The No. 2 Oregon Ducks are a staggering 24.5-point favorite heading into Saturday’s opener against Boise State. Yet, if you listen to Head Coach Dan Lanning, you’d think they were facing an undefeated powerhouse. The Ducks barely slid by Boise State 37-34 in 2024, a nail-biter of a game Lanning is clearly not letting his senior-led roster forget as they prepare to host the Broncos this Saturday at 12:30 pm on CBS. This isn’t just a tune-up; Lanning’s got his team locked in, despite those massive odds.
A Wild New Pac-12 and Boise State’s Unexpected Punch
Boise State is actually making its debut as a member of the Pac-12! And here’s the kicker: this marks the first time in Oregon’s history they’ll play a team from that conference without being a part of it themselves. The media even picked Boise State to win the new Pac-12, so don’t even think about sleeping on them. Lanning certainly isn’t. He made it crystal clear in his first weekly Monday press conference that he has “a tremendous amount of respect for” Boise State. He’s calling them “a really well-coached team” with “dynamic players” and “a really cohesive unit.” Their film shows a squad that “play[s] with an attitude and a toughness.” With Oregon Athletics already “tearing it up” in soccer and volleyball, the Ducks are riding a wave, but Lanning sticks to “one week at a time.” For now, all eyes are on the Broncos.
That 2024 Scramble Still Haunts the Ducks’ Locker Room
Some games just stick with you, right? For Dan Lanning and many of his players, that 2024 clash where Oregon barely squeaked out a 37-34 win against Boise State is one of them. Lanning didn’t mince words, recalling how “they beat us in a lot of a lot of areas of the field.” The Ducks won only “because of special teams and some of that play.” Yikes! When asked if he’s using that tight game as motivation, Lanning confirmed his players “are certainly aware of it.” Many of the current guys were there, living through how tight it was. There’s deep respect for Boise State, too, a program “successful over so many years” with a clear “identity.” It sounds like Lanning wants his squad to treat this game not like a 24.5-point spread, but like a real heavyweight bout.
So, clear your Saturday plans and get ready for the kickoff at Autzen. Lanning is absolutely “counting on our fans to show up, pack the place, make it a special environment like I always see in Autzen Stadium.” Given Oregon’s sky-high expectations this season and the clear memory of that frustratingly close call, the Ducks are itching to prove they’re not just a No. 2 team on paper, but a dominant force ready for their first national championship run. It’s finally “time to hit somebody else!”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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