When Stanford looks around Cowboys Stadium when they arrive for the Semi-Finals, although a possible re-match is still several weeks off, they will see at least one set of familiar faces, as Oregon returns to the Final Four, with a comfortable 35-17 win over Big XII champion Kansas State. Stanford and Oregon will represent the Pac-12 in the Final Four, just as they comprised half of the field two seasons ago. In their fourth consecutive tournament, the Ducks avoided some of the "thuds" that have seemed inevitable in recent seasons by turning up the heat early in the Orange Bowl. Oregon did nothing to dispel the notion that they are a team to watch in this tournament, next playing the winner of the Notre Dame/Louisville Fiesta Bowl. Who knows, miles and miles from Pac-12 country, Miami may host a championship game rematch of this season's overtime game between Oregon and Stanford.
Kansas State, who lost out on the last at-large slot last season to Boise State, took a punch to their collective guts immediately when De'Anthony Thomas returned the opening touchdown 94 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats seemed sucker punched as Oregon pulled out a trick play for a Dion Jordan run for the two-point conversion, and like that, Oregon 8, K-State 0.
Kansas State tried to match the Ducks aggressiveness, by going for it on fourth down in Oregon territory, however, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
With 3:46 left in the first quarter, Oregon's Thomas scored again, this time on a 23 yard pass from Marcus Mariota for a 15-0 lead.
Kansas State showed competitive life in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 15-10 after two scores: Collin Klein's 6 yard run and Anthony Cantele's 25 yard field goal, and it seemed like this might be a close one after all.
However, the Ducks ended the half on a role, scoring with 14 seconds left on Kenjon Barner's 24 yard pass recption from Marcus Mariota, and the halftime score was 22-10.
Oregon slammed the door on any thoughts of a K-State win by scoring the only points on the third quarter: Alejandro Maldonado 33yard field goal and Mariota's 2 yard run. The Ducks lead 32-10, and were thinking Cowboys Stadium. The final score was Oregon 35-17, and the Ducks can fly east, to see if they can finish the job this time and win it all.
Updated tournament results:
FIRST ROUND:
In Atlanta:
7 Florida State 21
10 Wisconsin 14
In Chicago:
8 Northern Illinois 10
9 Louisville 25
BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):
Fiesta:
1 Notre Dame
9 Louisville
Orange:
4 Oregon 35
5 Kansas State 17
Sugar:
2 Alabama
7 Florida State
Rose:
3 Florida 23
6 Stanford 34
Semi-Finals in Arlington, Texas:
Fiesta winner versus Oregon
Sugar winner versus Stanford
BCS Championship in Miami
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