No. 1 vs. No. 2 games grab headlines, but No. 2 vs. No. 3 duels are often just as exciting — and far more rare. Where will the Ohio State Buckeyes-Oregon Ducks Big Ten battle rank among the No. 2 vs. No. 3 contests in college football history?
Every Time the No. 2 and No. 3 Teams Played in College Football History
Since the AP Poll’s inception in 1936, there have been 19 regular-season matchups between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country. In Week 7 of the 2024 campaign, we’ll get the 20th.
Here’s a look at the last 10 No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchups, as well as a preview of the Ohio State vs. Oregon Game of the Year contender.
2001: No. 3 Nebraska 20, No. 2 Oklahoma 10
Oklahoma (No. 1) and Nebraska (No. 2) were the top two teams in the first BCS rankings, and they didn’t disappoint the 78,031 fans in attendance. Cornhuskers QB Eric Crouch didn’t throw or run for a touchdown, but his 63-yard touchdown reception put the game out of reach with six minutes on the clock.
The Sooners had a non-zero chance of coming back but produced just 10 yards on 11 plays in their final two drives.
2002: No. 2 Oklahoma 35, No. 3 Texas 34
A Red River Rivalry No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup? You better believe it!
Not only did the Sooners defeat their fiercest rival for the third straight time, but they did so in epic fashion. Down 11 in the second quarter, Oklahoma rallied with 24 unanswered points.
The Longhorns picked up a first down on their second play of the third quarter but didn’t produce another until 2:43 left. In between, they saw their 14-11 lead turn into a 35-17 deficit they weren’t able to overcome — although they made Oklahoma sweat it out.
2007: No. 3 Missouri 36, No. 2 Kansas 28
Not only did Missouri spoil Kansas’ perfect season, but the victory secured the program’s first-ever 11-win campaign and first No. 1 ranking since 1960.
Even more electric? The Tigers did so in front of 80,537 fans — the then-second-biggest crowd at Arrowhead Stadium.
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While QB Chase Daniel and Co. ultimately fell to Oklahoma in the conference championship, they went on to finish the season with a commanding 35-7 win over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.
2014: No. 3 Mississippi State 38, No. 2 Auburn 23
Dak. Prescott.
The Mississippi State QB threw for 246 yards and one TD while adding 121 yards and two more scores on the ground against Auburn, thrusting him into the 2014 Heisman conversation and extending the Bulldogs’ win streak to nine games dating back to the 2013 season.
The Tigers turned the ball over on their first two offensive plays, resulting in a 21-0 deficit within the first nine minutes. While they were able to pull within 28-20 in the third, a fumble, several penalties, and offensive inconsistencies were the nails in the coffin.
2016: No. 2 Ohio State 30, No. 3 Michigan 27
The Game. Double overtime. Two top-three ranked programs. What more could you ask for?
The Wolverines held a 17-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Buckeyes forced overtime — for the first time in the rivalry’s 113-game history, I might add — with a 23-yard field goal as time expired.
Then, in the second OT, QB J.T. Barrett kept it on 4th-and-1, picking up the first down after a video review. On the very next play, do-it-all weapon Curtis Samuel scored a 15-yard run to defeat Michigan for the fifth straight time.
Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh was heated after the game, saying, “That was not a first down,” in reference to the final 4th-and-1. “I’m bitterly disappointed with the officiating today.”
With the win, the Buckeyes cemented their place in the College Football Playoff and eliminated the Wolverines from the dance.
2019: No. 2 LSU 46, No. 3 Alabama 41
Joe Burrow delivered a stellar 393-yard, three-TD performance, leading No. 2 LSU to a 46-41 victory over No. 3 Alabama, snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide.
Despite holding a commanding 33-13 halftime lead, LSU had to fend off a relentless Alabama comeback. The Tide closed the gap three times in the fourth quarter, with Tua Tagovailoa, fresh off ankle surgery, throwing for 418 yards and four touchdowns.
Tua’s 85-yard bomb to DeVonta Smith with 1:21 left kept things tense, but LSU recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock, putting an exclamation point on one of the season’s most anticipated showdowns.
2020: No. 2 Alabama 41, No. 3 Georgia 24
Alabama extended its dominance over Georgia with a commanding second-half performance, outscoring the Bulldogs 21-0 to notch their sixth straight win against their conference foe.
Georgia’s offense faltered in the clutch, going punt-punt-INT-INT-missed field goal, unable to overcome Alabama’s relentless pressure. Nick Saban also added another impressive stat to his résumé, improving to 22-0 against his former assistants.
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Alabama outgained Georgia 564 to 414 in yards and forced three crucial turnovers in the contest. QB Mac Jones led the charge, throwing for 417 yards and four TDs, while WRs Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and John Metchie III each delivered explosive plays.
Both Smith and Waddle surpassed 160 receiving yards, and RB Najee Harris added 150 yards on the ground with a score, rounding out a dominant performance for the Tide.
2022: No. 3 Michigan 45, No. 2 Ohio State 23
After dismantling Ohio State for the second consecutive year, Michigan DB Mike Sainristil planted the maize and blue flag at the 50-yard line of Ohio Stadium, celebrating with his teammates on the O. The Wolverines had just secured their first back-to-back wins in The Game in 22 years, and the Buckeyes couldn’t do more than look on.
QB J.J. McCarthy tossed three touchdowns and rushed for another, while RB Donovan Edwards sealed the deal with two explosive fourth-quarter runs into the end zone. Despite missing star RB Blake Corum for most of the game due to a knee injury, Michigan managed to claim its first win in Columbus since 2000, redefining its place in the rivalry.
2023: No. 3 Michigan 30, No. 2 Ohio State 24
With their coach sidelined by suspension, McCarthy, Corum, and No. 3 Michigan delivered a massive 30-24 victory over No. 2 Ohio State in front of a packed Big House. Rod Moore’s interception with just 25 seconds left sealed the Wolverines’ third consecutive win over their biggest rivals, keeping Michigan undefeated.
Before the current skid, Ohio State had dominated the series, winning eight straight and 15 of 16, including a flawless 7-0 run under Urban Meyer. But Michigan’s resurgence has turned the tables, with the 2023 victory proving to be one of the most pivotal in program history, with the Wolverines going on to win their first national championship since 1997.
2024: Ohio State vs. Oregon Week 7 Preview
A preview of the Big Ten title game?
Ohio State-Oregon isn’t just the biggest game on the Week 7 slate — it’s arguably the biggest game of the 2024 regular season.
The programs have only faced off three times since 2000, but each meeting has featured a top-10 team. This time around, Autzen Stadium is home to a top-five battle for the first in its history.
Oregon currently ranks 94th in the FBS in red-zone conversion rate (81%), largely due to QB Dillon Gabriel’s three red-zone interceptions, tied for the most in the nation.
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Meanwhile, Ohio State has won each of their five games by 28 or more points for the first time in school history.
For the betting-inclined, the Buckeyes are three-point favorites, with the moneyline set at -148 on DraftKings. The Ducks are 1-4 against the spread this year and 2-5 in their last seven games as the favorite — do with that information what you will.
The Ducks went to The Shoe and stole a victory from the Buckeyes in 2021 — they’ll aim to return the favor on Saturday.
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