Two of the nation’s most complete teams meet Wednesday night when No. 5 Oregon Ducks faces No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal that pairs efficiency with physicality.
Texas Tech arrives rested after earning a first-round bye, while Oregon carries momentum following a 51-34 win over James Madison. The Red Raiders average 42.5 points per game (2nd, FBS), but under coach Joey McGuire, the production comes from a physical, run-first approach designed to control tempo.
Sophomore running back Cameron Dickey anchors that identity, rushing for nearly 1,100 yards and a Big 12-leading 14 touchdowns. J’koby Williams provides a powerful complement with 808 yards and six scores. Few teams boast a more reliable backfield tandem.
Quarterback Behren Morton is more caretaker than gunslinger, completing a steady season with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. In what will be his 45th career game, Morton’s experience and decision-making will be central against Oregon’s pressure.
Texas Tech’s defense may be its strongest unit. Stanford transfer David Bailey ranks second nationally with 13.5 sacks and earned first-team All-America honors, while Romello Height added nine sacks off the edge. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, the Butkus Award winner, leads the unit with 117 tackles, four interceptions and seven forced fumbles, setting up a key matchup with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
The Red Raiders allow a nation-best 68.5 rushing yards per game and just 10.9 points overall, holding opponents to 2.3 yards per carry.
Oregon counters with balance and explosiveness. Moore has thrown for 3,047 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing better than 72 percent of his passes. The Ducks feature depth at receiver and a top-10 rushing attack led by Noah Whittington and freshman Jordan Davison.
Defensively, Oregon yields 16.3 points per game and is led by linebacker Bryce Boettcher and edge rusher Teitum Tuioti.
With few weaknesses on either side, this one shapes up as a four-quarter test. And possibly a final-possession decision between two evenly matched contenders.
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