On 7th lead change of the game — and final play — Boise State loses thriller to Oregon

Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman

If you’ve ever wondered really galore times a assemblage shot crippled tin move connected a dime, Boise State and Oregon tried to supply nan reply Saturday night.

But successful nan end, it was still excessively galore to count. In a crippled pinch 7 lead changes and 3 ties; pinch momentum-swinging turnovers and plays connected some discourtesy and typical teams; and pinch 5 touchdowns that covered astatine slightest 30 yards, it was Oregon that struck last, putting together an 11-play thrust successful nan last 3 minutes to triumph nan game.

Atticus Sappington’s 25-yard section extremity arsenic clip expired collapsed nan last necktie and gave nan No. 7 Ducks a 37-34 triumph successful a crippled that was arsenic thrilling arsenic it was unpredictable.

It was a achy nonaccomplishment for Boise State, which was oh-so-close to grabbing a landmark triumph to pave nan measurement to nan benignant of play that earns nan Group of Five bid to nan College Football Playoff.

Instead, nan Broncos (1-1) are near to wonderment what could person been arsenic they participate nan first of 2 bye weeks.

“You’ve sewage to find a measurement to triumph that game,” BSU coach Spencer Danielson said. “That’s nan point I told our team. You travel to Boise State to beryllium a portion of our nation, you gotta triumph that game.

“I’m proud of our team. (But) we didn’t decorativeness nan crippled nan measurement we request to. We request to find a measurement to triumph that game.”

Boise State tight extremity Matt Lauter (85) and violative tackle Hall Schmidt (65) congratulate moving backmost Ashton Jeanty (2) connected a touchdown during nan first half of an NCAA assemblage shot game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, astatine Autzen Stadium successful Eugene, Ore. | Lydia Ely, Associated Press

It was yet large plays that doomed nan Broncos.

They gave up a punt return of 85 yards for a touchdown, a kickoff return of 100 yards for a TD, and scoring passes that covered 59 and 34 yards.

They had a 20-14 lead astatine halftime and were up 34-27 aft Ashton Jeanty’s 3rd touchdown tally of nan game, but Noah Whittington’s kickoff return followed to erase that lead.

As a result, Jeanty settled for having an astonishing crippled successful a losing effort.

The inferior and Heisman Trophy campaigner rushed for 192 yards and those 3 scores, including a 70-yard TD tally that tied things astatine 27-27 aft a fumble ended an Oregon drive.

The Ducks fumbled connected their adjacent thrust arsenic well, and Jeanty scored from 8 yards retired pinch 10:15 near successful nan crippled to springiness Boise State its last lead.

Just 2 games into nan season, he has 9 touchdowns and 459 yards rushing.

Boise State moving backmost Ashton Jeanty (2) runs nan shot during nan first half of an NCAA assemblage shot crippled against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, astatine Autzen Stadium successful Eugene, Ore. | Lydia Ely, Associated Press

Defensively, Boise State was victimized by nan large plays, but besides was fierce and highly effective, forcing 7 punts, sacking Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel 4 times, recovering 2 fumbles, getting 7 tackles for nonaccomplishment and allowing only 4 third-down conversions connected 12 attempts.

But nan Broncos besides yielded those TD receptions of 34 and 59 yards, allowed a 67-yard walk play that group up a score, and forced Gabriel into conscionable 3 incompletions — he vanished 18-for-21 for 243 yards.

“Our defense, I’m proud of,” Danielson said. “The explosive plays are still an issue. We’ve sewage to find a measurement to destruct them.”

The Broncos began nan crippled without starting inferior halfway Mason Randolph, retired pinch an upper-body injury.

In nan first 4th they mislaid starting correct defender Roger Carreon to a near limb injury.

But nan violative statement still played well, allowing conscionable 1 sack and clearing nan measurement for Jeanty, who was untouched connected his 70-yard TD tally and recovered plentifulness of moving room connected respective plays.

It was Boise State’s first nonaccomplishment to Oregon aft winning 3 games against nan Ducks — successful 2008 and ‘09, and again successful 2017.

The Broncos are scheduled to return to Eugene again successful nan 2026 season.

Boise State backmost Maddux Madsen (4) looks for an unfastened walk during nan first half of an NCAA assemblage shot crippled against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, astatine Autzen Stadium successful Eugene, Ore. | Lydia Ely, Associated Press