Dante Moore, Oregon Praised by CFP Fans For Gutsy Win to Avoid Upset vs. Iowa

Oregon narrowly dodged a loss that could have called into question the program's College Football Playoff credentials.

After trailing Iowa by one point with less than two minutes left on Saturday, Ducks quarterback Dante Moore led his team on a game-winning field goal drive to secure a 18-16 win.

Fans celebrated as Oregon improved to 8-1 and re-secured its spot in the CFP conversation.

Oregon received a ninth-place ranking on the first CFP poll released last Tuesday.

No. 9 Oregon went into Saturday's matchup as favorites to beat No. 20 Iowa.

Moore's afternoon started out shakily, however, as the Ducks' first two drives ended with a three-and-out and an interception.

Oregon's defense contributed with a first-quarter safety, and Dierre Hill Jr. ran in a 19-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Ducks an early nine-point lead.

Iowa pulled ahead in the fourth quarter, however, scoring 10 unanswered points to grab the late lead.

Moore then marched the Ducks downfield on a 54-yard drive that put Atticus Sappington in range of the game-winning field goal.

The game-winning drive featured a clutch 24-yard completion to Malik Benson with less than 30 seconds left in the game.

Oregon's lone loss this season came to Indiana, which was ranked No. 7 at the time. The Ducks also have one ranked win over No. 3 Penn State.

The Big Ten is currently led by Indiana (10-0) and Ohio State (9-0). Oregon will now join them as the conference's third eight-win team.

Closing out the season with victories over No. 20 USC and No. 24 Washington will be crucial to Oregon's hopes of remaining a playoff lock down the stretch.