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Oregon Handles Michigan State 31-10

by:Linden Hile•10/04/24

The Oregon Ducks put together arguably their most complete game of the year en route to a 31-10 win over visiting Michigan State. The game felt relatively similar to last week’s matchup against UCLA in that the Ducks controlled the game thoroughly but never turned it into a complete pantsing.

First Quarter

The game started with Oregon receiving the first half kickoff and going three and out quickly. Michigan State had a little more success as it hit a deep pass down to the goal line but ultimately fumbled back to the Ducks on Oregon’s 1-yard line on an Aidan Chiles scramble.

Jordan James took an outside handoff roughly 40 yards, eventually setting up a third and goal on which quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw an interception that gave Michigan State the ball on its own 20-yard line. The Spartans put up another quick three-and-out and Oregon regained possession at its own 25-yard line.

A chaotic drive featuring a juggling deep shot catch by Traeshon Holden, an injury to Gabriel, and a Noah Whittington hurdle made it 7-0 with 0:22 left in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

The Spartans answered with a stalled drive that gave Oregon the ball back with 14:20 left in the half. A brilliantly blocked screen pass to tight end Terrance Ferguson netted 60 yards and a trip to the red zone for the Ducks on which Gabriel threw his second interception of the night on an ill-advised out route pass.

Michigan State set up shop at its own two-yard line and punted after a first down pass over the middle. James broke multiple nice runs on the Ducks’ way to a touchdown that made it 14-0 with 5:26 left in the second quarter.

The ensuing MSU drive was stalled quickly on two Oregon sacks, one from Matayo Uiagalelei and the other from Jordan Burch on third down. The Ducks then marched down the field with intermediate gains in both the running and passing game before Gabriel found Evan Stewart in the corner of the end zone to make it 21-0 at the half.

Third Quarter

Michigan State received the second half kickoff and Chiles was harassed several times before the Spartans punted back to Oregon. A nice drive for the Ducks netted an Andrew Boyle 50-yard field goal that stretched the lead to 24.

Michigan State nearly fumbled back to the Ducks inside its own 20 but recovered before punting back to the Ducks.

Fourth Quarter

Oregon steadily worked the ball down the field on short passes from Gabriel before Tez Johnson took a short pass to the end zone, making it 31-0 with 11 minutes to go. The ensuing MSU possession hit an explosive pass and resulted in its first score from a short touchdown run at the 8:27 mark, making it 31-7.

With reserves on the field, Oregon’s drive stalled and Michigan State failed to get anything going either, ending the game with a 31-10 Ducks victory.

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