Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns as the No. 1 seed Ducks steamrolled Indiana 38-15 in Friday night’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl, booking their ticket to the national semifinals for the first time since 2014.
The Ducks (14-0) controlled the game from the opening drive, jumping to a 21-0 halftime lead behind Gabriel’s precision passing and a suffocating defense that forced three Indiana turnovers. The junior transfer from Oklahoma completed 27 of 35 passes, connecting with seven different receivers in a masterful performance that showcased why Oregon entered as the tournament’s top seed.
Gabriel’s Air Show Overwhelms Hoosiers
Gabriel found his rhythm early, hitting wide receiver Tez Johnson for a 42-yard touchdown strike on Oregon’s second possession. The 6-foot signal-caller then connected with tight end Terrance Ferguson for an 18-yard score midway through the second quarter before capping the first-half scoring with a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Jordan James.
“We’ve been building toward this all season,” Gabriel said after the game. “Our receivers made incredible catches, and the offensive line gave me time to find them. This is what we came to Oregon to accomplish.”
Johnson led Oregon’s receiving corps with eight catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Ferguson added six receptions for 89 yards. The Ducks’ balanced attack accumulated 521 total yards against an Indiana defense that had allowed just 19.2 points per game during the regular season.
Defense Stifles Hoosiers’ Ground Game
Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi’s unit held Indiana’s rushing attack to just 89 yards on 31 carries, effectively neutralizing the Hoosiers’ ball-control offense that had averaged 181.4 rushing yards during their surprising 11-2 regular season campaign.
Linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei recorded two sacks and forced a fumble that led to Oregon’s final touchdown, a 23-yard run by James with 8:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Ducks’ defensive front consistently pressured Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, sacking him four times and limiting the graduate transfer to 17 completions on 35 attempts for 208 yards.
“Their defensive line was getting home all night,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “We couldn’t establish the run like we needed to, and that put us in difficult down-and-distance situations throughout the game.”
Hoosiers’ Cinderella Run Ends in Pasadena
Indiana (11-3) managed just two field goals in the first three quarters before finally reaching the end zone on a 1-yard plunge by running back Ty Son Lawton with 4:12 left in the game. The Hoosiers added a late touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tayven Jackson to Justice Ellison, but the outcome had long been decided.
The loss concluded a remarkable first season under Cignetti, who transformed a program that won just nine games in the previous three seasons combined into Big Ten contenders and College Football Playoff participants. Indiana’s 11 regular-season victories matched the most in program history.
Rourke, who transferred from Ohio University and threw for 3,003 yards during the regular season, struggled against Oregon’s aggressive pass rush and physical secondary. The Ducks intercepted him twice, including a crucial pick by cornerback Nikko Reed that set up Oregon’s third touchdown.
Road to the Semifinals
Oregon’s dominant victory sets up a semifinal matchup with either No. 4 Penn State or No. 5 Georgia, who meet Saturday night in the Peach Bowl. The Ducks will play that semifinal game on January 9 at the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Head coach Dan Lanning’s squad has now won 14 consecutive games dating back to last season’s Pac-12 Championship victory over Washington. The former Georgia defensive coordinator has Oregon positioned for its first national championship since claiming a share of the 1939 title.
“We’re not satisfied with just making the playoffs,” Lanning said. “This team has championship aspirations, and we showed tonight that we can execute at the highest level when the stakes are raised.”
The Ducks will have nearly two weeks to prepare for their semifinal opponent, with the championship game scheduled for January 20 in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
