The Oregon Ducks are heading to the national championship. Oregon capitalized on four third quarter Florida State turnovers to cruise past the Seminoles 59-20 in the Rose Bowl.
The Ducks held a 18-13 lead heading into halftime, but outscored the Seminoles 27-7 in the third to expand the Florida State deficit. This Oregon victory breaks Florida State’s 29-game win streak.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota finished with 338 yards and 3 total touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing.
The Ducks will face the winner of Alabama and Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.
Key plays:
– After Florida State moved the ball 48 yards on 10 plays, Oregon was able to hold the offense on a pivotal third down. Seminoles kicker Roberto Aguayo tacked on three points with a 28-yard field goal, making the score 3-0.
– Oregon quickly responded. Royce Freeman capped a nine-play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. It didn’t stop there. 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 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.
– Just under two minutes later, Florida State already matched the touchdown. Seminoles running back skirted through a wide open hole and marched 10 yards into the end zone. The score made it 18-13.
– Royce Freeman punched in a three-yard score to build a 25-13 lead. The freshman running back’s second touchdown of the game capped a five-play, 69-yard drive in 1:32.
– The Florida State offense marched down the field to quickly rebut the Oregon score. Jameis Winston connected with Travis Rudolph on an 18-yard completion for Winston’s only touchdown of the game.
– Darren Carrington caught a 59-yard bullet from Mariota and high-stepped into the end zone untouched to extend the Ducks’ lead to 12 points.
– Dalvin Cook lost his second fumble of the game on Florida State’s own 35-yard line. Oregon capitalized on both for touchdowns, this time on Mariota’s second touchdown to Carrington, a 30-yard strike.
– Oregon’s three-man rush had Winston running in circles in the pocket before he lost his balance and the ball without being touched. Tony Washington recovered the fumble and brought it all the way back for a 58-yard return touchdown.
– Florida State’s implosion continued on a tipped ball from Winston which Erick Dargan picked off. The interception was Florida State’s fourth in the third quarter alone. Mariota dialed up a perfectly executed 23-yard read-option run for a touchdown on the ensuing drive to put Oregon comfortably ahead 52-20.
– Rodney Hardrick forced a Jesus Wilson fumble and Tyson Coleman recovered for Oregon’s fifth takeaway of the game. Thomas Tyner delivered the nail in the coffin with a 21-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 59-20.
Oregon passing
Marcus Mariota – 26-of-36 for 338 yards, two touchdowns and one interception
Florida State passing
Jameis Winston – 29-of-45 for 348 yards, one touchdown and one interception
Oregon rushing
Thomas Tyner – 13 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns
Marcus Mariota – eight carries for 62 yards and one touchdown
Royce Freeman – 12 carries for 44 yards and two touchdowns
Florida State rushing
Dalvin Cook – 15 carries for 103 yards
Karlos Williams – 12 carries, 80 yards and one touchdown
Oregon receiving
Darren Carrington – seven receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns
Byron Marshall – five receptions for 20 yards
Evan Baylis – six receptions for 73 yards
Florida State receiving
Travis Rudolph – six receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown
Karlos Williams – five receptions for 59 yards
Jesus Wilson – five receptions for 72 yards
Oregon total offense – 639 yards
Florida State total offense – 528 yards
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