No. 3 Oregon survives frantic finish and holds off No. 2 Ohio State

EUGENE, Ore. – Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes and ran for another late score to help third-ranked Oregon hand No. 2 Ohio State its first loss of the season, 32-31, on Saturday night.

Gabriel, who transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon (6-0, 3-0) this season for the Ducks' first season in the Big Ten, completed 23 of 34 passes for 341 yards. He also ran for 32 yards on four carries.

Jordan James ran for 115 yards and scored for the Ducks in front of a record crowd of 61,128 in the first meeting between two teams ranked in the top five at Autzen Stadium.

After the win, Oregon fans rushed the field and the Ducks mascot sailed over their shoulders.

Gabriel scored on a 27-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter to give Oregon a 29-28 lead. But Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) responded with a time-consuming drive that ended with a 40-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding that made it 31-29 with six minutes left.

A pass interference call put the Ducks at Ohio State's 9. But after three attempts to get into the end zone, Oregon settled for a 19-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington to take a 32-21 lead with 1:47 left.

Will Howard hit Emeka Egbuka with a 26-yard pass to get the Buckeyes closer to field goal range, but an offensive pass interference call by freshman Jeremiah Smith pushed Ohio State back. On third-and-20 at the Oregon 38, Howard started running but only gained 12 yards before time expired.

Howard threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns for Ohio State. Smith had nine catches for 100 yards and a score in the first big test for the Buckeyes this season.

Howard scored on a 1-yard keeper on Ohio State's first drive of the game. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, the most by a Buckeye in five seasons.

Oregon capitalized when Derrick Harmon forced Quinshon Judkins' fumble and recovered the ball at the Ohio State 28. Jordan James rushed 25 yards on the first play from scrimmage, then ran the ball the final 3 yards into the end zone – but the Ducks botched the snap on the extra point attempt.

Ohio State took a 14-6 lead on Judkins' 1-yard run.

Evan Stewart had a 69-yard reception that led to his 10-yard touchdown catch to close the gap for Oregon, but the 2-point conversion failed.

Oregon took advantage of another Ohio State turnover when Roger Saleapaga recovered Caleb Downs' fumble. But the Ducks were hurt on the drive when senior receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct when he spit on an Ohio State player.

The drive ended with Sappington's 27-yard field goal, which briefly gave the Ducks a 15-14 lead.

Ohio State regained the lead on Emeka Egbuka's 15-yard TD reception. Egbuka was the Big Ten's co-offensive player of the week after his three catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns last weekend against Iowa.

Ducks leading receiver Tez Johnson gave Oregon a 22-21 lead with 1:17 to play before halftime with a 48-yard touchdown catch from Gabriel.

Smith caught a 6-yard scoring pass to give Ohio State a 28-22 lead in the third quarter. The Buckeyes' leading receiver had a 38-yard reception on the drive.

The Ducks missed a chance late in the third quarter when they reached the Ohio State 2 but turned the ball over on downs.