The inaugural College Football Playoff title game has kicked off, and Oregon is already seemingly doing its damndest to help the opposition.
Twice on the opening drive, the Ducks put the football on the ground. The first, by running back Thomas Tyner, took a very fortuitous bounce right back into Tyner’s gut as UO retained possession. Another play that was initially called a fumble, by Heisman-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, was rightly overturned.
Four plays later, Mariota hit Keanon Lowe from seven yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.
The worst news for Ohio State? They were helpless in stopping the Ducks on that initial drive. The Ducks drove 75 yards in 11 plays on that drive, and never once faced a third down.
The Ducks didn’t pick up huge chunks of yardage, with their longest play just 12 yards. Every one of the Ducks’ 11 plays gained positive yardage, though.
After getting an initial first down on its opening drive, the Buckeyes were forced to punt, leaving a defense that couldn’t do much on the first drive in a tenuous position here on the second. Getting down to a team like the Ducks by two scores early on is not exactly optimal, even for a team that fell down 21-6 to top-ranked Alabama the last time out.