The final spot in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals will be decided Saturday night, when No. 5 Oregon hosts No. 12 James Madison in a David vs. Goliath matchup to close the College Football Playoff’s first round.Oregon is back in the CFP for a second straight year, continuing its rise under fourth-year coach Dan Manning with an 11-1 regular season. Backed by Nike founder Phil Knight, the Ducks bring a deep, well-funded roster that weathered a wave of offensive injuries to secure a coveted home game.Traveling three time zones west is a James Madison program in just its fourth season at the FBS level. The Dukes (12-1) operate with only a fraction of Oregon’s payroll, but they earned their place in the field by finishing as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion following a 31-14 win over Troy in the Sun Belt Championship Game.Competing on the road against one of college football’s premier brands is a daunting task. Still, James Madison will not lack confidence. The Dukes famously scored 70 points in a road win at North Carolina last season and held a second-half lead at Louisville in Week 2 before fading late.
Given the stakes, a James Madison victory would rank among the most significant upsets in college football history. Pulling it off, however, will require knocking off a supremely talented Oregon team. The winner advances to face No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.Where to watch Oregon vs. James Madison liveDate: Saturday, Dec. 20 | Time: 7 p.m. ETLocation: Autzen Stadium — Eugene, OregonTV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)Oregon vs. James Madison: Need to know Oregon’s hobbled receiver room: There is hope for Oregon’s hobbled receiver room. Premier targets Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorien Moore both participated, at least to some extent, in practice this week. So did receiver Evan Stewart, who hasn’t played all season because of a knee injury. Bryant hasn’t played since Nov. 8, and Moore hasn’t played since Oct. 25. As a result, the Ducks have been reaching deep into their depth chart, and quarterback Dante Moore has been leaning heavily on tight end Kenyon Sadiq. But reinforcements appear to be coming.
James Madison’s mobile threat: James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III has rushed for 14 touchdowns this season and totaled 544 yards on the ground while establishing himself as one of the nation’s top…
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2025-12-20 01:15:30
