College Football Thrills: Oregon Shocks Ohio State in a Historic Overtime Clash!

By Issy Ronald and Jacob Lev

It was a breathtaking day in the world of college football, where the unexpected became the norm and legends were born under the stadium lights. The spotlight shone brightly on No. 3 Oregon as they pulled off a stunning upset, defeating No. 2 Ohio State 32-31 in an electrifying Big Ten showdown. This victory marks a historic milestone for the Ducks, as it was their first-ever win against a top-two ranked opponent.

The Game That Had It All

The atmosphere at Autzen Stadium in Eugene was electric, with 60,129 fans witnessing a nail-biter that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Both teams exchanged blows, trading scores back and forth in a game that lived up to its pre-match hype.

• Ohio State's Late Surge: The Buckeyes took a 31-29 lead after a field goal with just six minutes remaining.
• Oregon's Clutch Drive: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel led a critical drive, completing five passes for 41 yards, culminating in a 19-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington that flipped the lead to 32-31.
• A Heart-Stopping Finish: With just over a minute left, Ohio State's quarterback Will Howard attempted a last-minute drive but ran out of time, ending the game with the clock expired.

The match was particularly significant, as it was the first time since 1991 that a top-three matchup was decided by a single point, as highlighted by ESPN Research. As the final whistle blew, jubilant Ducks fans rushed the field, celebrating one of the most monumental victories in their program’s history.

“It’s a fun moment, man,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning. “So many people could share joy in a moment like that – our players, our fans, the people this program means so much to.”

With this win, the Ducks improve to 6-0 this season, while Ohio State falls to 5-1, continuing a trend of thrilling upsets across college football this week.

Other Notable Overtime Highlights

No. 4 Penn State Edges USC

In another nail-biter, No. 4 Penn State narrowly defeated USC in overtime. Tight end Tyler Warren had a historic night, catching 17 passes, tying the FBS single-game record for tight ends. The Nittany Lions fought back from behind multiple times to tie the game and ultimately secure a victory with a 36-yard field goal in OT.

No. 8 Tennessee Survives Against Florida

The Volunteers, ranked No. 8, managed to sneak past Florida 23-17 in overtime. After a tough first half, Tennessee rallied to take the lead before Florida's backup quarterback threw a late touchdown to force overtime, where the Volunteers ultimately triumphed.

No. 13 LSU Shocks No. 9 Ole Miss

In a thrilling contest, No. 13 LSU came back to defeat No. 9 Ole Miss 29-26 in overtime. After trailing in the final minute, LSU's quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw a touchdown pass to tie the game and another in overtime to secure the win.

No. 1 Texas Dominates No. 18 Oklahoma

In the Red River Rivalry, No. 1 Texas showcased their dominance with a 34-3 victory over No. 18 Oklahoma, reclaiming the coveted golden hat. Quarterback Quinn Ewers returned from injury, contributing to the team’s impressive performance.

What do you think?

• Should Oregon be considered a serious contender for the national championship after this win?
• Did Ohio State miss a critical opportunity with their clock management at the end of the game?
• Is the current college football playoff system fair to all teams?
• How do you feel about the rise of overtime games deciding critical matchups?
• Could we see more upsets like these in the coming weeks?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts on these thrilling college football moments!