Oregon Using Its Poor Week 1 Performance as Motivation

Former Oregon QB Justin Herbert making a play against Boise State in 2017 — © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The No. 7 Oregon Ducks (1-0) face off against the Boise State Broncos (1-0) at 10:00 p.m. EST on Sept. 7 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oreg. The game will be broadcast on Peacock, allowing a national viewing audience to watch. Andrew Siciliano, Michael Robinson and Laura Britt will provide play-by-play analysis. The Broncos currently hold a 3-0 all-time series lead over the Ducks.

What's at Stake?

One could argue that playoff implications aren't just on the line for Oregon but also for Boise State. The new 12-team playoff allows Group of 5 teams like Boise State to squeeze into the playoffs. Both teams are sitting at 1-0 and have undefeated season aspirations.

Oregon also has a 33-game non-conference home win streak on the line. The Ducks open as 19-point favorites at home. Oregon exhibited a sub-par performance against Idaho last weekend, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel told reporters that practice has been "fiery" this week. Expect the Ducks to get on track.

Key Players: Oregon Ducks

Offense: Matthew Bedford and Evan Stewart. Oregon played poorly in the trenches last weekend, perhaps due partially to the departure of starting center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders. Chemistry issues inevitably arise following the loss of such a crucial part of the interior offensive line. Bedford, a senior transfer from Indiana, missed last week with an injury. He is slated to start at right guard against the Broncos, bringing a veteran presence and assisting with issues that flared up last week against the Iadho Vandals (0-1). His performance will likely play a pivotal role in the run game and ultimately help the Ducks return to the efficiency of the 2023 season.

At wide receiver, Stewart seemed to be blanketed in zone coverage all game against the Vandals. He logged just 3 catches for 15 yards. That has to improve this week. Oregon will seek to utilize its run game to force Boise to stack the box frequently. If that happens, Stewart will have more isolation looks on the boundary, where he thrives.

Matthew Bedford preparing in practice for his Ducks debut | Oregon Ducks — © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY NETWORK

Defense: Jeffrey Bassa. The Ducks' defensive performance was impressive last week. Despite veteran corner Jahlil Florence being sidelined, the defensive backfield looked great. Matayo Uiagalelei had 2 sacks, and Derrick Harmon had 2 tackles for losses. Duke transfer Brandon Johnson also had an impressive interception. All that being said, Bassa is the leader of the defense, and another 1-tackle performance will not cut it. Oregon will need more from him to help stop an elite running back like Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.

Key Players: Boise State Broncos

Offense: Ashton Jeanty. This is quite simple. Jeanty is coming off of a historic performance against Georgia Southern (0-1) last week. He logged 267 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns. Boise State will lean heavily on Jeanty, and the team's success will likely depend on his performance. If Oregon neutralizes Boises' run game, the Broncos will be in trouble.

Ashton Jeanty making a play against Georgia State — © Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Defense: Ty Benefield. While the Broncos may have defeated Georgia Southern last weekend, their defense struggled. Giving up 46 points to a team like the Eagles is concerning when preparing for a road trip to Oregon the following week. Benefield, a safety, led the team in tackles with 9 last week, 6 of which were solo tackles. He will probably need to repeat that effort and then some for the Broncos to have defensive success against the Ducks.

Trends to Watch

The trend for the Ducks last week was reliance upon the passing game. Gabriel was forced to throw the ball to win because of the offensive line's lackluster performance in the Ducks' rushing attack. Gabriel threw it 49 times, completing 41. Oregon cannot survive with a one-dimensional offense, despite Gabriel's heroics. Offensive line coach A'lique Terry has been walking around Ducks practices this week with a shirt that says "2.9 YPC—Idaho," representing the yards-per-carry the Ducks averaged against the Vandals. This may light a fire under the Ducks and spark the run game in the future. As for Boise State, expect another heavy dose of Jeanty.