No. 3 Oregon beats No. 2 Ohio State 32-31 as time runs out on Buckeyes' final drive

Atticus Sappington's chip-shot 19-yard field goal with 1:47 left gave No. 3 Oregon a thrilling 32-31 victory over No. 2 Ohio State.

After Sappington's kick, Ohio State had just enough time to attempt the game-winning field goal and did just that. But as soon as Emeka Egbuka's catch moved the Buckeyes into range of Jayden Fielding, a pass interference penalty by Jeremiah Smith pushed them back 15 yards.

After a Smith penalty, an incomplete pass and an Oregon penalty, Ohio State got back into field goal range with six seconds left on third down. But QB Will Howard inexplicably scooped up the ball and ran up the middle instead of throwing it or making a quick slide. As Howard slipped away, the clock ran out.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning sent Sappington down the field a yard short of the end zone with 1:51 to go in Ohio State's second timeout of the half. There was a compelling argument for Lanning — a coach who hasn't been shy about fourth-down decisions throughout his Oregon career — to go for a TD instead of kicking a field goal.

Yes, Ohio State stopped Oregon on the previous two plays. But that doesn't mean the Buckeyes will be able to do it a third time. Especially with an Oregon team prone to passing without wanting to run the clock. And even if Ohio State stopped Oregon, the Ducks had three timeouts and would get the ball back with great field position if they prevented Ohio State from getting a first down against their own end zone.

Instead, Lanning played for the lead. And it worked out. Barely.

Six lead changes

Like Alabama's win over Georgia in the first top-five matchup of the season, the first game between the top-three teams on Saturday night didn't disappoint. Sappington's kick was the sixth lead change of the night.

The second quarter was especially wild. Oregon wide receiver Trasion Holden was ejected for spitting on Ohio State's Davison Igbinoson, an extra-point attempt by Oregon went comically wrong and the Ducks recovered a line drive kickoff that bounced off an Ohio State blocker.

The game score was 7-6 at the start of the second quarter. At halftime, Oregon led 22-21 after Dillon Gabriel found Tage Johnson for a 48-yard TD.

Gabriel finished the game 23-of-34 passing for 341 yards and two passing TDs. He also rushed for a 27-yard TD that gave Oregon a 29-28 lead with 13:20 left.

Ohio State responded with a methodical 13-play drive that went 53 yards and took 7:20 off the clock. Fielding hit a 40-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a one-point lead six minutes into the game.

After Sappington moved on, Howard had a chance to show Ohio State fans why he was the preferred QB choice before the 2024 season. The former Kansas State QB has been solid so far, but Smith's one-handed possession and running backs have also been overshadowed by the excellence of Trevion Henderson and Quinson Judkins.

The first play of the final drive was a sign of things to come. Howard fell for a 4-yard sack before regaining his composure and completing four passes leading up to Smith's penalty. However, the Buckeyes lost 12 seconds after the penalty, as they weren't ready for the clock to start when the officials whistled after a pass interference call.

A Big Ten title game preview?

A top-four finish in the College Football Playoff is easy with Oregon and Ohio State meeting in the Big Ten championship game in December. With all due respect to undefeated Indiana, the Buckeyes and Ducks are two of the three best teams in the conference along with Penn State. Even if Indiana works its way into the title mix in the second half of the season, Ohio State and Oregon have to be considered favorites for the title game.

The Buckeyes' losses against Big Ten teams making the cross-country trip are another data point. Teams traveling across multiple time zones are 2-10 in conference games so far this season. Indiana's win at UCLA and Penn State's overtime comeback at USC on Saturday are the only wins on long trips for the visiting teams, and Oregon makes a cross-country trip in Week 8. The Boilermakers lost 50-49 in overtime to Illinois. Ohio State is off in Week 8 before hosting Nebraska on Oct. 26.