James Madison at Oregon: College Football Playoff First Round Game Preview

         James Madison at Oregon: College Football Playoff First Round Game Preview

    The first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff concludes when twelfth-seeded James Madison travels to Autzen to face fifth-seeded Oregon on Saturday, December 20, at 7:30 pm on TNT. All the stakes, key matchups, and a prediction will be discussed here. 

    The Stakes:       The winner of this matchup faces the No. 4 seed, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, in the second round. Both teams are seeking their first-ever national championship. This is James Madison's first-ever college football playoff appearance, as they just moved up from FCS to FBS a couple of years ago. Oregon, meanwhile, is in their third college football playoff. Last year, the Ducks were the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs, but got knocked out in the quarterfinal round in blowout fashion by eventual champion Ohio State. They seek redemption from last year's embarrassment. 

    When James Madison has the Ball:       When James Madison has the ball, their quarterback is Alonza Barnett III. So far this season, Barnett III has thrown 322 passes with 193 completions for 2,533 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He averages 7.9 yards per attempt. He has also carried the ball 155 times for 544 yards and 14 touchdowns. His top two wide receivers are Landon Ellis and Nick DeGennaro. Ellis has caught 33 passes for 541 yards and five touchdowns this year, while DeGennaro has 23 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. Running back Wayne Knight also contributes in the passing game, having caught 37 passes for 379 yards and one touchdown this season. Jaylan Sanchez, who has caught 28 passes for 360 yards and one touchdown this year, and Braeden Wisloski, who has caught 20 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns this season, also play a factor in the passing attack for the Dukes. James Madison ranks just 94th in the country in passing offense, averaging just 202.5 passing yards per game. In the ground game, the aforementioned Knight is the leading rusher, having carried the ball 190 times for 1,263 yards and nine touchdowns. Jordan Fuller, who has 82 carries for 415 yards and five touchdowns, and Jobi Malary, who has carried the ball 41 times for 343 yards and four touchdowns, are the backup running backs. This is the strength of this James Madison offense, as they rank 6th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 245.8 rushing yards per game. Overall, the Dukes rank 10th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 37.3 points per game, and 22nd in the country in total offense, averaging 448.3 total yards per game. They are up against an Oregon defense that ranks 8th in the country in total defense, giving up 14.8 points per game. At linebacker, the Ducks are led by Bryce Boettcher, who leads the team with 103 tackles and is tied for fourth on the team with one interception, Tietum Tuioti, who ranks third on the team with 57 tackles and leads the team with seven sacks, Matayo Uiagalelei, who is tied for eleventh on the team with 28 tackles and second on the team with five sacks, and Jerry Mixon, who ranks fifth on the team with 45 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Devon Jackson, who is eighth on the team with 29 tackles, and Blake Purchase, who tied for eleventh on the team with 28 tackles and has one sack, also contribute as backups. Along the defensive line, their starters are Bear Alexander, who is sixth on the team with 45 tackles, A'Mauri Washington, who is tied for eighth on the team with 29 tackles, Tionne Gray, who is tied for sixteenth on the team with 15 tackles, and Terrance Green, who is eighteenth on the team with 18 tackles. Oregon's rushing defense ranks 20th in the country, giving up 107.3 rushing yards per game. In the secondary, their main contributors are Dillon Theineman, who is second on the team with 64 tackles, tied for fifth on the team with four passes defended, and tied for first on the team with two interceptions, Aaron Flowers, who ranks fourth on the team with 53 tackles and is tied for third on the team with one interception, Jadon Canady, who is seventh on the team with 32 tackles, tied for second on the team with five passes defended, and tied for first on the team with two interceptions, Brandon Finney Jr., who is tied for eighth on the team with 29 tackles, leads the team with seven passes defended, and is tied for third on the team with one interception, Peyton Woodyard, who is thirteenth on the team with 20 tackles and tied for third on the team with one interception, and Ify Obidegwu, who ranks fourteenth on the team with 14 tackles, tied for second on the team with five passes defended, and tied for third on the team with one interception. The Ducks rank 3rd in the nation in passing defense, only giving up 144.3 passing yards per game. Overall, Oregon ranks 4th in the country in total defense, giving up 251.6 total yards per game. In the matchup game, I find it difficult to see James Madison being able to throw the ball effectively against Oregon. The Dukes have a weak passing offense, while Oregon has one of the best passing defenses in the country. As a result, James Madison will have to rely on the ground game first and foremost. Oregon is good against the run as well, but this has been James Madison's offensive strength all season, and they will have to lean on it here. If they do, maybe, just maybe, they can find something in the passing game as well. 

    When Oregon has the Ball:       When Oregon has possession of the football, their quarterback is Dante Moore. On the season, Moore has thrown 313 passes with 227 completions for 2,733 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Ducks have a balanced receiving corps, led by Malik Benson, who has 31 receptions for 526 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, Dakorien Moore, who has 28 catches for 443 yards and three touchdowns this year, Jeremiah McClellan, who has 25 catches for 397 yards and two touchdowns this season, and Gary Bryant Jr., who has 25 catches for 299 yards and and four touchdowns this year. Tight ends Kenyon Sadiq, who has 40 catches for 490 yards and eight touchdowns so far this year, and Jamari Johnson, who has 23 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown this year, both also contribute in the passing game. Oregon ranks 49th in the country in passing offense, averaging 246.8 passing yards per game. In the ground game, they have a deep group of running backs, including Noah Whittington, who has 112 carries for 774 yards and six touchdowns this season, Jordan Davison, who has 88 carries for 535 yards and 13 touchdowns this year, Dierre Hill Jr., who has 59 carries for 481 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, and Jayden Limar, who has 42 carries for 249 yards and three touchdowns so far this year. The Ducks rank 14th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 218.4 rushing yards per game. Overall, Oregon ranks 9th in the country in scoring offense, averaging 38.3 points per game, and 13th in the country in total offense, averaging 465.2 total yards per game. James Madison's defense, meanwhile, ranks 10th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 15.8 points per game. At linebacker, they are led by Trent Hendrick, who leads the team with 96 tackles and is tied for fourth on the team with three sacks, Gannon Weathersby, who is fourth on the team with 54 tackles, and Drew Spinogatti, who ranks fifth on the team with 48 tackles. Along the defensive line, they have a deep rotation led by Sahir West, who is tied for sixth on the team with 43 tackles, leads the team with seven sacks, and is tied for fifth on the team with four passes defended, Amar Thomas, who is eighth on the team with 39 tackles and fifth on the team with 2.5 sacks, Aiden Gobaira, who ranks ninth on the team with 38 tackles and third on the team with four sacks, Mychal McMullin, who ranks tied for twelfth on the team with 30 tackles, Xavier Holmes, who is tied for twelfth on the team with 30 tackles and second on the team with six sacks, Immanuel Bush, who is fourteenth on the team with 26 tackles and tied for fourth on the team with three sacks, Terry Lockett Jr., who is fifteenth on the team with 24 tackles, and Andrew Taddeo, who ranks sixteenth on the team with 20 tackles and tied for seventh on the team with two sacks. The Dukes rank second in the country in rushing defense, only giving up 76.2 points per game. In the secondary, their starting safeties are Tyler Brown, who ranks second on the team with 78 tackles, fourth on the team with six passes defended, and tied for fourth on the team with one interception, and Jacob Thomas, who is third on the team with 65 tackles, tied for seventh on the team with seven passes defended, and tied for second on the team with two interceptions. They also have a solid cornerback tandem in Elijah Culp, who ranks sixth on the team with 43 tackles and second on the team with seven passes defended, and Justin Eaglin, who ranks eleventh on the team with 33 tackles, second on the team with eight passes defended, and leads the team with four interceptions. They also have a solid nickel back in DJ Barksdale, who ranks tenth on the team with 38 tackles, leads the team with 12 passes defended, and is tied for second on the team with two interceptions. James Madison has the 12th best passing defense in the nation, giving up 171.5 passing yards per game. Overall, James Madison ranks 2nd in the country in total offense, giving up 247.6 total yards per game. This is a great defense against lesser competition, but can it hold up against the best offense they will have faced all season? Their passing defense will be tested by Dante Moore, while their stifling run defense will be tested by an excellent Oregon rushing offense. How the Dukes handle the step up in competition will be the key here. 

    Prediction:             This will be a huge test for James Madison to see how good they actually are. I do not think that they will pass this test. I think that Oregon will be too much for James Madison to handle. I think that Oregon is too talented, and will win this game fairly easily. I do not think James Madison scores much in this matchup. I think that Oregon will win, and will advance to the second round to face Texas Tech. 

    Projected Final Score:            Oregon 34, Texas Tech 10