Oregon moves fast. That was clear before the game even began, but after a half of football against Florida State in the 101st Rose Bowl, it’s become magnified.  With scoring drives of 73, 75 and 88 yards while only taking 9:56 off the clock, the Ducks offense keyed an 18-13 lead the team takes into the half.
Oregon amassed 286 yards of total offense, using a balance of 157 yards through the air and 129 on the ground. Thomas Tyner, after missing the last three games of the season, leads all Oregon ballcarriers with 7 rushes for 55 yards.
Although, Florida State matched Oregon drive-for-drive. The most firm indicator being when the Seminoles responded to a Ducks touchdown in under two minutes with a touchdown of their own. Florida State has ran the ball for 137 yards, and freshman running back Dalvin Cook is only 10 yards shy of passing the century mark.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is 13-of-21 for 136 yards.
Three things to watch for in the second half:
Can Oregon stop the Florida State ground game?
Dalvin Cook and the Seminoles were running at ease against the Ducks in the first half. Cook finished the first half with 90 yards on 12 carries. Senior Karlos Williams also had a 10-yard touchdown run late in the first half. To Oregon’s credit, they’re allowing Florida State to move the ball, but the Ducks are capitalizing when it matters most.  Oregon had tow big goal line stops in the first half.
How does the loss of Devon Allen affect Oregon?
The Ducks seemingly lost Devon Allen for the game after he was injured on the opening kickoff. Allen was later seen being taken off the field in a wheelchair. In the return game, Charles Nelson has stepped in. Nelson has two punt returns for touchdowns on the season. On offense, the Ducks have shown their depth this season, and this game, at the receiver spot.
Will Florida State make another second-half comeback?
The Seminoles are a second half team. They’re undefeated, but they’ve trailed at halftime in five of their games this season. Winston has thrown four interceptions in the second half in comparison to 13 in the first. We’ll see if the Seminoles can comeback from their five-point halftime deficit.
Key plays:
– After Florida State moved the ball 48 yards on 10 plays, Oregon was able to hold on a pivotal third down. Seminoles kicker Roberto Aguayo tacked on three points though with a 28-yard field goal, making the score 3-0.
– Oregon quickly responded. A nine-play, 73-yard drive was capped by a Royce Freeman run from just a yard away. It didn’t stop there however. Taylor Alie hooked up with Christian French on the two-point try to put the Ducks ahead 8-3.
– On its next possession, Oregon got the ball at Florida State’s 40 yard line. It moved to Florida State’s 22 and faced a fourth-and-five. Mariota dropped back to pass, but faced a swarm of pressure. His desperate pass to Byron Marshall fell incomplete and Florida State took over.
– Florida State had four chances to score near the goal line. It culminated on a fourth-down run from Jameis Winston that appeared at first to be a Seminoles touchdown. However, a replay indicated Winston’s knee was down before the ball extended past the plane. Oregon takes over.
– After a pair of field goals made the score 11-6, Oregon got back in the end zone. This time on a Thomas Tyner run from a yard out to make the score 18-6. Tyner rushed the ball for 24 yards on the drive alone.
– Just under two minutes after that, Florida State had already matched it. Seminoles running back skirted through a wide open hole and marched 10 yards into the end zone. The score made it 18-13.
Oregon passing
Marcus Mariota – 18-of-26 for 157 yards and one interception
Florida State passing 
Jameis Winston – 13-of-21 for 136 yards
Oregon rushing
Thomas Tyner – seven carries for 55 yards and one touchdown
Marcus Mariota – seven carries for 39 yards
Royce Freeman – seven carries for 21 yards and one touchdown
Florida State rushing
Dalvin Cook – 12 carries for 90 yards
Karlos Williams – seven carries, 45 yards and one touchdown
Oregon receiving
Byron Marshall – five receptions for 20 yards
Darren Carrington – three receptions for 39 yards
Evan Baylis – three receptions for 31 yards
Florida State receiving
Karlos Williams – three receptions for 37 yards
Jesus Wilson – three receptions for 35 yards
Travis Rudolph – 2 receptions for 37 yards
Oregon total offense – 286 yards

Florida State total offense – 273 yards

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