Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James breaks away with the ball as the Ducks host the Spartans Friday, Oct. 4, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Dillon Gabriel threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and Jordan James ran for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown Friday as No. 6 Oregon beat Michigan State 31-10 in Eugene, Ore.
Despite throwing two interceptions in the red zone, Gabriel completed 20 of his 32 passes and also had a rushing TD for the Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), who now can turn their attention to an Oct. 12 home showdown against No. 3 Ohio State.
The Friday win improved Oregon to 43-3 at home since the start of the 2017 season.
Michigan State (3-3, 1-2) was thrashed by a top-10 opponent for the second straight week, as the Spartans lost 38-7 to the Buckeyes last week. The Spartans — led by former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith — have not won a regular-season, non-bowl game on the West Coast since a 19-0 victory over Cal in October 1957.
The Ducks dominated the Spartans on offense and defense throughout the game. Michigan State, which was held to 59 rushing yards, was outgained 477-250 overall.
Both teams had excellent scoring opportunities in the first quarter. On its first possession, Michigan State drove to the Oregon 2-yard line, but Aidan Chiles’ fumble was recovered in the end zone by Jordan Burch. It was the Spartans’ 14th turnover on the season.
The Ducks responded by driving to the Spartans’ 1-yard line before Gabriel’s pass was intercepted by Malik Spencer in the end zone.
Gabriel put Oregon ahead 7-0 on the hosts’ next drive, running for a 9-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
James, who had 151 yards rushing in the first half, pushed the lead to 14-0 on a 3-yard scoring run with 5:26 remaining in the second quarter. The Ducks went ahead 21-0 with five seconds left in the half when Gabriel connected with Evan Stewart on a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Oregon added a 50-yard field goal from Andrew Boyle late in the third quarter and a 2-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel to Tez Johnson with 11:18 left in the game to increase the lead to 31-0.
The Spartans’ lone scores came on a 1-yard run by Kay’ron-Lynch Adams with 8:27 to go and a 42-yard field goal by Jonathan Kim with 25 seconds left.
–Field Level Media
