CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL: OREGON VS TEXAS TECH

December 30, 2025

Matayo Uiagalelei

Hard Rock Stadium

Oregon Ducks

Press Conference

MATAYO UIAGALELEI: It was pretty cool. They all welcomed us with oranges and hats and stuff. Very welcoming. It was pretty cool coming off the plane.

Q. What do you think of Texas Tech's two running backs?

MATAYO UIAGALELEI: I think they're both good. One of them, I think No. 8, right? I think so. Downhill runner. Then No. 20 will get in there, more like that shifty, passing game.

Both of their running backs are really good. I think very highly of them.

Q. How is their offense maybe similar or different to a Big Ten style?

MATAYO UIAGALELEI: Yeah, I would just say kind of the tempo. I think the only team that really had that kind of tempo that they have is probably Penn State. Just the tempo and a lot of screens, a lot of quick game, a lot of shots and stuff.

Q. Do you feel like you guys (indiscernible) and if so, what have you addressed?

MATAYO UIAGALELEI: Yeah, definitely. We came out of the gate pretty hot. Our offense was rolling the whole game, and defense was doing really good the first half, and we just have to finish. I think that's going to show up this game.

Looking at Texas Tech, they're really good in the fourth quarter. So being able to finish throughout the whole game, playing the whole game is something we've been focusing on.

But yeah, definitely shouldn't have given up that many points against James Madison, but James Madison was a really good school.