Dante Moore Shines as Oregon Rolls Past James Madison in CFP Opener
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon didn’t just punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals - it did so with authority. Behind a five-touchdown performance from quarterback Dante Moore, the No.
5 Ducks surged past No. 19 James Madison, 51-34, on Saturday night in a high-octane playoff opener.
Moore was electric from the jump, tossing four touchdown passes and adding one on the ground as Oregon flexed its offensive muscle early and often. With the win, the Ducks (12-1) advanced to face Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, marking their first CFP victory since that memorable 2014 Rose Bowl win over Florida State.
James Madison (12-2), meanwhile, saw its historic season run into a wall. The Dukes became the latest Group of Five team to fall short in the CFP, dropping the collective record to 0-4 in such matchups.
Earlier Saturday, No. 17 Tulane also fell hard, losing 41-10 at No.
6 Mississippi.
Moore Wastes No Time
It took less than two minutes for Oregon to make a statement. Moore connected with tight end Jamari Johnson for a 41-yard touchdown that set the tone - and what a catch it was.
Johnson snagged the ball one-handed, kept his balance, and dragged two defenders into the end zone. That play wasn’t just a highlight - it was a message: Oregon came to play.
James Madison responded with a methodical 15-play drive that chewed over eight minutes off the clock, ending in a 30-yard field goal by Morgan Suarez. But the Ducks didn’t blink.
They rattled off four straight touchdowns, building a 34-3 lead before the Dukes could catch their breath. Suarez tacked on another field goal just before halftime, but the damage was done - Oregon led 34-6 at the break.
Dukes Struggle to Find Ground Game
One of James Madison’s calling cards all season had been its ground game, which ranked fifth nationally in rushing yards per game. But falling behind early forced the Dukes to abandon their bread and butter. That shift played right into Oregon’s hands.
Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III was forced to air it out, finishing 23-of-48 with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro early in the third quarter. It was a solid strike, but by then, the Ducks had already shifted into overdrive.
Oregon answered quickly. Malik Benson hauled in his second touchdown catch of the night, and the special teams unit got in on the action with a blocked punt that Jayden Limar scooped and returned 15 yards for a score. That sequence pushed the Ducks' lead to 51-13 before James Madison closed the game with three late touchdowns.
Ducks Keep Rolling
This win marked Oregon’s seventh straight since falling to No. 1 Indiana back on Oct.
- And while Moore’s performance will grab the headlines - rightfully so - the Ducks' success was a full-team effort.
The offensive line gave Moore time to operate, the receivers created space, and the defense made James Madison one-dimensional early.
A key addition for Oregon was the return of freshman wideout Dakorien Moore. After missing the last four games with a knee injury, Moore was back in uniform for the first time since Oct.
- While he didn’t dominate the stat sheet, his presence alone gives the Ducks another explosive weapon heading into the next round.
James Madison’s Tough Night in the Trenches
For a team that prided itself on physicality, the Dukes had a tough night up front. Their run defense, ranked second nationally in fewest rushing yards allowed per game, couldn’t contain Oregon’s ground attack. The Ducks racked up 201 rushing yards - 150 of them before halftime - and consistently won the battle at the line of scrimmage.
It was just the second time all season James Madison faced a Power Four opponent, and the difference in depth and speed was evident early. Still, it was a season to remember for the Dukes, who had won 11 straight coming into the game and proved they belonged on the national stage.
What’s Next
Oregon moves on to face Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl with a shot at reaching the CFP semifinals. With Moore playing at this level and key weapons like Dakorien Moore back in the fold, the Ducks look like a team peaking at the right time.
For James Madison, the season ends with a tough loss, but also with a clear message: this program is on the rise. The Dukes went toe-to-toe with one of college football’s elite, and despite the scoreline, showed flashes of what made them one of the most compelling stories of the year.