CFB Playoff Schedule & How to Watch: When Is the Oregon Game?

The most evenly matched game of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal round arrives at the Orange Bowl, where No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-1) meets No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1) in a huge showdown. 

As CBS Sports noted, kickoff is set for Thursday, Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, with the game airing on ESPN and streaming on Fubo.

With a spot in the CFP semifinals on the line, it’s a season-defining moment for two teams that have hit their stride at exactly the right time.

On paper, this is about as evenly matched as a College Football Playoff game can be. 

Both teams rank among the nation’s most productive offenses, and both defenses pride themselves on forcing opponents to earn everything. 

The winner of this game will play the winner of the Rose Bowl matchup between Alabama and Indiana. 

Oregon Vs. Texas Tech Game Preview

Oregon comes in riding the momentum of an opening-round performance where they dropped 51 points on JMU. 

Since the Ducks’ loss to undefeated Indiana, they have rattled off seven straight wins heading into this matchup. 

This stretch of wins includes three wins over top-25 teams. and a game where they held an explosive Washington offense to just 14 points at home. 

The Ducks thrive on pace and pressure as they stretch the field vertically and stay ahead of the chains on early downs with a dominant run game.

They rank eighth in the entire country in yards per game, averaging 465.8. 

Oregon also is 13th in FBS in rush yards per game, averaging 217.1 rush yards. 

They’ve also been excellent on third down, converting 48.4% of their attempts which ranks 13th nationally. 

When Oregon gets rolling, games can tilt quickly and the Ducks elite defense makes it hard to come back from. 

They are eighth in the country in points allowed, giving up an average of just 16.6 points per game. 

Texas Tech enters from a very different path. 

The Red Raiders haven’t played in several weeks after earning a first-round bye, but the layoff hasn’t dampened the confidence of a team that just authored the best season in program history. 

Their 12-win campaign and Big 12 championship were built on balance, discipline, and an ability to capitalize when opportunities present themselves. 

Defensively, Texas Tech is opportunistic and physical, excelling at taking the ball away and limiting chunk plays. 

They are the No. 2 scoring defense in the country, allowing just an average of 11.3 points per game. 

What makes this matchup compelling is how evenly these teams are built. 

Players to Watch & Top Storylines

Oregon’s path starts with quarterback Dante Moore. 

He’s grown into the offense as the season has gone on, and how he handles pressure will go a long way toward deciding how this game plays out. 

When Moore is comfortable and making quick decisions, Oregon’s offense is explosive. 

For Texas Tech, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is the guy everything runs through. 

He covers a ton of ground, finds the ball, and has a knack for showing up at the biggest moments. 

Quarterbacks have to know where he is at all times. 

On offense, the Red Raiders don’t need to play one way to win. They can lean on the run, throw when needed, and adjust based on situational game script. 

There’s added weight on both sides. 

Texas Tech pushed all its chips and millions of dollars into a roster that is built to win now, while Oregon arrives with unfinished business after being blown out in this round a year ago to Ohio State. 

That bad taste has been in the Ducks mouth for 365 days, but they will have their chance to avenge that loss on Thursday.

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