Oregon was “very disappointed.” Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi was “pissed off.” Dan Lanning said it was a “bittersweet game.”

The Ducks won their College Football Playoff First Round matchup by 17 points.

Unhappiness and silence percolated through postgame interviews. In the first half, No. 5 Oregon’s offense started fast, made No. 12 James Madison’s best-in-the-G5 defense chase its heels and exploded away from the big plays that the Dukes (12-2, 7-0 Sun Belt) ripped off between punts. In the second, it allowed 28 points, six explosive plays and 312 yards — that’s why there wasn’t music in the locker room Saturday night.

“This was an unacceptable performance in the second half,” Lupoi said. Regardless, Oregon’s (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten) offense looked tuned up in the 51-34 win over JMU ahead of a CFP quarterfinal that will define its season. Its defense allowed 500 yards for the first time this season. Both have film to watch.

As has become customary this year, the Ducks elected to receive underneath pyrotechnics from on top of the north box. Its yearlong push to start faster and faster paid off. Noah Whittington went outside for nine yards. Then Dante Moore found Jeremiah McClellan (six receptions, 83 yards, touchdown) for four and 14-yard gains.

From the James Madison 41-yard line, Moore (19-27 for 313 yards and four passing touchdowns) ripped the seam open, Jamari Johnson, with linebacker Trent Hendrick trailing behind in man-to-man coverage, reached out. He got extra style points for doing it one-handed and diving into the endzone.

A team can’t start much faster.

Fireworks — streamers, actually — flew for James Madison after an eight-minute, 15-play opening salvo that featured a 24-yard Wayne Knight (17 carries, 110 yards) burst on the second snap. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III (273 passing yards, three total touchdowns) and the Dukes were slowed in the red zone, where Oregon’s defense struggled early this season but has gained ground, and had to kick a 30-yard field goal.

It wasn’t enough. Oregon was going to get even more explosive.

With freshman receiver Dakorien Moore in for the first time since a win over Wisconsin, the Ducks scooted 40 yards via running back Dierre Hill Jr. (and a Moore block) and another 23 with Jordon Davison before Dante Moore kept an option play to edge past the pylon and into the endzone. Five plays. 75 yards. Touchdown.

“The offensive crew did a great job dissecting their defense,” Moore said. “Overall, it’s a great game.”

There were wrinkles. The Dukes uncorked a double-pass play to end the first quarter that earned 50 yards, but a false start and a hold backed them up, and the ensuing 40-yard field goal was blocked.

It got faster again. After two plays on Oregon’s third drive, Hill (six carries, 76 yards, one reception, 40 yards) rumbled outside left tackle on third down for a 56-yard, tackle-breaking score.

Oregon went with tempo on its fourth drive and earned completions to McClellan and Sadiq before a Davison direct-snap rush went for 30 yards. McClellan’s ability to adjust for catches flashed again when he was held and still twirled for a 20-yard touchdown catch. He landed one minute and 18 seconds after the first snap of the drive. An average drive length of 1:47 through four drives is about as fast as a team can get. 

Malik Benson made that even faster.

After getting back over the ball and driving 34 yards in four plays, Oregon set up in 13-personnel and was rewarded with its primary deep threat isolated against cornerback Justin Eaglin. Benson (five receptions, 119 yards, two touchdowns) didn’t have to do anything fancy — he just ran right by Eaglin, who was already playing off the receiver, and connected with Moore for a 46-yard score.

As if that wasn’t enough, Benson hit the replay button on the other side of the halftime break. By the time Moore found him streaking 45 yards away from a defender who bit on a Johnson route, he was in a realm of his own.

“(I just need to) be in the spot for Dante,” Benson said. “He’s a great quarterback, and if I just run my routes…he’s going to find us.”

Blake Purchase forced a blocked punt, and Jayden Limar grabbed the bobbling ball and strolled into the endzone (Oregon: 48 points). James Madison manufactured a pair of scoring drives against the Ducks’ backups. Fewer and fewer fans saw each.

Moore’s mistakes on the night were amply punished. The redshirt sophomore threw two picks, first on a slant where Malik Benson lost his footing, then on a third-and-goal zero blitz that saw him toss up a floater to be returned 64 yards the wrong way. The latter saw Barnett hit running back George Pettaway on a wheel route against Oregon’s second-string defense. The Dukes’ traveling fans were just barely in “Shout”-ing distance at the third quarter break.

They got closer.

The six explosive plays drew ire from Oregon’s defense postgame. Lupoi praised the Ducks’ “reactionary defense,” but regretted that it was necessary. The backups were in, and then the starters returned. Neither could hold off the Dukes. 

“You’ve got to find moments, when you’ve got a big lead, to choke somebody out,” Lanning said. “We didn’t do that.”

Barnett completed passes of 47, 24, 28, 31 and 32 yards in the second half. Two went for touchdowns. With the Ducks’ starters in on the final drive, Knight exploded on third-and-5 for 49 yards. The message that Oregon kept repeating is clear: it wasn’t good enough.

“We’ve got no option,” linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. “If we don’t play better, our season will be over.”

Oregon will face No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1, 7-0 Big 12) for a Playoff quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1.