Red Raiders’ historic run ends in Orange Bowl shutout to Oregon in CFP Quarterfinal
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 01: Oregon and Texas Tech football are on display before the Orange Bowl bet(ween the Oregon Ducks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Hard Rcok Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Photo by Peter Jonel
MIAMI - The No. 4 ranked Texas Tech Red Raider offense was shut out in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game against No. 5 Oregon Ducks at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Historical shutout in Orange Bowl
The loss marks the first ever shutout in the College Football Playoff’s 11-year history.
This Big 10 vs Big 12 face-off marks just the fourth in the two teams’ history. Texas Tech’s Head Coach Joey McGuire enters his fourth straight bowl game with a 2-1 record.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: A field goal marker is seen prior to the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oregon Ducks at Hard Rock Stadium on January 01, 2026 i
Oregon Ducks dictate the tempo
What we know:
As the only Texas football program left in the college football playoffs, Texas Tech had a lot of pressure on them heading into their first ever college football playoff match-up. The Oregon Ducks looked more than prepared as they headed into their third College Football Playoff appearance.
Early in the match-up, Oregon seemed to set the tone with long sustained drives, compared to a Texas Tech offense who struggled to find a rhythm. Only four of the Red Raider’s six drives in the first half lasted longer than three plays. While the Ducks started the game with two 10+ play drives to start the game off, eating clock while steadily advancing downfield.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Joey McGuire of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during warmups prior to the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Hard Rock Stadium on
As the team headed into the locker-room down 6-0 at halftime against Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks, it was their defense once again keeping their championship hopes alive. The only bowl game in the Red Raiders' four-year bowl streak where they were trailing at halftime was in last year’s Liberty Bowl against Arkansas. That was McGuire’s only bowl loss as a head coach.
Second half turnovers topple the Red Raiders
Dig deeper:
The Red Raider offense showed no signs of life to start the second half, once again starting the half with a quick three-and-out, followed by a strip sack on Texas Tech quarterback Ben Morton. Linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei’s fumble recovery set Oregon up for the first touchdown of the game.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks to pass the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock
The following drive resulted in the longest Texas Tech drive of the day, a 12-play drive lasting almost five minutes.
Down 13-0, Morton’s offense was faced with a 4th and 1 in Oregon’s territory before running back J’Koby Williams was stopped behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.
Oregon running back Jordan Davidson punched in the 6-yard run to make it a 13-0 lead.
As the game winded down, the game was much of the same, with Oregon’s quarterback, Dante Moore, slowly deteriorating an elite Texas Tech defense. Moore and the Oregon Ducks completed passes to 11 different receivers compared to Texas Tech’s five.
A Historic Season Ends
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot Red Raider performs prior to the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oregon Ducks at Hard Rock Stadium
Big picture view:
The game ended with a 23-0 shutout, and a 4-1 Oregon advantage in the turnover margin.
This marks the end of Texas Tech’s highest ranked season in program history and the first double-digit winning season since Mike Leach led the Red Raiders to an 11-2 record in 2008.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Associate Press and ESPN.