Issuu

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

OKLAHOMA STATE EDITION

TAKING FLIGHT Looking back at the Ducks’ success on the road in the Big Ten and where they will visit this season.

WHERE WILL THE DUCKS FLY TO THIS SEASON? PG. 8 O R E G O N V S . O K L A H OM A S T A T E P R E V I E W P G . 1 1

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GAMEDAY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, The Daily Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., rm. 302 Eugene, OR 97403 541.357.6569 | dailyemerald.com

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(ON THE COVER) Oregon defensive back Davon Benjamin (5) and wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan (3) dance onto the field pregame. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 27-34 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 5, 2026. (Owen Burriss/Emerald)

(LEFT) The Oregon Duck stands on the push-up platform after the Ducks score a touchdown. The University of Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 27-34 at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026. (Owen Burriss/Emerald)

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IN THE TRENCHES:

OREGON HAD A TOUGH FIRST HALF BUT POWERED THROUGH THE SECOND The Ducks took too many pre-snap penalties and were getting moved like pawns by Boise early in their first game of 2026. By Rowan Shea Sports Writer

The first game of the season always brings along some nerves. But the Ducks’ defensive line was occasionally weak in the legs against Boise State University in the onescore Ducks win. The Broncos were no doubt feeling strong to start the season with their one-two combination of Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines in the backfield. Riley took control immediately with a seven-yard rush to start his day and followed up with a three-yard spurt up the middle, which turned into another five yards because of an offsides penalty on Douglas Utu. The Ducks put up little fight in the trenches, constantly self-sabotaging with penalties. Oregon committed 10 penalties on the day, giving up 90 total yards on those penalties and allowing the Broncos to get back into drives they seemed beat on. With just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Oregon had the Broncos where it wanted them at fourth and six at midfield, but A’Mauri Washington jumped offsides and sent the Broncos up five yards, triggering a two-yard rush from quarterback Maddux Madsen for a first down. Later, in the fourth quarter, Matayo Uiagalelei gave up five on another offsides penalty in a key drive that led to a Broncos’ game-tying field goal. “Too many penalties,” head coach Dan Lanning said.

“You have 10 penalties for 90 yards; that’s not winning football.” The penalties were uncharacteristic of the usually polished Lanning defense that Oregon has become synonymous with. But while a good descriptor of how the team played in the trenches, the physicality of the game only highlighted the issue the Ducks faced in their first game. Boise State swarmed the pocket in the early stages of the game. Dante Moore was given little time to scan the field and little room to move around, having to resort to shortto-medium-length passes, which halted the Ducks’ offense during the beginning of the game. Despite the short time in the pocket, the Broncos only got to Moore once in the game. The Ducks were also able to get to Madsen in the first half as Teitum Tuioti scrambled around the edge of the pocket and clipped Madsen’s leg to send him to the ground. The best play the offensive line made in the first half was at the goal line in the second quarter. Capping off an eightplay drive down the field, the offensive line held strong and shoved the Broncos to the right side and gave Jordon Davison an easy push into the end zone for a Ducks game-tying touchdown. Defensively, the Broncos had the Ducks’ number for the first half, consistently pushing the Ducks to the outside of the pocket and opening up the middle of the field for an easy jolt up the gut, something that Madsen and crew took advantage of multiple times in the close battle.

“In the first half we didn’t do as good of a job handling their quarterback movement,” Lanning said. “We did a much better job caging the quarterback in the second half. I thought we rushed with power and some awareness there in the second half.” To the Ducks’ credit, the second half looked miles better than the first. Oregon gave up fewer penalties on the offensive and defensive lines, and the offensive line held stronger for longer, giving Dante Moore the time needed to settle in the pocket and deliver for the Ducks. On defense, the defensive line settled down and didn’t take as many pre-snap penalties as they did in the first half. They attacked the pocket more strongly and stifled the run game, effectively taking out the Broncos’ returning running attack of Riley and Gaines. By the end of the game, the Ducks kept the Broncos to 93 rushing yards through their 36 attempts on the ground. In contrast, the Ducks turned it up to hit 119 rushing yards on only 25 rushing attempts. Bear Alexander, Uiagalelei and Tuioti all recorded sacks for the Ducks. “They understood what they had to attack, and they performed a little bit better as a unit,” Lanning said. “But again, just not good enough.” Now with Oklahoma State on the horizon, the players and coaching staff have a week, and a lot of film, to get their trench tactics down. (BELOW) Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen (4) throws the football over the lineman of both teams. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 27-34 at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026. (Owen Burriss/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

WHERE WILL THE DUCKS FLY

How Oregon’s success on the road has prepared it for what is coming this year. By Max Koebel Senior Sports Writer

The Oregon Ducks football team entered the 2026 season with the longest active winning streak on the road in College Football, currently sitting at 12 games. Their last road loss came Oct. 14, 2023 against Washington. Two weeks later, the Ducks traveled to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Utah, where the then-No. 12 Utes had not lost since the pandemic, and delivered a dominant 35-6 win. After that game, head coach Dan Lanning walked into the locker room and asked, “Are you satisfied?” to which everyone shook their heads. Throughout the last 12 away games, Oregon has taken on some of the toughest stadiums in the country. There is no question that the Ducks faced adversity along the way, but that didn’t stop them from finding a way each time. This year, they will take on five new stadiums and be forced to overcome similar challenges. Towards the end of their first season in the Big Ten, Lanning’s team traveled to Michigan Stadium, the largest sports venue not only in college football, but in the Western Hemisphere, with over 107,000 seats. Despite being

the reigning national champions, Michigan was not favored against No. 1 Oregon due to the season it had been having. Nonetheless, taking on one of the world’s largest stadiums as a visiting team is never easy, and that is exactly what the Ducks did. They were in full control the entire game, winning 38-17. Late in the game, as the stadium emptied out, Lanning called a timeout, pointed to the stands and said to the team, “Look around. Are you not entertained?” In the week leading up to that game, Lanning had talked to the team about channeling “Gladiator” and turning the stadium known as the “Big House” into the Colosseum. Two weeks later, an injury-riddled Oregon team took on Camp Randall Stadium in Wisconsin. The Badgers were sniffing an upset, leading 13-6 entering the fourth quarter when “Jump Around” came on. This iconic tradition at Camp Randall Stadium is designed for the crowd to give the home team an extra boost of energy entering the final quarter, similar to “Shout” in Eugene. The Ducks had been practicing for that moment all week and were ready to use it to their advantage. As the crowd got into it, so did the Ducks, who were seen “jumping around” on their sideline from start to finish. In that final quarter, Oregon scored 10

unanswered points to secure a come-from-behind victory. Arguably Oregon’s biggest road win in the Lanning era came in Week 5 of last season against Penn State. The Nittany Lions had entered the season as the favorites to win the Big Ten and welcomed the Ducks with their iconic “White Out,” famous for creating one of the most hostile environments for the visiting team. Lanning’s game plan that day was “death by 1,000 cuts.” “110,000 fans,” Lanning said in the locker room before the game. “110,000 that won’t play a snap, that won’t make a tackle. 110,000 people all wearing white. It looks like a white canvas to me, and we’re about to go paint our masterpiece.” Each time Oregon made a play, Lanning yelled, “That’s a cut!” After four quarters and two overtime periods of action, the Ducks walked out of a stunned Beaver Stadium with a 30-24 win. Less than two months later, the Ducks found themselves in Iowa up against a Hawkeyes team with a record almost identical to theirs. The weather conditions had slowed down both offenses all day, and Oregon trailed by one point with the ball at midfield and 30 seconds to work with. Quarterback Dante Moore threw a pass to exactly the right spot for a tightly covered Malik Benson to make the catch, which

Oregon defense celebrates a sack on their way back to the sideline. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 27-34 at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026.

(Owen Burriss/Emerald)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

Y TO THIS SEASON? set up Atticus Sappington for a game-winning field goal. At the end of the regular season, Oregon returned to Husky Stadium, the last place it had suffered a loss on the road. This time, the Ducks took the lead on their first offensive possession and remained ahead for the rest of the game. The Washington crowd, known for being loud, got quiet fast. Despite being seated high in the nosebleeds, the Oregon band could be heard loud and clear throughout the game, even for those viewing it on television as the Ducks eased their way to a win in their rivals’ house. This season, Oregon will visit five stadiums that it has not played in since Lanning became head coach. Some are recognized as top destinations for College Football fans, and others are much farther down the list.

GAMEDAY

PAGE 7

2026 FOOTBALL GAME SCHEDULE 9/5 BOISE STATE

AUTZEN STADIUM STRIPE OUT

9/12 OKLAHOMA STATE STILLWATER, OKLA.

NO. 3: BOONE PICKENS STADIUM OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY Oregon’s first away game, this weekend, will be at one of the more underrated stadiums in College Football. Boone Pickens Stadium opened in 1920, and while the home team hasn’t given that crowd a lot to cheer about over the past couple of years, that hasn’t stopped them from creating a gameday-ready atmosphere every Saturday. This will be the smallest stadium Oregon travels to this year, with a seating capacity of about 52,000. The front row of the stands is just 15 feet from the sidelines, which helps create an even louder environment. The Ducks crushed Oklahoma State 69-3 last season, but a rebuilt team in unfamiliar territory should create a bigger challenge.

WEAR GREEN

9/18 PORTLAND STATE AUTZEN STADIUM WEAR GREEN

9/26 USC

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. WEAR WHITE

10/10 UCLA

AUTZEN STADIUM

NO. 1: OHIO STADIUM - OHIO STATE The third-largest sports venue in the United States, trailing only Michigan Stadium and Beaver Stadium, the “Horseshoe” opened in 1922 and is known to be one of the most difficult stadiums to win in, especially since it requires knocking off one of the most respected programs in College Football. The Buckeyes are 47-3 at home under head coach Ryan Day, who has been running their program since 2019. During Day’s tenure, only two teams have ever walked out of Columbus a winner, and Oregon is one of them. Its last trip to the Horseshoe was in 2021, when the Ducks upset the No. 3 Buckeyes 35-28. Oregon is 2-10 alltime against Ohio State, which is the only team ranked ahead of them in the AP Poll entering the season. This will be the Ducks’ biggest challenge of the regular season, and will hold huge implications for the Big Ten standings.

WEAR BLACK

10/17 NEBRASKA

AUTZEN STADIUM WEAR GREEN

NO. 4: SPARTAN STADIUM - MICHIGAN STATE Similar to Oklahoma State, Michigan State has a passionate fanbase that has never failed to show up for their team since the stadium opened in 1923, even when there isn’t much to cheer about. The only reason this game isn’t ranked higher is because out of the sports at MSU, football is far from the most successful. Oregon shouldn’t have a problem taking a win in this game, but it should still be ready for a loud environment favoring the Spartans.

10/24 ILLINOIS

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. WEAR YELLOW

10/31 NORTHWESTERN AUTZEN STADIUM WEAR BLACK

11/7 OHIO STATE

COLUMBUS, OHIO WEAR GREEN

11/14 MICHIGAN

NO. 2: LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM - USC The Coliseum will be the most familiar stadium Oregon visits this year, given both programs were in the Pac-12 together. History is not on Oregon’s side since the stadium opened in 1923, as it holds a record of 9-24-1 all-time at the Coliseum. The last time it played there was in the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game, where it beat the Trojans 3124. This could be a sleeper game for the Ducks, who will be coming off of what is expected to be an easy win over Portland State University. The last time the Ducks entered a tough road environment a week after blowing out PSU, they barely escaped an upset against Texas Tech University, which had a very strong home record. The Trojans are 23-5 at home under head coach Lincoln Riley, who arrived in 2021. They put up a great fight when they came to Eugene last year, and having home-field advantage will make Oregon’s challenge even greater.

NO. 5: GIES MEMORIAL STADIUM - ILLINOIS Almost any stadium in the Big Ten will give you a great College Football environment in terms of the crowd. Illinois certainly fits into that category; it just doesn’t quite match what the other stadiums Oregon will visit this year will likely bring. Since the stadium opened in 1923, the fans have always shown up for their team, and the stands should be at least mostly filled, just like the other away games for Oregon. Memorial Stadium may not quite reach the same level as many of the other Big Ten stadiums, but it still creates a similar tough road environment that the Ducks will need to get used to this year.

AUTZEN STADIUM WEAR GREEN

11/20 MICHIGAN STATE EAST LANSING, MICH. WEAR YELLOW

11/28 WASHINGTON

AUTZEN STADIUM WEAR BLACK

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GAMEDAY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

2026 TRANSFER CLASS KOI PERICH DB PREVIOUS: MINNESOTA

CARL WILLIAMS IV

PREVIOUS: BAYLOR

D’ANTRE ROBINSON

PREVIOUS: FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA

ANDREW OLESH TE

A FIRST LOOK AT OREGON’S 2026 TRANSFER CLASS

Oregon’s newest additions stepped onto the big stage against Boise State, giving an early look at who could emerge as key contributors. By Hannah Hiiva Sports Writer

Coming in as a transfer to a Big Ten powerhouse like Oregon is no easy feat. There are high expectations, an increased level of difficulty and competition, as well as pressure to perform on such a big stage, all while competing for playing time against returning players who already know the program. With 16 new transfers joining the Ducks this season, Oregon’s first game against Boise State University offered an early glimpse at what the new additions can bring to the team. While the Ducks had a rocky beginning to their game against Boise State, the performances of Oregon’s transfer additions provided plenty of reason for optimism. Koi Perich, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, was by far the top performer in the transfer class. He was a force on defense, recording 11 tackles, including three solo stops and eight assists. Perich was repeatedly around the ball in the run game, having multiple stops on the Broncos’ top running back, Dylan Riley. He was also involved in stopping Boise quarterback Maddux Madsen in the running game. Dan Lanning recognized Perich’s potential before the season even began and called him “a really pleasant surprise” during fall camp. Perich proved Lanning right in the battle against Boise State, making his presence known throughout the game. Carl Williams IV and D’Antre Robinson were two transfers who were able to bring home some stats. Williams, a transfer from Baylor University, recorded three tackles and played a role in Oregon’s effort to contain Boise State’s rushing attack after blowing his coverage for the Broncos’ first touchdown. Robinson, an addition transferring from North Carolina, also got himself involved in some plays, recording one tackle on Riley. The play was one of several moments where Oregon’s defense stepped up to limit the Broncos’ ground game.

Bailey Ettridge, a transfer from Nevada, also made his presence known, pinning Boise State at their own 2-yard line with a punt late in the first half. This kick helped flip the field for the Ducks. Ettridge also made two more appearances, recording an average of 48 yards. An honorable mention from the transfer class in Oregon’s 34-27 victory over Boise State goes to Andrew Olesh, a transfer from Penn State. While Olesh did not record any offensive statistics at tight end, he contributed on special teams with a fair catch on a fourth-quarter kickoff. While Perich, Williams, Robinson, Ettridge and Olesh were among the transfers who made appearances in the game against Boise State, the Ducks transfer class extends beyond the five. Among the additions are running back Simeon Price from the University of Colorado, quarterback Dylan Raiola from the University of Nebraska, tight end Markus Dixon from Clemson University and offensive tackle Michael Bennett from Yale University. Oregon also added wide receiver Iverson Hooks from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and defensive back Aaron Scott Jr. from Ohio State University. On the defensive line, the Ducks brought in Bleu Dantzler from Oregon State and Jerome Simmons from Louisiana-Monroe. The Ducks also have two new additions from Nevada, kicker Keaton Emmett and punter Bailey Ettridge. Oregon also added long snapper RJ Todd from Western Michigan. The Ducks’ transfer class also includes Arlo Henderson Jr., who transferred from Mississippi Valley State after playing for Southern Oregon. Boise State was only the beginning for Oregon’s newcomers. As the season progresses and the competition gets even tougher, the Ducks will look to their transfer class to prove their experience from programs around the country and that they belong on the roster at a powerhouse like Oregon. With several transfers still waiting for their opportunity, it will be worth watching which newcomers earn more playing time as they continue to develop as Oregon Ducks.

PREVIOUS: PENN STATE

SIMEON PRICE RB PREVIOUS: MISSISSIPPI STATE, COASTAL CAROLINA, COLORADO

DYLAN RAIOLA QB PREVIOUS: NEBRASKA

MARKUS DIXON TE PREVIOUS: CLEMSON

MICHAEL BENNETT III

PREVIOUS: YALE

IVERSON HOOKS WR PREVIOUS: UAB

AARON SCOTT JR.

PREVIOUS: OHIO STATE

BLEU DANTZLER OLB PREVIOUS: OREGON STATE

JEROME SIMMONS

PREVIOUS: HIGHLAND CC, SOUTH CAROLINA, ULM

KEATON EMMETT K PREVIOUS: WESTERN OREGON, NEVADA

BAILEY ETTRIDGE P PREVIOUS: NEVADA

RJ TODD LS PREVIOUS: WESTERN MICHIGAN

ARLO HENDERSON JR.

PREVIOUS: SOUTHERN OREGON, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

(ABOVE) The Ducks offense huddles before their drive. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 27-34 at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026. (Owen Burriss/Emerald)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

GAMEDAY

PAGE 9

GAMEDAY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

A Montana State player dodges incoming Oregon Ducks defensive back Jadon Canady (22), sending Canady to the ground. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

Former Ducks q Makaia appear o

The Ducks run out of the tunnel before the start of the game. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

PENN STA

MINNESOTA

RESULTS

The Ducks offensive line huddles together. (Julia Massa/Emerald)

11.15.2025

AUTZEN STADIUM

Key Players DIERRE

HILL JR. + Running Back (#23)

FOR A CO

RUSHING YARDS AND 12 RECEIVING

Oregon Ducks running backs Dierre Hill Jr. (23) (Above) Jordan Davison (0) (Below) celebrate after scoring respective touchdowns.

42 13

(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

OREGON MINNESOTA CFP NO. 8

1 RUSH 1 REC TOU

"That was easily the loudest stadium I have ever been to. It seemed like the entire crowd desperately needed to prove something to the Ducks and world. Words can't describe 111,000 fans screaming their heads off. In the end, only "Fire Franklin" could be heard from the Nittany Lion faithful." - Jack Lazarus, Sports Editor

Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers 42-13 in a Friday night matchup at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Nov. 14, 2025. (Julia Massa/Emerald)

(RIGHT) The Penn State University Nittany Lion holds up a “Stadium Pulse” sign, as seen in EA’s "College Football" video game series. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

WASHINGT RESULTS

Key Player ATTICUS

RELIVE OREGON’S 2025 SEASON TODAY

SAPINGTON

Oregon’s senior kic memories for the him make four kic 51 yards against Wa rewrote — at least of a loss two years as he watched his c sail through from

Kicker (#36)

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. (2) and Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Devan Boykin (12). (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

"I can conﬁdently say that I was the happiest Oregon student in Autzen Stadium on Oct. 11. While I would have loved to upload the version of my recap that was coming together after Brandon Finney Jr’s pick-six, nothing could have ruined my ﬁrst time experiencing “Shout” from high above the away sideline."

- Joe K

Spo

4-4 ON F

Henry Light

A FOURT

Sports Writer

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF

dailyemerald.com

Oregon Ducks linebacker Jerry Mixon (54) tackles Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15). (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

52-Y

FIELD

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs the ball past Indiana players. (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

The crowd that had roared back to life began losing numbers, and the Ducks’ comeback hopes were critically damaged. Ten plays later, with Oregon chasing the game, Dante Moore threw another pick — this time to Isaiah Jones — and the game was all-but-over.

MARKED A Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington (36) points to the sky. (Tyler Graham/Emerald)

DAN LANNING

FIRST W

- Henry Light,

HUS STAD

Sports Writer

JORDAN DAVISON:

8 CARRIES 59 YARDS

BRYCE BOETTCHER:

11 TACKLES

– THE FIRST FOR THE

(LEFT) Oregon Ducks linebacker Jerry Mixon (54) tackles Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15). (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

(LEFT) Oregon Head coach Dan Lanning shakes Oregon f

Section 6: Indiana

MINNESO

KENYON SADIQ:

8 CATCHES 96 YARDS

RESULTS

AND ONE TOUCHDOWN

"There’s nothing more surreal in student journalism than being a reporter at Autzen Stadium. The views from the press box are stunning. Standing on the sideline as the game is ﬁnishing up almost feels like you’re part of the action, especially when we ran across the ﬁeld with the players the moment the clock hit zero. Finally, discussing the game with Dan Lanning and some of the key players presented a rare opportunity that I will carry for years to come."

Key Player DANTE

MOORE Quarterback (#5)

Max Koebel Sports Writer

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) lays out for a catch. (Corey Hoffman/Emerald)

NOAH WHITTINGTON

8 CARRIES 72 YARDS

AND ONE TOUCHDOWN

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) looks for an open pass. (Corey Hoffman/Emerald)

After a three-and-out from the Minnesota offense, the Ducks took the ball back and went 66 yards on four plays. It ended with a 39yard run by Davison where he ran through the middle of the defensive line and cut around the safeties to find the end zone for his second score of the game. - Max Koebel, Sports Writer

27-30

306 PASSING YARDS

2 TOUCHDOWNS

Oregon wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan (11) attempts to break a tackle by Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Jai’Onte’ McMillan (24). (Julia Massa/Emerald)

Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws

DANTE M

MARCUS

2012 R

FOR SINGLE-GAME C

WITH

Oregon Ducks tight end Jamari Johnson (9) and teammates celebrate a first-half touchdown. (Corey Hoffman/Emerald)

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) and head coach Dan Lanning talk to the media after the game. (Corey Hoffman/Emerald)

Oregon running back Jordon Davison (0) runs the ball to the endzone. (Julia Massa/Emerald)

IN THE MI

Section 10: Minnesota

INDIANA

PAGE 10

Indiana Hoosiers football players celebrate with their fans after beating the Oregon Ducks 30-20. (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) celebrates a touchdown. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

KENYON SADIQ

6 CATCHES 72 YARDS

AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS

NOAH WHITTINGTON

19 CARRIES 104 YARDS

AND ONE TOUCHDOWN

10.11.2025

AUTZEN STADIUM

30 OREGON 20

INDIANA AP. NO. 7

AP. NO. 3

Oregon dominated in the trenches, overcoming an injury to center Iapani Laloulu to score on three of its first four possessions. Only adding another highlight reel play on a day full of them was a wildcat formation touchdown run by Boettcher, a linebacker, which capped off a drive that included five penalties, a missed kick and a touchdown respotted to the one-yard line. - Joe Krasnowski,

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) prepares to throw the ball. The University of Oregon Ducks were defeated by the Indiana University Hoosiers 30-20 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 11, 2025. (Anna Liv Myklebust/Emerald)

Sports Writer

Oregon Ducks offensive linemen Charlie Pickard (70) and Alex Harkey (71) celebrate running back Noah Whittington’s (6) touchdown. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

Oregon zone for

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Malik Benson (4) falls as USC Trojans cornerbac

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026

GAMEDAY

PAGE 11

OREGON VS. OKLAHOMA STATE PREVIEW After a tough season opener, Oregon looks to improve in their Week 2 matchup. By Jonah Furino Sports Writer

(Saj Sundaram/Emerald) Oregon Ducks linebacker Ashton Porter (29) prepares to block the Cowboys offensive line. The University of Oregon Ducks played against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025.

One year ago, Oklahoma State University fell victim to a 69-3 beatdown at the hands of the No. 6 Oregon Ducks. It was a thrashing from start to finish, and now the Ducks get the chance to do it again. However, the Cowboys have changed immensely since last season, and now it’s on their home turf. One year later, will the matchup go any different? Oklahoma State posted a 1-11 record last season, leading to the firing of longtime head coach Mike Gundy. The man to take over at the helm is Eric Morris from the University of North Texas. Morris led North Texas to the top of the American Athletic Conference with a 12-2 record. He also brought in Skyler Cassity, the defensive coordinator from North Texas, to fix a struggling Cowboys defense. Along with the coaching staff, Oklahoma State’s roster saw a complete overhaul. The Cowboys added 91 new players, including 56 transfers. Many of these newcomers followed Morris from North Texas, adding a foundation of experience and chemistry to their team. This group includes quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, and wide receiver Wyatt Young, the core looking to bolster the Cowboys’ offense. Mestemaker led the nation last season in total yards thrown with 4,379, and tied for second in touchdowns thrown with 34. Hawkins led college football with 25 rushing touchdowns. Young tallied 1,264 receiving yards, landing him third in the country in that department. Okla-

homa State will be battle-tested on offense, with several nation-leading scorers. Oklahoma State did not look good in Week 1, however. They lost their opening game to Tulsa 10-24, despite being the favorites. The Cowboys struggled to move the ball and had a few costly turnovers, the formula for a rough offensive day. On the defensive side of the ball, it wasn’t any different as the Cowboys allowed three touchdowns. For Oregon, it’s about proving their last outing was a fluke. The Ducks survived a Week 1 scare, beating Boise State University 34-27. The Ducks had several shaky plays and a few too many penalties on Saturday against the Broncos that led to a closer finish than they wanted. After the game, head coach Dan Lanning said, “We won the game with total yards, but we didn’t really win the critical situations.” There was a lot to clean up after that game. Amongst the title contenders in college football, Oregon looked the least comfortable in Week 1, albeit against a tough Boise State team. Dante Moore had an impressive night stat-wise, with 378 yards and three touchdowns; however, he still left a little on the table. Defensively, Oregon didn’t look as sharp as expected. As a whole, the Ducks have a lot to improve on. “I’m glad this game was how it was,” Moore said after Saturday’s game. “We got a lot to learn.” Expect a much cleaner game from Oregon this weekend, after last week’s near-slip. The Ducks will be looking to make this a high-scoring affair. Oregon put up 69 points in last year’s battle, and Oklahoma State’s defense still has major holes. This is not the same Oklahoma State team as last year. Whether it’s an improvement is still up in the air. Both teams will be looking to improve on their opening scores; Oregon specifically will be looking to make a statement in Oklahoma this weekend.

POLAR OPPOSITE PATHS LEAD TO A MATCHUP IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA Dante Moore and Drew Mestemaker’s journeys to college football prominence couldn’t be more distinct. By Colin Ernst Sports Writer

Oftentimes in sports, the odyssey to stardom and success varies greatly from player to player. Despite these differences, when two teams suit up, the game at hand is all that matters. Such is the case with the two shot-callers for Oregon and Oklahoma State. Coming out of high school, Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker held zero Division I offers and hadn’t even started a varsity game. The Texas native knew he had the size and talent to play somewhere, so he chose to walk on at the University of North Texas — just three hours away from his high school. On the other hand, Dante Moore was a consensus topthree quarterback in his class, the owner of 40 Division I offers, and a five-star prospect wherever you looked. Despite the head start coming out of high school, Moore’s college career took a gradual climb to the top. Moore started five games for UCLA during his freshman season, posting a record of 3-2. Although he showed flashes of potential, the 17-year-old still had some growing to do before entering No. 1 overall pick conversations. To do that, Moore had to be patient, transferring to Oregon after his freshman campaign and taking a backseat to Dillon Gabriel for the 2024 season. “Transferring in with Dillon was probably one of the best things I ever did,” Moore said after Gabriel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. “Coming to Oregon and competing with Dillon and standing behind him, I learned a lot from him.”

While Moore waited in the wings, Mestemaker’s opportunity arrived at the tail end of the season. Before North Texas’s matchup against Texas State in the First Responder Bowl, starting quarterback Chandler Morris opted to enter the transfer portal, thrusting Mestemaker into the starting role. The result? Fireworks. Mestemaker lit up Texas State, throwing for 393 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 55 yards on the ground, totaling 448 all-purpose yards — a North Texas bowl-game record. Not bad for your first start since the ninth grade. Both quarterbacks were given the keys to their offenses in 2025, and both excelled in the driver’s seat — in notably different ways, however. Moore’s patience and poise were on display all year long, leading the Ducks to a 13-2 record while ranking fourth in completion percentage in the nation. His accuracy was especially impressive in a home victory against Minnesota. Moore completed 27 of 30 passes (90%) for 306 yards, an Oregon single-game record. Down in Denton, the air raid offense employed by coach Eric Morris complemented Mestemaker’s big-arm talent. Morris’s quarterback threw for a nation-leading 4,379 yards and was the only quarterback in all of college football to average over 300 passing yards per game. Mestemaker really let it loose in Week 8 against the Charlotte 49ers, amassing an unfathomable 608 yards through the air en route to a 54-20 victory. Although the North Texas Mean Green ended the year with a school-record 11 wins, Mestemaker decided to pack his

(Tyler Graham/Emerald) Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) takes the field at Husky Stadium. The No. 6 University of Oregon Ducks took on the University of Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash. on Nov. 29, 2025.

bags and follow his head coach to Oklahoma State University. In Week 1 of this season, Moore and Oregon outlasted a spirited Boise State team, 34-27. He threw for a career-high 378 passing yards and added three touchdowns to kick off another promising Heisman campaign. Mestemaker’s first game as a Cowboy didn’t go as well as he had hoped. Oklahoma State was outmatched by Tulsa, 24-10, and his gunslinging tendencies showed themselves. Mestemaker ended the game 29-of-49 for 241 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Despite walking separate paths, both quarterbacks are first-round hopefuls in next year’s NFL draft. Now, the two players will meet in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for a clash between different styles of play and contrasting journeys to success.