Take One: There Is a Difference Between Playing to Win and Playing Not to Lose
With just over two minutes remaining in the first half Saturday, Oregon faced fourth-and-9 from its own 31-yard line, trailing Ohio State 14-3. The Ducks had struggled to generate consistent offense, the Buckeyes had already demonstrated their ability to score quickly and another failed possession seemed likely to send Oregon into halftime facing a significant deficit.
Nearly every conventional coaching instinct would have suggested punting the football, trusting the defense and hoping to get into the locker room without allowing Ohio State to extend its lead. Dan Lanning saw something different, and his willingness to act on that conviction changed the entire direction of the afternoon.
The resulting 30-yard pass from Teitum Tuioti to Matayo Uiagalelei will be remembered as one of the defining plays of Oregon’s season, particularly because of the extraordinary momentum shift that followed. The Ducks scored 14 points before halftime and eventually built a 38-14 lead that left Ohio State searching for answers.
But
