Dylan on The Ducks: Oregon heads to Miami to face Texas Tech

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- After a dominant start to the College Football Playoff, the Oregon Ducks are flying to Miami. Oregon defeated James Madison 51–34 in the opening round Saturday at Autzen Stadium, earning a spot in the Orange Bowl.

The Ducks now prepare for a high-stakes matchup against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who enter the game as the Big 12 champions with a 12–1 record and the No. 4 seed in the playoff field. Texas Tech boasts the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense, leads the FBS in rush defense, and tops the charts in takeaways with 31 on the year.

Despite that defensive strength, oddsmakers opened with Oregon as a 1.5‑point favorite. Head coach Dan Lanning said his team knows what’s at stake and respects the challenge ahead.

Obviously, on offense they create a ton of explosive plays. On defense, they really limit those," Lanning said. "They attack you in every way. You don't see a lot of deficiencies. As we prepare for these guys, it's certainly a challenging opponent and an exciting opportunity for us."

Kickoff at the Orange Bowl is set for 9 a.m. on January 1. Oregon is 3‑0 all-time against Texas Tech but will need another strong performance to advance to the semifinal round.