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Oregon defeated James Madison 51-34 in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.
It looked like the score would be more lopsided through the first three quarters, as Oregon jumped out to a 48-13 lead over JMU midway through the third quarter.
JMU managed to make the deficit look a little more cosmetic by outscoring the Ducks 20-3 in the final quarter and a half.
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Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) passes for a 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter during the College Football Playoff first-round game between the Oregon Ducks and James Madison Dukes on December 20, 2025 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Ducks (12-1) advanced to face Texas Tech in a quarterfinal game in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. Oregon won a playoff game for the first time since 2014, when the Ducks beat Florida State in the Rose Bowl semifinal before losing to Ohio State.
James Madison (12-2) dropped Group of Five teams to 0-4 in CFP play. No. 17 Tulane also fell 41-10 to No. 6 Mississippi on Saturday.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson less than two minutes into the game to give Oregon a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Johnson caught Moore's pass with his right hand and entered the end zone while dragging a pair of defenders.
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Oregon Ducks running back Jordon Davison (0) runs the ball against James Madison Dukes defensive lineman Xavier Holmes (9) and linebacker Drew Spinogatti (56) during the College Football Playoff first-round game between the Oregon Ducks and the James Madison Dukes on December 20, 2025 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
James Madison responded with a 30-yard field goal by Morgan Suarez on its next drive, one that took 15 plays and consumed 8:03. The Ducks took control from there, scoring four consecutive touchdowns before the Dukes got another Suarez field goal before halftime, bringing the score to 34-6.
By falling behind by such a wide margin, James Madison pulled away from its rushing attack, which ranked fifth in the nation in average yards per game entering the night. Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett III completed 23 of 48 passes, including a 47-yard touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro on James Madison's first drive of the third quarter.
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Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) scores a touchdown on a 56-yard run against James Madison Dukes safety Jacob Thomas (7) during the College Football Playoff first-round game between the Oregon Ducks and the James Madison Dukes on December 20, 2025 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Oregon responded quickly with two touchdowns, including wide receiver Malik Benson's second touchdown and a blocked punt that Jayden Limar scooped up and returned 15 yards for a score. James Madison scored the final three touchdowns.
The victory was the Ducks' seventh in a row since losing to No. 1 Indiana 30-20 on Oct. 11. James Madison had won 11 in a row.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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