No. 2 Oregon Ducks Secure First Road Shutout in Over 30 Years with Dominant Win Over Purdue
The No. 2 Oregon Ducks continued their undefeated season with a commanding 35-0 victory over Purdue on Friday night. This marks the Ducks' first road shutout since 1992, as they dominated the Boilermakers from start to finish.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel once again delivered an impressive performance, completing 21-of-25 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jordan James also contributed significantly, rushing for two touchdowns, helping the Ducks improve to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in Big Ten play.
This year marks Oregon's first season in the Big Ten after leaving the Pac-12 alongside USC, UCLA, and Washington in a major conference realignment. The Ducks were riding high after their thrilling 32-31 victory over Ohio State last week, their first-ever win over a top-two ranked opponent, but they showed no signs of a letdown in West Lafayette, Indiana.
"This place is known to be tough to play, especially after an emotional win like last week," Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said in a post-game interview. "I’m proud of how our team stayed focused and executed."
Purdue, which has built a reputation for upsetting higher-ranked teams, struggled to break through Oregon's staunch defense despite recording 301 total yards. The Boilermakers dropped to 1-6 on the season, while Oregon’s defense held strong and shut them out completely.
Oregon's offense got off to a fast start, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions. Jordan James scored both of his touchdowns in the first quarter, followed by wide receiver Tez Johnson’s 66-yard performance, adding a third touchdown early in the second quarter. The Ducks' running game remained potent throughout the game, with Noah Whittington scoring in the third quarter and Jay Harris capping it off with a 12-yard touchdown in the fourth.
The Ducks' defense sealed the shutout when cornerback Kam Alexander intercepted a pass from Purdue’s quarterback Ryan Browne with just 30 seconds remaining in the game, preventing any late scoring attempts from the Boilermakers.
With their eyes set on their first-ever national championship, Oregon now awaits the results of the No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs game, which could determine if the Ducks move to the top spot in the AP Poll.
In other college football action, No. 13 BYU Cougars pulled off a thrilling 38-35 victory over Oklahoma State, scoring a touchdown in the final 10 seconds to remain undefeated at 7-0.
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