball from Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, dragging top Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke a good 15-20 yards down the field. Then, two plays later, Stewart beat Burke on a jump ball in the end zone to score Oregon's second touchdown of the night.

Ohio State capitalizes on huge momentum swing

Early 2Q: Ohio State 14, Oregon 6

Oregon missed a gigantic opportunity in Ohio State territory because of miscommunication, and perhaps a route combo mishap, and kicker Atticus Sappington missed a 44-yard field goal. Moments later, Ohio State stomped Oregon into the dirt with the run game to suck the air out of the stadium in a hurry. TreVeyon Henderson pierced huge holes opened by his offensive line on the left side, running for 17 and then 53 yards to push the Ducks' backs against the goal line at the 4.

Quinshon Judkins capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, his first rushing score in three games, in the T formation.

Huge momentum swing gobbled up by the Buckeyes on the road.

Ohio State is nearly doubling up Oregon's offense with 169 yards to 84. Buckeyes have 103 yards on the ground, led by Henderson's 73 yards on three carries.

Close battle after one

End 1Q: No. 2 Ohio State 7, No. 3 Oregon 6

Ohio State and Oregon are knotted in a tight battle after the first quarter. The Ducks had a chance to take the lead late, but kicker Atticus Sappington's 44-yard kick sailed wide. That gave the Buckeyes some serious momentum in the last minute, and now they're knocking on the door of extending their lead.

Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson ripped off runs of 17 and 53 yards, gashing a shorthanded Oregon defensive front, to give Ohio State the ball at Oregon's 4-yard line. Those were the most explosive plays that the Buckeyes generated over the first 15 minutes; previously, Oregon's defense had done an admirable job of containing Ohio State.

Oregon pounces on crucial turnover

Late 1Q: No. 2 Ohio State 7, No. 3 Oregon 6

No Jordan Burch, no problem for Oregon's defense. The Ducks still made a huge play to keep this game from getting out of hand early. Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon ripped into the backfield on third-and-10 and snatched the ball from Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins' hands to give Oregon the ball on Ohio State's 28-yard line.

Oregon's offense took full advantage of the swing play. Running back Jordan James gashed Ohio State's defense for 25 yards and then finished the drive with a powerful 3-yard run on the next play, plunging into the end zone. Oregon did botch the snap on the extra point so the Ducks still trail, but it was still a huge momentum swing.

Oregon missing defensive star

Oregon standout defensive end Jordan Burch will not play No. 2 Ohio State. Burch did not dress for the game and was spotted on crutches while standing on the sideline as Oregon took the field.

Burch reportedly suffered a non-contact lower body injury during No. 3 Oregon's practice session on Thursday and had to be helped off of the field.

The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Burch's absence is a huge loss for the Ducks, who have been on a defensive tear over the last month. Burch has a team-high five sacks on the season, 3.5 of which came in Oregon's first two Big Ten wins against UCLA and Michigan State. He also leads the Ducks with seven tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead with three quarterback hurries.

Jordan Burch injury: Oregon sacks leader out vs. Ohio State after reportedly suffering practice injury

Will Backus

Promising Oregon drive stalls

Mid 1Q: No. 2 Ohio State 7, No. 3 Oregon 0

Oregon looked as if, for a minute, at least, it was on track to answer Ohio State's game-opening touchdown. The Ducks worked the ball near midfield with some solid rushing from Jordan James and some easy passes for quarterback Dillon Gabriel. But they never made it past the 50-yard line. The Buckeyes buckled down and Gabriel's pass to James on third-and-9 came up short of the sticks. The good news is that Ross James had a nice punt to the 15-yard line to pin the Buckeyes deep in their own territory.

Controversial call helps Ohio State establish early lead

1Q: No. 2 Ohio State 7, No. 3 Oregon 0

A bit of controversy here early goes in favor of Ohio State. Will Howard threw a 32-yard bomb to Will Kacmarek, but it appeared the ball may have been intercepted. Officials ruled it a complete pass as Oregon rolled on the ground with the receiver, allowing the tie to apparently go to Ohio State. Interestingly, Big Ten officials did not review the play and Ohio State snapped the ball to keep the play on the field as called by the officials on the field. The replay appeared to show the ball bouncing around in the receiver's hands as he was coming down to the ground. It may very well have been an interception. Later, Howard scored on a keeper to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Earlier on the drive, Howard picked up a fourth-and-1 on Buckeyes' side of the field to keep the opening possession alive.

Let's get rowdy

Autzen Stadium is packed to capacity (if not beyond) and Oregon is dressed In all black for the first top-5 showdown In the stadium's long history. The Ducks were led on the field by the mascot on a motorcycle. In the pregame festivities, the Ducks' mascot was flanked by firebreathers for a performance from the hit film "The Greatest Showman." It's rocking here In Eugene for the biggest game in Autzen Stadium history. Ohio State gets the ball to start. Let's. Go.

Ohio State vs. Oregon prediction

This will be Ohio State's first real test of the season. It's the Buckeyes' first game against a ranked opponent, and Autzen Stadium is an extremely hard place to play. That being said, Ryan Day's squad matches up really well in this one. Oregon hasn't exactly set the world on fire so far, and its offensive struggles have been a big reason. The Ducks' offensive line allowed seven sacks in the first two games and, though they have buckled down since, Ohio State brings in the best defensive front they'll see all year. Oregon's run game has jelled recently, but Ohio State has held three of its five opponents below 100 total yards rushing. This game will be close; Ohio State should cover. Pick: Ohio State -3.5

Huge breakthrough chance for Oregon

The Buckeyes and the Ducks both entered the 2024 season as top-four teams in the rankings and the two most popular picks to win the newly expanded Big Ten. The expectation was that the chaotic conference title race in the new-look, 18-team league would pivot on the result of this Oct. 12 showdown between national title contenders. Now, we have arrived at the potentially historic moment with both teams having taken care of business against their early season opponents.

This game serves as an opportunity for Oregon, a truly 21st century program, to make another statement to the college football world at large. Because while we have gotten used to seeing Oregon on these massive stages, the Ducks don't always play the role of protagonist and rarely get to be college football's "main character." But maybe, against this juggernaut Buckeyes roster, Oregon is ready to meet the moment as college football's conquering superhero.

Oregon vs. Ohio State: Ducks face latest opportunity to break through as college football's main character

Chip Patterson

Pacific Northwest stars set to shine for Buckeyes

Ohio State has a trio of former Pacific Northwest stars that play a prominent role on the team, so Saturday will be a homecoming -- of sorts -- for them. It will also likely be their last time that they suit up in such a situation for the Buckeyes. Tight end Gee Scott Jr. got the ball rolling, as the Sammamish, Washington product signed with Ohio State, over the likes of Oregon, in 2020. In 2021, the Buckeyes secured signatures from a pair of Washington products in JT Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka, who are both legitimate first-round NFL Draft prospects now.

All three will factor heavily into Ohio State's gameplan against Oregon. Here's a look back at their recruitments, and how they ended up in Columbus:

The ones who got away: Egbuka, Tuimoloau, Scott return to Pacific Northwest for first, final time as Buckeye

Brandon Huffman

All eyes on Jeremiah Smith

The firsts for freshman Jeremiah Smith continue to pile up. He was the first wide receiver to be ranked No. 1 overall in 247Sports history, then was the first freshman to be awarded Ohio State's Iron Buckeye designation in spring practice, then the first to get the black stripe off his helmet in fall camp, then the first to start as a freshman and star under wide receivers coach Brian Hartline.

If Smith continues on the pace he's started this season on, he'll be the first freshman in Ohio State football history to put up the kind of numbers he's tracking towards.

Through five games he has 23 catches, 453 yards and six touchdowns. The OSU freshman records all belong to Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter who had 41, 648, and eight in 1984. Records are made to be broken, and Carter's likely soon will be. But it's how Smith has gone about his business that sets him apart and how diligently he works on his craft.

Read more on Ohio State's freshman phenom here:

Jeremiah Smith wants to be the greatest ever; is the Ohio State frosh already the best WR in college football?

Richard Johnson

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