Oregon-Ohio State is a reminder of why expanding the College Football Playoff is a good thing

A current tradition at the University of Oregon has its fans spending the minutes between the third and fourth quarters singing “Shout,” an ode to “Animal House,” which was filmed on the campus in Eugene, Oregon.

On Saturday they screamed again. And in the end that noise turned into screams.

Fans stormed the field at Autzen Stadium after third-seeded Oregon defeated second-seeded Ohio State 32-31. This was the second time this college football season that a meeting between the top 10 teams was decided in the final game.

Weeks after Alabama beat Georgia in an instant classic, the Ducks (6-0) remained undefeated when Ohio State (5-1), which got the ball for one final drive with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, came off the field was pushed out of scoring range and saw their final play fail before Will Howard could even attempt a potential heave into the end zone.

The matchup was a sign of the current moment in college football — a pair of veteran transfer quarterbacks leading teams nearly 2,500 miles apart but facing each other in league play thanks to conference realignment.

And that matchup could happen again in two months thanks to the expansion of the College Football Playoff. With the first Top 5 match living up to the hype, the question is who will be ready for a rematch in a few months?

Howard completed 28 of his 35 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He dueled with Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who completed 23 of his 34 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

Until the final drive, the difference between the teams was so small that it seemingly didn't exist.

Oregon finished the game with 14 more rushing yards and 15 more passing yards. Ohio State had its only turnover of the game. Ohio State led 7-6 after one quarter, Oregon led 22-21 at halftime and Ohio State led 31-29 with 1:54 to play when the Ducks were two yards from the end zone and the lead on third-and-goal stood. That run barely gained a yard but led to a 19-yard field goal that gave Oregon a 32-31 lead.

It was supposed to be considered a game-winning kick when Ohio State's final drive ended after eight plays and 49 yards and was 38 yards from the end zone. Since these teams first met 66 years ago, Ohio State has won the first nine meetings, but Oregon has won the last two.

In previous eras, Saturday would have effectively served as a knockout game for the loser's chances of making the College Football Playoff. This high pressure every weekend helped increase the sport's popularity while distinguishing it from the NFL.

But Saturday's back-and-forth result was an example of why expanding the playoffs this year – to 12 teams – could remain a good thing. For exactly 60 minutes, both teams appeared to be among the best the country has seen this season. The expansion ensures that both, not just the winner, have the opportunity to prove it in December and possibly January, rather than penalizing one for a result on the second weekend in October.

And that might be something worth shouting about.