In a recent custom at the University of Oregon, fans spend the minutes between the third and fourth quarters singing “Shout,” an ode to “Animal House,” which was filmed on the campus of Eugene, Oregon.

On Saturday they were screaming again. And towards the end, that sound became screaming.

Fans stormed the field at Autzen Stadium after third-ranked Oregon outlasted second-ranked Ohio State 32-31, the second time this college football season that a meeting of top-10 teams was not decided until the final game .

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

The game was a sign of the current times in college football: a pair of veteran transfer quarterbacks leading teams nearly 2,500 miles apart yet facing each other in the league thanks to conference realignment.

And this is a game that could happen again in two months, thanks to the expansion of the College Football Playoff. Who’s excited for a rematch in a few months after the first top-five matchup lived up to the hype?

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 also two touchdowns.

Until the last stage, the difference between the teams was so small that it seemed as if it did not exist.

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

It would be the winning kick as Ohio State’s final drive ended after eight plays and 49 yards, 38 yards from the end zone. Since these teams first met 66 years ago, Ohio State has won its first nine games, but Oregon has claimed the last two.

In previous eras, Saturday would have essentially served as a knockout game for the loser’s chances of advancing to the College Football Playoff. That push on every weekend contributed to the sport’s popularity while also setting it apart from the NFL.

But Saturday’s back-and-forth was an example of why this year’s expansion of the playoff — to 12 teams — could be a good thing. For exactly sixty minutes, both teams looked to be among the very best the country has seen this season. The expansion ensures that both, and not just the winner, get a chance to prove that in December, and possibly January, rather than penalizing someone for a result in the second weekend of October.

And that might be something worth shouting about.