Oregon outlasts JMU in first round of College Football Playoff

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Oregon defeated James Madison 51-34 in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday. 

The score looked like it would be more lopsided during the first three quarters, as Oregon held a 48-13 lead over JMU halfway through the third quarter. 

JMU managed to lessen the deficit toward the end by outscoring the Ducks 20-3 in the final quarter and a half.

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Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore passes for a 20-yard touchdown during the College Football Playoff game against James Madison Dukes on Dec. 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 at 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 games following No. 17 Tulane's 41-10 loss at 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 would not relinquish. Johnson hauled in Moore’s pass with his right hand, and romped into the end zone while dragging a pair of defenders.

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Oregon Ducks running back Jordon Davison runs the ball against the James Madison Dukes during the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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