ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines fell to 5-4 (3-3 in Big Ten play) after a 38-17 loss to No. 1 Oregon at home on Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Michigan had several opportunities to make the game more competitive than it was, but the Ducks came into the Big House on the same mission this program was on last season. The best team in America did what it had to do to walk out with a lopsided win.
Here is the recap from Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor.
First quarter
Oregon won the coin toss and deferred, giving the ball first to the Wolverines. Kick returner Joe Taylor brought the ball out to the 32-yard line, where Michigan would get things started. After losing five yards on the first play, U-M would get the ball back out to the 35-yard line before being forced to punt with 13:30 left in the quarter. The Ducks would take over at their own 37-yard line 11 seconds later after a 49 yard punt from Tommy Doman and a 21-yard return from Tez Johnson.
The Ducks would strike first, using a 12-play, 63-yard drive and a 2-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Evan Stewart to take a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 6:53 to go in the quarter. The ball hit the ground on the Stewart touchdown, but the officiating crew elected not to review it. The Michigan offense would respond with another 3-and-out, but a muffed punt by Oregon allowed the Wolverines get the ball back at the Ducks’ 28-yard line with 4:50 on the clock. Five plays later, U-M would tie the game on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Davis Warren to Tyler Morris, followed by a Dominic Zvada extra point (1:31).
Oregon would run 4 plays for 54 yards – including a 15-yard roughing the passer call on Josaiah Stewart – to end the first quarter on the Michigan 21-yard line.
Michigan 7, Oregon 7
Second quarter
A 20-yard pass from Gabriel to tight end Terrance Ferguson got the quarter started before a one-yard touchdown from Noah Whittington, which was reviewed and confirmed as a touchdown. The Ducks would take the lead back at 14-7 after the Atticus Sappington extra point. Michigan would pick up a first down on its next drive, but would punt after a 14-yard possession in five plays. Oregon would fair catch on the punt at its 13-yard line with 11:37 to go in the half.
The Wolverines would respond with their first 3-and-out of the day on defense, forcing a punt that took a Michigan bounce to the Oregon 47-yard line with 10:40 on the clock. However, they were unable to take advantage, punting back to the Ducks after a 3-and-out of their own. Oregon responded with a 10-play, 94-yard drive that ended in Whittington’s second touchdown run of the day, this time from 6 yards out. After the extra point, the Ducks would lead 21-7 with 4:19 left in the half.
Michigan would respond by putting a 7-play, 55-yard drive together that ended in a 38-yard field goal from Zvada, narrowing the Oregon lead to 21-10 with 1:51 left in the half. But the Ducks would punch right back, going 80 yards in 7 plays and getting a touchdown via a 23-yard scramble from Gabriel. After the extra point, the lead was pushed to 28-10, where things would stand heading into the locker room.
Oregon 28, Michigan 10
Third quarter
Michigan’s defense came out of the locker room and got a quick stop on the Ducks, who went 3-and-out. After fielding a punt at their 25-yard line, the Wolverines went 75 yards in 10 plays to score their second touchdown of the game on a 6-yard pass from Warren to senior wide receiver Peyton O’Leary. After the extra point, the Oregon lead was trimmed to 28-17 with 7:09 to go.
On the following possession, Michigan was primed to get off the field in Oregon territory, but an illegal procedure penalty on the Wolverines – Trey Pierce was lined up over the long snapper – gave the ball back to the Ducks with a first down at midfield. They would finish the drive with a field goal to push the lead to 31-17 with 36 seconds left in the quarter after 17 plays for 65 yards.
The fourth quarter would run out with Michigan facing a 3rd and 8 on offense from its 27-yard line.
Oregon 31, Michigan 17
Fourth quarter
The Wolverines would punt after a 3-and-out, which included an incomplete pass to Colston Loveland that U-M challenged on third down. Oregon would take back over at its 29-yard line with 14:42 to go. The defense got the stop it needed, forcing a punt that bounced through the endzone. Michigan’s offense would take over on its 25-yard line with 12:20 to go in the game.
The Wolverines drove down the field 70 yards in 11 plays as it tried to mount its final stand and make it a one-score game. Ultimately, the team botched its opportunity and turned the ball over on downs on an attempted trick pass from Semaj Morgan to Alex Orji with 7:25 to go. Oregon landed the knockout blow with an 11-play, 90-yard drive to move ahead 38-17 with 25 seconds left. Michigan would run three plays for 7 yards before the clock ran out.
FINAL: Oregon 38, Michigan 17
Final Michigan vs. Oregon box score
