Jan 02, 2026
3 min read
The first-round seeds in the 12-team football playoffs are now 0-6.
The underdogs are progressing
Oregon is tied as a 1-point loss against Texas Tech, meaning the underdog is now 5-1 ATS in the College Football Playoff this year with four straight wins.
The Texas Tech offense had its worst game of the season at the most inopportune time.
The No. 4 Red Raiders averaged less than four yards per play and turned the ball over four times in a 23-0 loss to No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl on Thursday. The loss means the team that received a bye in the short 12-team history of the College Football Playoff is now 0-6 as Oregon will play the winner of the Rose Bowl in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9.
Oregon State freshman defensive back Brandon Phinney Jr. was on the receiving end of all three of those turnovers, and his second interception of the day severely damaged Texas Tech's chances of a comeback.
With the Red Raiders trailing 13–0, Finney intercepted Tech QB Behren Morton in the corner of the end zone on third down as the Red Raiders threatened to cut Oregon's lead to six points.Morton never seemed to see Finney as he came back from the line of scrimmage.
Brandon Finney Jr with His third tieway of the day 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/mdwfukor1l
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2026
The pick was Morton's third ball of the day.Even when Tech's offense finally strung together productive plays, something would happen to keep the Red Raiders at bay.
After Finney's second pick, Atticus Sappington hit a 43-yard field goal to put Oregon up by 16.
The lead could have been much larger if Oregon's offense hadn't wasted as many chances in the same area as Texas Tech.The Red Raiders' stellar defense did everything it could to keep Tech in the game and stopped Oregon on four of eight fourth-down attempts.
[Get more Ducks football news: Oregon team feed]
Oregon led just 6-0 at halftime when Texas Tech had a great opportunity to take the lead early in the third quarter after receiving the second half kickoff.Instead, the Red Raiders gained a total of two yards on three plays and punted the ball to Oregon.
The Ducks extended their lead to 13 points after Matayo Uyagleli picked off Morton and grabbed the ball.Uiagalelei ran 16 yards to the Texas Tech 6-yard line and Jordan Davison scored the game's first touchdown one play later.
Matayo Viagalelli deserves more love in the pre-draft process.#GoDucks
pic.twitter.com/3FLgK7rO2E— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) 1 Ianuali 2026
Tech reached the Oregon 34-yard line on its next drive, but in a play that summed up the entire game, quarterback J.Kobe Williams lost a yard on a punt on fourth down with just one yard to go on first down.
Tech still had a glimmer of hope after Finney's second interception as their defense forced a quick punt.But when Oregon punted — and Tech made no attempt to punt — AJ McCarty was ruled offside.The penalty gave Oregon a first down and set up Sappington for a field goal.
The Red Raiders did not exceed 200 total yards until less than five minutes remained in the game.
The Red Raiders were one of the best teams in college football in 2025, thanks to mega-boost Cody Campbell and the wise use of the transfer portal by coach Joey McGuire and his staff.
A defense that was absolutely miserable in 2024 has been transformed into one of the best in the country with David Bailey, Rommel Hight, Lee Hunter and Cole Wisniewski joining Heisman fifth-place finisher Jacob Rodriguez and others.But most of Tech's key contributors on that side of the ball are either ineligible or out of the NFL.Can McGuire?staff to quickly identify talent to rebuild that side of the ball once the portal opens on Friday.
Will Tech go after a transfer quarterback? Cincinnati's Brendan Sosby is being linked to the Red Raiders after announcing a transfer from the Bearcats. Thorsby is one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2025, as Cincinnati was a midseason contender in the conference before a disastrous November.
Oregon is no closer to a national title than it was at the end of the 2014 season in the four-game college football team's first year in the national championship game.
A year ago, the Ducks entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed after an undefeated season and a Big Ten title.Like Texas Tech, which fell in the quarterfinals, Ohio State upset the Ducks in the Rose Bowl en route to the national title.
This year, it looks like Oregon could be a serious threat for the national title.And they may have to avenge their only loss this season.If Indiana beats Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the Ducks will have another crack at the Hoosiers.Indiana defeated Oregon 30-20 in Eugene in October.
Oregon closed against Texas Tech as a 1-point underdog, which means the underdogs are 5-1 ATS in this year's College Football Playoff with four straight wins.
The Ducks went for another touchdown with seconds left, but Oregon's defense was the story of the game.Texas Tech had four turnovers and was shut out the rest of the game.
The Ducks burn the clock in field goal range.
Well, something finally went wrong for Oregon, but it probably won't matter.Atticus Sappington just shot over the goal with just under 5 minutes left in the game.
It's still 16-0.
Well, that will do it for that.Behren Morton had just been sacked by Oregon's Tatum Toyota on fourth down deep in Texas Tech territory.
TTU 25 will be Ducks football.
Oregon, 4th down stop pic.twitter.com/4vNchqtTKR
— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) 1 ta' Jannar, 2026
The Ducks added to their lead with another Atticus Sappington field goal as the game neared the 8-minute mark in the fourth quarter.
Oregon 16, TTU 0
The Ducks throw the ball away, but a stupid offside penalty gives them a new set of defeats, so they can run more time off the clock.
It's another turnover for Texas Tech and it's Oregon's Brandon Feeney picking off again!
That was the new man of the match's third win.
Another distraction from Morton pic.twitter.com/RgLFS60DRx
- NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) Ianuari 1, 2026
The Red Raiders trail by the 10 after a long completion from Beren Morton to Terrance Carter Jr.
It's the end of the third quarter and Oregon is still up 13-0.
Red Raiders have life!Ben Roberts just dropped into coverage and Oregon's Dantis Moore didn't see him throwing over the middle.
Texas Tech will return him to center field.
If you're throwing down the middle...watch out for Ben Roberts 😈#Big12FB |📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/SNXdIHNP38
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) January 1, 2026
Texas Tech still struggled on Texas Tech's most productive drive of the day, and the result was no points.Something needs to turn around quickly for the Red Raider offense.
The Red Raiders faced fourth-and-1 and picked off a shotgun snap on 5-10, 180-pound J'Koby Williams, and the Ducks caught him cold.
Texas Tech can't convert on 4th down pic.twitter.com/81aT8bHsmF
— I-NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) January 1, 2026
The Red Raiders finally found something positive offensively and are now dominating the midfield after a couple of slumps.
The Ducks find the end zone on a short run by Jordon Davison!It's only a two-possession game, but the way Texas Tech plays, the start of the third quarter is like a sword.
Oregon 13, TTU 0
Tadile Jordan Davison;Oregon vs. Texas Tech pic.twitter.com/4nwXuWWs2M
— ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) January 1, 2026
The Ducks may have just made the play.Matayo Uiagalelei just stripped Behren Morton in the backfield and returned it to the TTU 5-yard line.
Oregon's defense came to play pic.twitter.com/rEbQcXCJa0
— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) Hanuere 1, 2026
The Ducks don't have many advantages over the Texas Tech defense.This game could be 20-0 or worse ... instead, Texas Tech can still take the lead with a TD.
Of course, the offense has to move the ball for it.
The Ducks went at it again on fourth-and-2 and Dante Moore tried to scramble for a first down, but came up just short of the line to win.
It's another turn of decline in scoring range for Oregon.
The Raiders went nowhere on the opening possession, giving it to Oregon, and Malik Benson recovered a punt at midfield.
The Ducks are on a scoring spree again.
