Oregon just dropped a historic 84 points on Portland State, shutting them out 84-0 in what became the Ducks’ most points in modern history and the largest margin of victory ever inside Autzen Stadium. But get this, folks, despite a week full of record books being rewritten, the vibe among the fan base is a total roller-coaster, bouncing straight from a crushing low to this unbelievable high with a whole lot of mixed feelings in between.
84-0: The Bounce-Back Nobody’s Quite Sure About
After getting smacked 39-31 by the Oklahoma State Cowboys last week in what many are calling the worst loss of the Dan Lanning era, you’d think an 84-point explosion would have everyone doing the O-H. Not so fast, I guess. Lanning himself said after the game, “We have a better team, and no disrespect for Portland State, but that’s the way it should look when we execute the way we should execute.” And he’s right! When you’re facing an FCS team, that’s exactly how it should look. This was supposed to be the “get right” game, a moment to shake off that Oklahoma State hangover before the brutal Big Ten play kicks in.
“Nobody Cares”: The Split Fan Base Is Telling
Here’s where it gets wild. You’d expect universal celebration after an 84-point shutout, right? Nope! The online comments are painting two totally different pictures. One fan just flat out wrote, “Nobody cares.” And then they hit hard with this, “They just beat an FCS team by 84 but can’t win when it matters. Welcome to the Dan Lanning experiment.” Ouch. That’s a gut punch despite the scoreboard. Sure, another fan was more optimistic, shouting, “A great way to shutout. Win The Day.” But that vocal skepticism, man, it tells you everything you need to know about the pressure Lanning is under. This blowout, as impressive as it looks on paper, can’t magically erase the Oklahoma State loss, which could seriously discourage the College Football Playoff committee from giving the Ducks a spot in the final 12 down the line.
Dylan Raiola’s Debut: The REAL Story?
Amidst all the scoring and the fan drama, there was one seriously bright spot that truly has future implications: Dylan Raiola. The Nebraska transfer finally hit the field in an Oregon uniform for the first time, and he looked *outstanding*. This kid was perfect, completing all 11 of his passes for 124 yards and tossing three touchdowns. Talk about a preview of what’s to come once Dante Moore eventually leaves for the NFL! If you’re looking for something to genuinely cheer about, that’s it.
Next up, the Ducks get their real test: a prime-time showdown against the No. 12 USC Trojans. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. This isn’t Portland State, folks. This is where we find out if that “nobody cares” sentiment fades, or if it gets even louder.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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