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.
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(On The Cover) Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson (3) dives on the ball in the endzone. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated Oregon State University 31-7 in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 24, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
(Right) Dillon Gabriel (8) celebrates his first touchdown as an Oregon Duck to Tez Johnson (15). The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Idaho in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
WEEK 2 TEAM ROSTERS: OREGON BOISE STATE
OREGON OFFENSE
PLAYER
GABRIEL, DILLON
MOORE, DANTE
JAMES, JORDAN
WHITTINGTON, NOAH
JOHNSON, TEZ
HOLDEN, TRAESHON
STEWART, EVAN
BRYANT JR., GARY
DICKEY, JURRION
FERGUSON, TERRANCE
CONERLY JR., JOSH
HARPER II, MARCUS
IAPANI LALOULU
BEDFORD, MATHEW
PICKARD, CHARLIE
CORNELIUS, AJANI
No. 8 No. 5 No. 20 No. 6 No. 15 No. 1 No. 7 No. 2 No. 13 No. 3 No. 76 No. 55 No. 72 No. 77 No. 70 No. 65
OREGON DEFENSE
PLAYER
BURCH, JORDAN
CALDWELL, JAMAREE
HARMON, DERRICK
WARE-HUDSON, KEYON
UIAGALELEI, MATAYO
TUIOTI, TEITUM
JACOBS, JESTIN
BOETTCHER, BRYCE
BASSA, JEFFREY
WINSTON, EMAR'RION
ALEXANDER, KAM
JOHNSON, TYSHEEM
SAVAGE, KOBE
MUHAMMAD, JABBAR
JOHNSON, BRANDON MANNING, DONTAE
No. 1 No. 90 No. 55 No. 95 No. 10 No. 44 No. 4 No. 28 No. 2 No. 32 No. 18 No. 0 No. 5 No. 7 No. 3 No. 8
YEAR
SR/TR
SR/TR
JR/TR
RS-SR SO SO
RS-SR/TR
BOISE STATE OFFENSE
PLAYER
MADSEN, MADDUX NELSON, MALACHI JEANTY, ASHTON GAINES, SIRE
BOLT, AUSTIN
CAPLES, LATRELL PRINCE, STRACHAN BATES, CAMERON CAMPER, CAMERON LAUTER, MATT CASEY, KAGE
DOOLEY, BEN
RANDOLPH, MASON CARREON, ROGER
CARDONA, NATHAN SCHMIDT, HALL
No. 4 No. 7 No. 2 No. 26 No. 81 No. 3 No. 17 No. 80 No. 9 No. 85 No. 77 No. 66 No. 63 No. 62 No. 57 No. 65
BOISE STATE DEFENSE
PLAYER HASSANEIN, AHMED FELY, BRAXTON CALLAHAN, MICHAEL VIRGIN-MORGAN, JAYDEN WOODWARD, TAVION NOTARAINNI, MARCO RIPP, JAKE SIMPSON, ANDREW MARTIN, CHASE MCCOY, A'MARION BANKS, DAVON EARBY, JEREMIAH REED, MARKEL
TEUBNER, ALEXANDER BENEFIELD, TY OLADIPO, SEYI
OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS
SAPPINGTON, ATTICUS
JAMES, ROSS BASSO, LUKE
No. 91 No. 90 No. 92 No. 5 No. 52 No. 53 No. 43 No. 10 No. 22 No. 7 No. 20 No. 7 No. 8 No. 34 No. 0 No. 23
BOISE STATE SPECIAL TEAMS
CAPLES, LATRELL DALMAS, JONAH FERGUSON-REYNOLDS, JAMES
OREGON DUCKS VS. BOISE STATE BRONCOS GAME PREVIEW
Facing
one of the country’s best running backs, No. 3 Oregon will have its hands full as it plays host
to the Boise State Broncos
By JACK LAZARUS Sports Reporter
No. 3 Oregon failed to impress in Week 1 against the University of Idaho Vandals — that’s no secret. While only the opening contest for the Ducks, Idaho’s ability to keep Oregon out of the endzone and hang with one of the nation’s best rosters became the most notable thread in the 24-14 battle.
The entire defensive effort saved the Ducks from what would have been an incredibly embarrassing loss to start this season of destiny.
Idaho only tallied 217 total yards — with just 49 of those coming on the ground. Thank Oregon’s suffocating defense for keeping this game in check.
That same defense will need to be nothing short of that brilliant this week against a different Idaho state-school — the Boise State University Broncos.
The Broncos enlist the talents of one of the leading candidates for the Doak Walker Award — given to the country’s best running back — with 5’9” 215 lbs wrecking ball, Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty carried — no pun intended — Boise State to a Week 1 victory by posting 267 rushing yards and six touchdowns on just 20 carries. Jeanty shined against the Georgia Southern University defense and racked up 13.4 yards per carry.
Against the Ducks’ dominant front eight, Jeanty will have his hands full. At the same time, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen hasn’t inspired a ton of confidence, especially given Oregon’s ability to hurry the quarterback.
With a lackluster performance in Week 1 with 280 yards, a touchdown and an interception, Madsen needs to improve in order to turn heads in Eugene next week.
Madsen will have no shortage of large defenders in his face, as the Ducks’ defensive line looked strong against Idaho. Oregon sacked Idaho’s quarterback four times, accrued seven tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
Two sacks and one of those forced fumbles are attributed to Oregon edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei. The true sophomore impressed in his debut as a fulltime starter, and likes his squad’s chances against Jeanty and the Broncos.
“We’re playing us every week, and if we play to our standard, I don’t think we can lose the game. If [Jeanty] is good, then we’ll have to stop him,” Uiagalelei said after the Idaho game.
Continuing on this path is important for Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning’s star-studded defense, but the offense may need more internal improvements. Practically the same offensive line that led the country in sacks allowed — just 5.0 — in 2023 gave up three sacks on Saturday.
That became a primary reason why the offense had such a tough time moving the ball downfield with any efficiency.
Much of Dillon Gabriel’s 380 passing yards came from checkdowns to running backs and short throws to receivers, as the Ducks’ signal caller only averaged 7.8 yards per passing attempt.
Gabriel should expect improvement this weekend against the Broncos, who gave up 322 yards through the air against Georgia Southern.
Even with a subpar defensive performance on Saturday, Boise State poses the first real threat to Oregon’s hope for a dream season. With a hard-nosed offense and enough defense to match, the Broncos pose a worthy non-conference problem for Lanning and the Ducks to figure out.
Realistically, Saturday night’s game could feature two playoff teams come the end of the season. The Autzen lights will serve as the perfect test for both.
Coach Dan Lanning calling the shots. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Idaho in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
BIG TEN WEEK 1 RECAP
What else happened around the conference on 2024’s opening weekend?
By BRADY RUTH Sports Editor
Exhale, Oregon fans. The Ducks’ underwhelming performance wasn't the only surprise that came out of the Big Ten in week 1. Across the country, teams from Oregon’s new conference broke in the 2024 season. How did some of them fare in their season openers?
No. 23 USC defeats No. 13 LSU 27-20 in LAS VEGAS
With eight seconds remaining, USC (1-0) barreled into the endzone to secure the Trojans’ first win of the season. A backand-forth classic highlighted the strength of Lincoln Riley’s latest team and handed LSU’s (0-1) Brian Kelley his third-straight 0-1 start.
The Vegas lights lived up to the hype and produced one of college football’s best Week 1 games. USC has a ranked win under its belt as it prepares for its first season in the Big Ten Conference.
No.
8 PENN STATE topples WEST VIRGINIA 34-12 on the road
The West Virginia University Mountaineers (0-1) hosted the No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0) to kick off the season. In what was anticipated to be one of the better games on the Week 1 slate, the Lions dominated WVU despite a hostile crowd and climate.
The Nittany Lions collected 457 total yards (222 on the ground) as they ran right past the Mountaineers for one of the most impressive wins the Big Ten had in Week 1.
WISCONSIN avoids upset with 28-14 win OVER WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Western Michigan University Broncos (0-1) weren’t picked by many to be much of a force in the Mid American Conference, but they gave the Badgers (1-0) all they could handle in Week 1. Wisconsin’s transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was limited to just 192 passing yards in his Badgers debut, but led a late scoring drive to put the game out of reach.
No. 2 OHIO STATE molly whops AKRON in 52-6 route
The highly-ranked Buckeyes (1-0) did to the University of Akron (0-1) what everyone thought the Ducks would do to the Vandals in Week 1. Transfer quarterback Will Howard threw for 228 yards and three scores in his debut while Ohio State’s defense limited the Zips to a pair of field goals.
No.
25 IOWA shuts out ILLINOIS STATE 40-0
The Hawkeyes (1-0) get a lot of criticism for their lack of offense year in and year out, but put on a show against Illinois State University (0-1) in Week 1. Iowa limited the Redbirds to just 189 total yards while tallying 492 of its own. Along with forcing three turnovers, the Hawkeyes demonstrated that they could be a sleeper team in the Big Ten this season.
No. 9 MICHIGAN downs FRESNO STATE 30-10
in Davis Warren’s debut
In somewhat of a shocking turn of events, the Wolverines (1-0) named Davis Warren their starting quarterback for the 2024 season. While his first game wasn’t
overly flashy (15-25 for 118 yards), it was good enough to beat Fresno State University (0-1), one of the teams in the Mountain West Conference that’s expected to be pretty good in 2024.
The Wolverines have a tough task: following up their 2023 National Championship campaign after losing their coach, quarterback and a slew of other players. They have an intriguing game as they host No. 4 The University of Texas (1-0) next week.
Dylan Raiola dazzles as NEBRASKA houses UTEP 40-7
The Cornhuskers’ (1-0) highest-ranked recruit in program history made his first start in a rousing win over the University of Texas at El Paso Miners (0-1) on Saturday. Dylan Raiola had just eight incompletions in a game where he threw for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Nebraska won its first contest of 2024.
Dillon Gabriel (8) in his new threads. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Idaho in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
Oregon’s invaluable, irreplaceable veterans
By JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Reporter
There’s a common thread throughout college football, that the same message just lands differently when it’s coming from a fellow player: even from one who is hardly playing.
That message can take different forms. Sometimes it’s technical, football things: how to pick up a block in a specific scheme or adjust quickly to an audible. Often, however, it’s about dealing with everything else: eating, road trips, game-day preparation, taking care of your body and the extended grind of a long, draining and demanding season.
It feels like there’s always a game the next day, always a flight to catch, always a meeting to attend, always an interview to do and always a bump or a bruise to manage. With a cyclical week in between games, and so much pressure inherent in those games, that means self-care becomes more than just a recommendation — it’s a necessity. It’s a job. And, it’s important for the younger players to rely on their veterans – their older, more experienced teammates –as much as possible.
“I definitely learned early on how important it is to take care of your body,” offensive lineman Marcus Harper II said. “Now, I do my best to help the younger players realize that too.”
However, there is a scarcity issue that prevents this model from being replicated throughout college football.
Especially now during a time when a postseason mass exodus isn’t out of the ordinary in this uncertain era of the transfer portal. Where even grizzly vets will move cross-country for the chance of a championship. Where even local legends and fouryear starters will pack up shop for a payday. At the start of the 2023 season, ESPN reported that transfers made up 20.5% of rosters in 2023, up from 6.5% in pre-NIL 2019.
Put simply, there aren’t a lot of role-model-caliber players in their older years looking to become mentors to the youth, especially when the veterans might be just fitting in at a new school themselves.
roster. Those NIL and sponsorships make it easy for all players to depart quickly, and seek playing time somewhere else.
I do feel old. I think I fit in as the cool vet, but when it's time to lock in, it's time to lock in.
- Ajani Cornelius, Oregon offensive lineman
And even if there were more, the pressures of being drafted and departing to the transfer portal can make it difficult to keep even well-liked veterans on the
Oregon football, amid all the change and roster turnover, has proved to be an exception. The Ducks’ roster has established a culture of teamwork; a group of sages proven to withstand the transfer portal.
For some, it’s a stage to be passed through on the way to coaching later in their lives. For others, it’s just a way to give back in ways players and other coaches have to them.
“He knew what I was capable of,” Harper II said of his former coach at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Tom Cicero. “When I didn’t even know what I was capable of… I love him, and I think he loves me too.”
“I do feel old,” 22-year-old Ajani Cornelius said. “I think I fit in as the cool vet, but when it’s time to lock in, it's time to lock in.”
And for others, like tight end Patrick Herbert, it's a
way to do a job.
Herbert, a sixth-year senior, is the perfect example of a rock-steady force at tight end for the Ducks despite filling a grittier role.
He even admits that being a block-first tight end is a trade that he likes because “it goes under the radar, and you’re not in the spotlight.”
So while Terrance Ferguson, one of Herbert’s closest friends
who he even minted an NIL deal with, is making highlight reel catches, his success wouldn’t be possible without Herbert, in more ways than one.
“I’ve never met somebody who puts the team first like he does,” Ferguson said of Herbert. “It’s just stuff on the field that people don’t see. He’s still an elite athlete. He goes down into those blocks and blocks his butt off no matter what. He’s someone I look up to, especially off the field.”
Herbert, however, sees it otherwise. When asked what he thought of Ferguson calling him the most selfless player he’d played with Herbert admitted that he “has no idea why he’d say that,” through a grin.
Through Lanning, the Ducks’ roster includes 18 juniors and seniors who started their careers at Oregon and have built a program that emphasizes the importance of comradery in their facility, emphasizing their veterans and the invaluable effect they have on success.
“I think our leadership shows up,” Lanning said. “Those guys that understand what it takes to be great, that’s where it has to come from first. When your best players want to work the hardest, that’s when you have a chance.”
And whether it's now-NFL center Jackson Powers-Johnson or then-freshman lineman Iapani Laloulu, mentorship is important. “Man, I thank him a lot, Jackson would help calm me down and remind me to just play my game,” Laloulu said. Or even best friends Ferguson and Herbert’s teamwork in the tight-end room, it’s clear the Ducks have one goal in mind, which is to win a National Championship – together.
(Left) Marcus Harper II (55) drops back to defend against the pass rush. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
Jeffrey Bassa evades a defender. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the Portland State University Vikings in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 2, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
Patrick Herbert (88) runs in a 2 point conversion. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
DILLON GABRIEL'S SUFFICIENT START
Diving deeper into Oregon’s quarterback’s debut with his new squad
Harmon (55) pressures the quarterback into an
the University of Idaho
a
By BRADY RUTH Sports Editor
The score didn’t quite do it justice, but statistically, Dillon Gabriel had an impressive outing in his Oregon debut.
And this is a guy who knows a thing or two about a debut. Having played college football since 2019 and navigating the transfer portal twice, Gabriel’s had his fair share of season openers.
Now 6-0 in his first game of the season, he’s always been able to get his team off to a good start, even if it’s consistently been against underwhelming competition.
Last weekend, in the season-opening 24-14 win over the University of Idaho, Gabriel was 41-49 for 380 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. A trio of sacks and a lost fumble brought his quarterback rating down to just 56.2, but he was good enough to help the Ducks start their 2024 season campaign 1-0.
“Stats are one thing, but we’re just focused on winning,” Gabriel said after the game.
Still, his performance left something to be desired for most Oregon fans. But when looking at his numbers in season-opening games in his career, Saturday’s game wasn’t that much of an outlier.
His 380 yards were the second-most he’s had in an opener (417 in 2020), and he again threw for at least two scores — a theme that’s been present in each initial game.
His QBR was the lowest it's been in his first game of any given season by over 10 full points, but his completion percentage was near its peak. He was also interception-free for the fourth time in six seasonopening wins. However, looking at Gabriel’s statline — and the Autzen Stadium scoreboard — told a different story than what actually transpired on the field: an underwhelming win over an Football Championship Subdivision school.
Growing pains were bound to exist in what became his first game with his third collegiate team.
“Different for sure,” Gabriel said about comparing Saturday’s game to his previous season openers and new-team debuts. “You know, great time being at Autzen. But, you sit back now and there’s a bunch on tape that you watch back and you want to continue to improve upon.”
After the offense’s somewhat stagnant performance, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said he’ll hope to work in and find more “explosive” chunk plays moving forward. Such plays could come from
Gabriel on the ground, as he’s undoubtedly one of the best rushing quarterbacks in college football.
“I think you have to evaluate every single team you’re playing and how they defend you and see if [Gabriel running] can be a piece of your game,” Lanning said on Saturday. “That’s certainly something we have. I don’t know if it’s always wise to run your quarterback every opportunity you get.”
The lack of running in season-opening games has also been a theme of Gabriel’s career. The most yards he’s rushed for in such a game was 60 in 2021, but he’s had 30 or less in each of his other season debuts.
On Saturday, he had -23 as a result of three sacks — tied for the most he’s had in a season opener.
“A win’s a win, I’ll say that,” Gabriel said. “But there’s a lot we need to improve on.”
If Gabriel can continue to have completion percentages around the 83.7% that he had against Idaho, he’ll have the Ducks right where they need to be. If he can truly find his ground game, he could turn Oregon’s offense into an undeniable force.
One of Gabriel’s best opening performances came in 2021 against Boise State University, and he’ll have an opportunity to dominate the Broncos again as they rumble into Autzen Stadium on Sept. 7.
Derrick
incomplete pass. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated
in
home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
THE DUCKS ARE RUSHING FOR MORE
Oregon’s Jordan James and Noah Whittington look to make a name for the running backs
By MAX KOEBEL Sports Reporter
Storming into the Big Ten, the Ducks are getting a lot of attention. Head coach Dan Lanning and the rest of the staff did a lot of recruiting and acquiring from the transfer portal to build on their strong 12-2 season last year.
One position that might be overshadowed by all the talent on the rest of the team is the running back room. The Oregon Ducks have two hungry running backs with a couple years of experience who will put them in the mix as they join the Big Ten.
The Ducks are working through the loss of their biggest standout running back, Bucky Irving, who was drafted by the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April. This season, junior Jordan James is tasked with filling Irving’s shoes after an incredible breakout season of his own last year.
James played in every game and rushed for 759 yards with 11 touchdowns on 107 carries. He averaged 7.09 yards per carry, which led the Pac-12 and ranked No. 10 nationally.
James said going into this season he wants to build on what he’s already good at, show more long speed and to prove that he can “do it all,” just like any other back. He said he believes that no team should ever have to rely on one running back, and he’s excited to bring his teammates in the back field more action so they can ball together and go far.
“I feel like they’re not talking about us enough, but we don’t care about that,” James said. Being moved to the top running back position did not change James’ work ethic, but it did make him attack harder and he’s looking forward to his new role.
Another running back to keep an eye on this season is redshirt junior Noah Whittington.
Whittington only played for a month last season before tearing his ACL in Week 4. In those four games, he had 20 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns. When he went down, Whittington proved his strong nature when he got up on his own and attempted to limp off
the field before the trainers escorted him to the injury tent.
He said the hardest part was the mental piece of sitting out for almost the entire season, but he had a good work ethic in his rehab process.
As hard as it was, Whittington said he’s appreciative that his injury happened, because it reminded him of how much he loves the game.
Another change in Oregon’s running back room is on the coaching staff. Their previous running back coach, Carlos Locklyn, accepted an offer with the Ohio State Buckeyes earlier in the offseason. In the spring, Lanning hired Ra’Shaad Samples to replace Locklyn. Samples was the wide
receiver coach at Arizona State in the previous two seasons. Before that, he was the running back coach at Texas Christian University, Southern Methodist University and for the Los Angeles Rams.
James and Whittington both said they have enjoyed working with their new coach and are looking forward to starting the season with him.
Samples said to GoDucks that he is “tremendously excited and grateful to join Dan Lanning and his highly regarded staff at Oregon.” He added that at Oregon he has the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in football and hopes to add value to the championship culture that Oregon is building.
Jordan James (20) finds the outside for a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Idaho in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
Jordan James (20) bullies his way down field. (Spencer So/Emerald)
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‘On Innovation,’ Part II:
BACKUP
Oregon QB Dante Moore and Boise State signal-caller Malachi Nelson are both former five-star recruits turned college backups. Their situations are impressively different.
By OWEN MURRAY Sports Reporter
Three of the six first-round quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft spent more than four years in college football. Seven of the starters for the AP’s top-10 teams have either spent five years with their school or made at least one transfer. Coaches, increasingly, are innovating by trusting the steady hand.
They’ve chosen to endorse veteran leadership — even if it comes at the cost of years in the program. It’s the movement across football. Last year, Oregon’s Bo Nix became the all-time collegiate leader in starts.
Left adrift are the numerous sought-after star underclassmen signal-callers.
True sophomore Dante Moore committed to Oregon out of high school, but with the starting spot taken by the incumbent Bo Nix, Moore flipped to UCLA. The former five-star, class of 2022 recruit got the starting call in five games for the Bruins, but made the decision to return to Eugene in the offseason amidst the departure of Bruins head coach Chip Kelly.
“DG, you know, he's been in college football quite some time now,” Moore told GoDucks, “and when I first got here, I said, ‘No cold shoulder, no bad blood at all.’ I'm just thankful to be around him.”
“DG” is sixth-year fellow transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who’s been named the starter by Ducks’ head coach Dan Lanning. In a move that goes against what many young quarterbacks have chosen in the new era of college football, Moore will not transfer from Oregon, learn from the best, and wait for his chance.
Malachi Nelson didn’t expect to wait — not this long. Like Moore, Nelson initially committed to a powerhouse: the University of Southern California
out of the class of 2023. After battling an injury, the freshman ended up redshirting his 2023 season with the Trojans. Nine months later, with Miller Moss the favored signal-caller at UCLA, Nelson announced his transfer to high-level Group of Five Boise State University.
Only Nelson lost the position battle again, this time to sophomore Maddux Madsen. Now, instead of remaking his name with an outside chance at the new College Football Playoff, he must sit and wait, once again.
Some 10 days before the decision to bench Nelson was announced, the quarterback spoke to media in Boise.
“I think everybody wants to start,” Nelson said. “I think Maddux would be lying if he said he didn’t want to start, but that’s the name of the game. That’s how football works.”
In an era where the quarterback with the most experience is often favored, both Nelson and Moore will gain theirs from the bench.
developed,” Moore said at Oregon’s Media Day. “Being here [and] understanding that Dillon is a person who I can look up to…I really appreciate it.”
Nelson’s story is less clear. He’ll continue to back up Madsen in Boise, but the prized recruit may have another move on his horizon. Madsen, unlike Gabriel in Eugene, has at least two years left in his career. In January, Nelson will likely have to decide between fighting for the job in Boise or staking his hopes on yet another transfer.
I think everybody wants to start, I think Maddux would be lying if he said he didn't want to start, but that's the name of the game. That's how football works.
- Malachi Nelson, Boise State quarterback
Moore will be the favorite to take over from Gabriel, who is the current favorite to win the Heisman and is set to leave college football at the end of the year. Moore will have two playing years left in his career.
He explained his relationship with Gabriel in-depth before the season — detailing how he asks the veteran constant questions and implicitly trusts his teammate.
“The biggest thing as a quarterback is getting
In his availability, Nelson said he “loves” situations where he’s expected to fail — a “fourth and long” in a pressure-filled environment. Moore openly admits that “...it was, of course, challenging being out there [in his freshman year] — a lot of mistakes were made.” What both share is a mentality that will keep them in consideration for starting jobs across the board.
It’s innovation — in the sense that the Johnny Manziels and Trevor Lawrences of the world are increasingly scarce. It’s evolution in the sense that Moore, Nelson and their compatriots are trusting the process.
‘On Innovation’ is a weekly series, published in the Daily Emerald’s Gameday edition, which breaks down the University of Oregon’s commitment to living ahead of every other school, on and off the football field.
Autzen Stadium is the home of Oregon Ducks football. The team has played there since 1967. (Maddie Knight/Emerald)
EARLY PROBLEMS –EARLY SOLUTIONS
Non-conference
games give Ducks a chance to address concerns
By BECK PARSONS
Sports Reporter
Oregon’s 2024 transfer portal class consisted of 14 players and was ranked by 247Sports as the secondbest class in the nation. Oregon’s 2024 team has newcomers starting at quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive tackle and more. As a result, the Ducks’ season opener was expected to be a tuneup for a transfer-heavy team that might need a little gameplay to sync as a unit.
But could anyone have expected a result like this?
The University of Idaho Vandals were 44.5-point underdogs heading into its Aug. 31 clash with the Ducks. After Idaho quarterback Jack Layne crossed the goal line for a touchdown with 9:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Vandals were three points behind the No. 3-ranked team in the nation, and on the verge of one of the most shocking nonconference upsets in history.
Oregon held on to win 24-14, but its poor
performance against a Football Championship Subdivision team like Idaho served as a testament to the importance of non-conference games. These early-season contests provide a valuable opportunity for teams to identify and address their strengths and weaknesses.
“There’s certainly some things that we can clean up,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “Great teams are able to learn from tight matches, [and] this was a tight match.”
Oregon is 2-0 in previous FCS matchups under Lanning, winning by a combined score of 151-21. Had the Vandals pulled off a win, it would have been the first FCS victory over a top-5 opponent since Appalachian State University defeated the then fifthranked University of Michigan on Sept. 1, 2007.
While blowouts give schools a chance to gametest risky plays or promising young talent, early struggles like Oregon’s highlight clear ways the team can improve and grow. They also offer Oregon’s 14 transfers opportunities to master schemes and sync up with their new teammates, which will be crucial given Oregon’s transfer-heavy lineup.
Oregon’s defense looked solid. The offense, which struggled to establish a rhythm or score consistently, may need more time to coalesce.
Although transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel was accurate in his Oregon debut, he failed to reliably connect with wide receiver and fellow transfer Evan
Stewart. Stewart, who was ranked the No. 2 overall player in this year’s portal, finished with three catches for only 15 yards.
“We didn’t create some of the explosive plays I was hoping we could create offensively,” Lanning said after the game.
The offensive line may have struggled the most of any group. Gabriel was sacked three times and fumbled once. For comparison, the 2022 and 2023 offensive lines each allowed five sacks all season.
Although three of last year’s starters returned for 2024, penalties and errors plagued the line against Idaho. Gabriel was consistently pressured and often forced to make checkdown throws instead of pushing the ball downfield.
“We have to go back and evaluate the film,” Lanning said of the offensive line. “We gotta figure out how to eliminate some of the pressures that showed up and some of the sacks that showed up.”
Lanning and the Ducks will face non-conference opponents Boise State University (1-0) and Oregon State University (1-0) – both of whom have stronger teams than Idaho — in the next two weeks before beginning conference play against UCLA on Sept. 28.
Oregon survived a scare against Idaho, but the team will need to make use of the lessons these next two non-conference games can provide if they want to live up to this season’s lofty expectations.
Dillon Gabriel (8) looking to pass. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Idaho in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 31, 2024. (Spencer So/Emerald)
