EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon coach Dan Lanning saw it in quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s eyes — he was ready to meet the moment.
Gabriel threw two touchdown passes and ran for another late score, helping third-ranked Oregon outlast No. 2 Ohio State 32-31 on Saturday night.
Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon (6-0, 3-0) this season from Oklahoma for the Ducks’ first season in the Big Ten, completed 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards. He also ran for 32 yards on four carries.
“Every time I went and looked at his eyes tonight I saw a guy who was composed and ready for his next moment,” Lanning said. “He played really really well tonight in some really big moments.”
Jordan James ran for 115 yards and a score for the Ducks in front of a record crowd of 61,128 for the first matchup between two teams ranked in the top five at Autzen Stadium. It was the highest-ranked opponent that Oregon has beaten during the regular season.
After the victory, the Oregon fans rushed the field and the Ducks’ mascot crowd-surfed over their shoulders. Afterward coach Dan Lanning joked with reporters: “Anyone have a heart-rate monitor?”
Gabriel scored on 27-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter to give Oregon a 29-28 lead. But Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) responded with a clock-eating drive that ended with Jayden Fielding’s 40-yard field goal that made it 31-29 with six minutes to go.
A pass-interference call got the Ducks to Ohio State’s 9, but Oregon settled for Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard field goal and a 32-31 lead with 1:47 left.
Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka with a 26-yard pass to pull the Buckeyes closer to field goal range, but an offensive pass-interference call on freshman Jeremiah Smith pushed Ohio State back. On third-and-20 on the Oregon 38, Howard took off running with four seconds left but gained only 12 yards and slid as time ran out.
“I just know how much time and effort everyone puts into this, and that goes for the coaches, the players, the support staff within this building to make the whole show go,” Gabriel said. “There’s joy in winning, and you love to see your team succeed.”
Howard threw for 336 yards an two touchdowns for Ohio State . Smith had nine catches for 100 yards and a score in what was the first big test for the Buckeyes this season.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is 1-7 against teams ranked in the top five. Because of the expanded College Football Playoff, the loss may not have the impact on the Buckeyes’ postseason hopes as it might have had in previous seasons.
“We could sit here and look at one play here, one play there or complain about a call, but we’re not going to do that. We’re going to own it,” Day said.
Howard scored on a 1-yard keeper on Ohio State’s opening drive of the game. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, most by a Buckeye in five seasons.
Oregon capitalized when Derrick Harmon forced Quinshon Judkins’ fumble and recovered the ball on the Ohio State 28. James punched the ball in from 3 yards out but the Ducks flubbed the snap on the extra point attempt.
Judkins scored on a 1-yard run before Evan Stewart’s 10-yard touchdown catch closed the gap for Oregon.
Oregon took advantage of another Ohio State turnover when Roger Saleapaga recovered Caleb Downs’ fumble. But the Ducks were hurt on the drive when senior receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct when he spit on an Ohio State player. The drive ended with Sappington’s 27-yard field goal.
Ohio State went back in front on Emeka Egbuka’s 15-yard TD reception before leading Ducks receiver Tez Johnson gave Oregon a 22-21 edge at halftime on a 48-yard touchdown catch from Gabriel.
Smith caught a 6-yard scoring pass to put Ohio State up 28-22 in the third quarter. The Buckeyes’ leading receiver had a 38-yard reception on the drive.
“It was a back and forth,” Lanning said. “When you play a really good team, you’re going to have to be able to battle in tight games like this, where decisions could go one way or another. We played aggressive tonight. We played to win the game and our guys went out there and executed in critical moments.”
TAKEAWAYS
Ohio State: Chip Kelly, the Buckeyes’ new offensive coordinator, was head coach of the Ducks from 2009-12, leading the team to a spot in the 2011 national championship game. … Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons left the game in the first half with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. Day said the injury was serious and suggested Simmons wouldn’t be back this season.
Oregon: Defensive Jordan Burch, the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week, did not play after an apparent injury during practice this week. Burch was tied for the Big Ten lead and ranks eighth nationally with a career-best five sacks this season. … There were 61,128 fans at the game, a new Autzen Stadium record.
UP NEXT
Ohio State: Hosts Nebraska on Oct. 26. Day said Ohio State has some work to do during the time off: “The issues are there.” Day said. “Those issues came up in this game. We’ve got to get those things fixed.”
Oregon: At Purdue on Friday night.
