This story was updated with new information.
Ohio State football came up short when facing its toughest challenge of the 2024 college football season on Saturday.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) fell just short in a 32-31 loss to No. 3 Oregon (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) in Eugene, Oregon for a top-three matchup that could have significant ramifications in the conference standings and for the 12-team College Football Playoffs.
OSU quarterback Will Howard saw the clock expire as he scrambled for a 12-yard run, attempting to get his team into position for a game-winning field goal. Oregon’s Atticus Sappington hit on a 19-yard field goal with 1:47 remaining to give the Ducks the lead. There were seven total lead changes in the game, as both teams went back-and-forth all game.
Despite the close final score, the game never featured any ties due to Oregon botching a snap following its first touchdown. The Ducks never led by more than one point, while the Buckeyes held a seven-point lead and two leads of six points.
This was the first Big Ten matchup between the programs, with Oregon joining the conference this season. Oregon has won back-to-back games over OSU, but the Buckeyes still hold the series advantage 9-2. In the team’s most previous matchup, the Ducks won 35-28 on Sept. 11, 2021.
Catch up here with scores, updates and highlights of Saturday’s Big Ten game between Ohio State and Oregon:
All times Eastern.
Here’s a look at the quarterback comparison for the game:
Some stats of note:
10:59 p.m.: Will Howard’s scramble for 12 yards expires the remaining six seconds off the clock, and Oregon pulls off the 32-31 victory in Eugene. Following the win, the Ducks’ fans storm the fans. Jeremiah Smith’s offensive pass interference turns out to be a big swing in the game, as it pushed the Buckeyes out of field goal range.
10:47 p.m.: Atticus Sappington hits a 19-yard field goal to give Oregon a 32-31 lead with 1:47 remaining in the game. Will Howard and Ohio State will have one more chance to win the game. The Buckeyes only need a field goal to win.
10:43 p.m.: Oregon has second-and-goal from the Ohio State five at the two-minute warning. The Ducks are looking to take the lead in the final moments but potentially leaving time on the clock for a comeback for OSU if Oregon indeed takes the lead.
10:33 p.m.: Jayden Fielding gives Ohio State a 31-29 lead with 6 minutes remaining on a 40-yard field goal. OSU’s scoring drive is 13 plays for 53 yards and took 7:20 off the clock.
10:18 p.m.: Dillon Gabriel scores on a 27-yard keeper to give Oregon a lead following the extra point. The Ducks lead 29-28 with 13:20 remaining. The scoring drive for Oregon goes five plays for 60 yards and takes 1:51 off the game clock. Should be a fun finish in Eugene.
10:12 p.m.: Ohio State retakes the lead in the third quarter and will enter the final quarter up 28-22. Oregon will start the fourth quarter with the ball near midfield.
10:11 p.m.: A botched snap forces Ohio State to punt the ball away after gaining one first down.
10:05 p.m.: Oregon turns the ball over on downs from the OSU 2-yard line. The Buckeyes take over there, nursing a six-point lead late in the third quarter. Questionable decision to not cut the lead to three points.
9:50 p.m.: Jeremiah Smith hauls in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard and OSU has retaken the lead. The Buckeyes kick the extra point rather than going for the 2-point conversion and extending the lead to seven. The scoring drive for OSU goes six plays for 79 yards and takes off 3:08 off the clock.
Smith has scored at least one touchdown in all six games of his freshman year.
9:43 p.m.:  Oregon gets one first down on the second half’s opening drive but is forced to punt on a fourth-and-8 from its own 44. OSU takes over on its own 21 after the punt.
9:40 p.m.: Oregon begins the second half with the ball following a touchback.
Here’s a look at the quarterback comparison at halftime: 
Game Comparison
9:17 p.m.: Oregon football carries a 22-21 lead into halftime in a back-and-forth game between the two teams. The Buckeyes struck first, but the Ducks have fought back every time OSU scores, and vice versa.
9:09 p.m.: Dillon Gabriel hits Tez Johnson for a 48-yard touchdown pass and Oregon has retaken a lead with 1:01 left in the first half. The Ducks’ scoring drive was seven plays for 75 yards, and took 2:36 off the clock.
It was just the second catch of the game for Johnson. He beat Denzel Burke on the play.
9 p.m.: Emeka Egbuka scores on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard and OSU retakes the lead. The OSU scoring drive goes 12 plays for 75 yards and takes 6:16 off the clock.
8:43 p.m.: Oregon has its first lead of the game on a 27-yard field goal by Atticus Sappington. The onside kick recovery and a big catch by Traeshon Holden set up the field goal. However, Holden was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for spitting and was ejected. The 15-yard penalty hurt the Ducks chance of scoring a touchdown.
8:42 p.m.: Oregon receiver Traeshon Holden was ejected for spitting on an Ohio State defender following a play. It also cost the Ducks’ 15 yards on the penalty.
According to the NCAA rulebook, “Spitting on an opponent requires ejection.” Ejections are different than disqualifications. A disqualified player can remain on the sideline. An ejected player must leave the field. 
8:37 p.m.: Oregon’s kicker kicked the ball off an Ohio State player, CJ Hicks, on a potential squib attempt. The Ducks recover and have the ball at the OSU 41. Oregon’s Roger Saleapaga recovered the fumble.
8:33 p.m.: A pair of explosive plays by Dillon Gabriel and Evan Steward have the Ducks back within a possession. Gabriel hit Stewart for a 69-yard pass to set up first and goal. Gabriel hit Stewart for a 10-yard touchdown one play later. Oregon could not convert a 2-point conversion to tie the game.
8:25 p.m.: Quinshon Judkins scores on a 1-yard touchdown to extend the Ohio State lead to 14-6. Will Howard gain 3 yards on the prior play to set up the touchdown. The drive goes four plays for 74 yards following the missed field goal by Oregon
8:21 p.m.: Ohio State leads 7-6 after the first quarter but is driving to take the lead when the second quarter starts potentially. Running back TreVeyon Henderson broke out for a 53-yard rush and then gained 17 on the next play. OSU has the ball facing first-and-goal from the Oregon 4-yard line.
8:17 p.m.: Atticus Sappington misses a would-be 44-yard field goal to give Oregon a lead. The kick goes wide right.
8:12 p.m.: Three offensive penalties help force a three-and-out for the OSU offense. Oregon begins at OSU’s 41-yard line.
8:02 p.m. Following the OSU fumble, Oregon scores two plays later. Jordan James had a 25-yard run, followed by a 3-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 7-6. The snap on the extra point was bobbled and a throw was intercepted in the end zone.
8:01 p.m.: The fumble call was confirmed and Oregon starts on the OSU 28-yard line.
7:58 p.m.: Quinshon Judkins fumbles at the Ohio State 28-yard line, and Derrick Harmon recovers the ball for the Ducks. Oregon will have a short field trying to tie the game.
The play is now under review.
7:54 p.m.: Oregon gains one first down on its opening drive but punts on a fourth-and-3 from its own 43. OSU will start on its own 15-yard line for its second drive.
7:51 p.m.: Rule analyst Terry McAulay said he would have called the dual catch by Kacmarek an interception by Oregon, as Kacmarek never seemed to have full possession of the ball.
7:43 p.m.: A Will Howard 1-yard touchdown rush gives the Buckeyes the opening score of the top-three matchup in Eugene. Howard and OSU completed a fourth-and-1 from its own 41 to keep the drive alive. Howard also completed a 32-yard pass to Will Kacmarek on the drive. The catch by Kacmarek could not be challenged on the field because the Buckeyes rushed to the line to get the next playoff. Kacmarek appeared to have dual possession of the ball with the Oregon defender.
The OSU drive lasted 10 plays for 75 yards and took five minutes off the clock.
7:35 p.m.: Oregon wins the coin toss and defers to the second half; Ohio State will receive first, with the Ducks defending the west end-zone.
7:21 p.m.: Who are the officials for the Ohio State-Oregon game:
7:18 p.m.: Oregon star edge rusher Jordan Burch is out for today’s game against Ohio State. He entered the game with a questionable tag. Burch is the Ducks’ sack leader.
7:05 p.m.: Seattle Seahawk quarterback Geno Smith is in attendance to watch his cousin and OSU receiver Jeremiah Smith for today’s game. Former Buckeye receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is also in attendance.
6:11 p.m.: According to Jim Nagy, scouts from the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in attendance for Ohio State-Oregon. Reps from the Senior Bowl are also there.
5:41 p.m.: Here’s a look at the Oregon football injury report for Week 7 vs. Ohio State:
5:02 p.m.: Ohio State football will rock white alternative uniforms; Oregon is going with black alternative uniforms. This makes for an aesthetically soothing uniform matchup.
4:17 p.m.: Ohio State is unveiling white alternate uniforms for its matchup against Oregon. The uniform combo for the game today will be “white jerseys and pants, along with the traditional scarlet helmet,” according to the Columbus Dispatch.
The Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in a nationally broadcast game on NBC. Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Todd Blackledge (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. Streaming options for the game include Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform, and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 28, Oregon 24
“The extra travel for the Buckeyes, along with playing in an unfamiliar setting, shouldn’t be discounted as potential X-factors this weekend. It’s been a decade since they last went to the West Coast during the regular season. Nonetheless, Ohio State has been near flawless in the early weeks, reviving its ground game and remaining stout on defense. The 34 points they have allowed over a span of five games are the fewest in the Bowl Subdivision in 2024. Oregon has far more skill position talent than the Buckeyes have faced in the Big Ten thus far, but the defensive line, the strength of their defense, has an edge against an offensive line that has been more inconsistent than a year ago, giving Ohio State an edge in a heavyweight tilt that will be decided in the trenches.”
Chris Hansen, Eugene Register-Guard: Ohio State 35, Oregon 27
“The Ducks’ defense has allowed just one touchdown and 16 points total in the past 10 quarters, but they haven’t faced anything close to what the Buckeyes are bringing to Eugene this weekend. Oregon will have to play mistake-free football to slow down Ohio State’s attack. That goes for the offense as well. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who has thrown three interceptions in the red zone the past two games, can’t give away scoring opportunities this week. Lucky for the Ducks, they’re playing in Autzen Stadium, where they are 34-1 since 2018. Expect an entertaining game in a raucous environment with the Buckeyes scoring last as they avenge the loss to Oregon in Columbus in 2021.”
Will Helms, College Football Network: Oregon 30, Ohio State 28
“These are two playoff teams who could meet again on a neutral field, but given Oregon’s home-field advantage, take the Ducks. Jordan Burch and the defensive line will make Howard uncomfortable enough to rush him. If the Ducks get a couple of turnovers, they’ll grind it out over an Ohio State team that isn’t used to playing for four quarters. Great game. Give me the Ducks straight up in a preview of a potential postseason rematch. I think the back-and-forth nature pushes it over as well.”
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Thursday, Oct. 10
This section will be updated.
Here’s a look at Ohio State’s 2024 football schedule, along with kickoff times and television information:
All times Eastern.
*Denotes Big Ten game
Here’s a look at Oregon’s 2024 football schedule, along with kickoff times and television information:
All times Eastern.
*Denotes Big Ten game
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