Boise State University (+18.5) at #7 University of Oregon

Date: Saturday, September 7th, 2024

Time: 8:00pm MT

Stadium: Autzen Stadium (54,000)

Stream: Peacock

Commentators: Andrew Siciliano, Michael Robinson, and Laura Britt

Radio: KBOI 670 AM

Commentators: Bob Behler and Pete Cavender

Know Thy Enemy

“That Team Out West” awaits as Boise State travels to Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR to square off against the #3 team in the land, the Fightin’ Ducks of Oregon.

Uncle Phil and the newest member of the Big 10 conference, have championship aspirations in the first year of the 12-team playoff. Nike founder and UO alum, Phil Knight so badly wants a National Title that he came out this summer and said there would be “unlimited NIL” for Dan Lanning when it came to recruiting.

The Ducks opened the season last week with what was supposed to be a tune-up type games against an FCS opponent, but the Vandals of the University of Idaho had different plans. Idaho gave Oregon all they could handle, limiting the Ducks to just 14 points through the first three quarters. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning came out and said there are “Certainly things to clean up.”

Saturday was the debut of transfer quarterback Dillion Gabriel and he did not disappoint. Gabriel was a cool 41 of 49 for 380 yards and two scores. However, the fact that the Ducks recorded almost 500 yards of offense and only scored 24 points is remarkable. Many of the Ducks contingency are worried about the lack of big play ability.

With all that said, the Ducks offense is too talented to not figure it out. Gabriel is definitely the headliner, but his supporting cast is scary. Boise State could be in for a nightmare-ish night Saturday if they can’t stop the pass catching duo of Tez Johnson and Terrance Ferguson. Both Johnson and Ferguson had at least 7 catches for over 80 yards a piece. And not to mention, Jordan James who had 95 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

Oregon is usually known for their high octane offense, but it might be their defense that leads the way this season. Against Idaho, the Ducks held the Vandals to just 217 total yards and allowed only 10 first downs all game. They also got to the quarterback 4 times and forced two interceptions. The Ducks defense is a really deep unit with play makers at every level and will give even the best teams fits this year.

The University of Oregon is coached by Dan Lanning. Lanning is in his third season with the Ducks and has an overall record of 23-5. Prior to coming to Oregon Lanning was the defensive coordinator at Georgia under Kirby Smart.

Saturday will be the fourth time these teams have played since 2008. The Broncos are 3-0 against the Ducks including beating the Ducks 37-32 in Autzen in 2008 when a young quarterback named Kellen Moore made his first career road start for the Broncos.

What Happened Last Year Time

In 2017 an 10-3 Boise State team faced off against a 7-5 Oregon team in the Las Vegas bowl. Boise States Defense would be on full display as they held Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert to just 223 yards passing, picking him off two times and sacking him four times.

Boise State forced four turnovers in the first half, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on Ryan Wolpin's 1-yard touchdown run and Brett Rypien's 26-yard scoring pass to Cedric Wilson. Haden Hoggarth added a 39-yard field goal before an off-balance Herbert heaved a pass toward the sideline that was easily picked off and run back by Kekaula Kaniho, who also had a strip-sack.

Oregon clawed back into it with two defensive touchdowns in the final minute of the first half. Dye recovered a fumble on a botched Statue of Liberty handoff and returned it 86 yards for a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to get the Ducks on the scoreboard.

A 65-yard reception by Wilson to set the Boise State single-season record for yards receiving got the Broncos right back in the red zone, but Robinson picked off Rypien's pass in the end zone and took it back 100 yards on the longest interception return in school history with 7 seconds remaining to make it 24-14.

Boise State out gained Oregon 294-77 in the first half and reached Ducks' territory on eight of 10 possessions.

After Alec Dhaenens caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rypien in the third quarter, the Ducks pulled back within 31-21 on a 24-yard scoring thrown from Herbert to Brendan Schooler with 10:07 remaining.

Oregon had a chance to cut it to a one-possession game but Herbert was sacked near midfield, and Boise State drove 86 yards in 11 plays capped by Wolpin's second 1-yard touchdown run and No. 25 Boise State beat Oregon 38-28.

Players to Watch

OREGON

SR., TEZ JOHNSON, WR #15

Tez Johnson is clearly WR1 for the Ducks. John the Senior out of Prinson, AL spent his first two seasons of college at Troy before transferring to Oregon before the 2023 season. Last year Johnson set the school single season receptions record with 86 catches. His 1,182 receiving yards in 2023 were the third-most in UO single-season history and his 10 touchdowns were tied for fourth. Johnson has picked up where he left off last year by recording 12 catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns last week against Idaho.

SO., MATAYO UIAGALELEI, OLB #10

Oregon’s length with their front seven on defense may cause issues on Saturday and that includes 6’5” outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei. The St. John Bosco product impressed in his freshman season, playing 13 games and finished the season with 18 tackles and two sacks. As a sophomore he’s already matched his season sack total from a year ago in one game and had three other tackles against Idaho. Boise State’s offensive line had a clean sheet last week, but the pass rush this week may be a little bit stiffer than last.

BOISE STATE

FIFTH YEAR., CAMERON CAMPER, WR #9

Cam Camper had one year of eligibility left and he decided he wanted to play one last year with long-time friend and fellow BSU wideout Latrell Caples. Camper saw his first action as a Broncos and definitely made his presence felt, having the best day by any Boise State receiver. Camper had four catches for 99 yards including connecting on a beautiful 53-yard bomb. At 6’3” Camper will have a size advantage on Saturday which should help him win some of those 50-50 balls that the Broncos will have to come down with if they want to win.

SR., AHMED HASSANIEN, DE #91

Ahmed’s journey from not knowing anything about American football to being named to the All-Mountain West team last year, to this year being named team captain and the preseason favorite to be the Mountain West Defensive player of the year is certainly remarkable, but it will be games like this that will cement his legacy at Boise State. Oregon’s offensive line had their struggles last week and pressuring the quarterback will be a priority if the Broncos want to win. If Hassanien has a big game then the Broncos will be in good shape.

Focus Position Group: Defensive Secondary

This week’s focus position group has to be the secondary as a unit, right? Last season this group struggled at giving up big chunk plays against the pass. All off season we heard how much this group improved with the addition of two P5 transfers in Jeremiah Earby and Davon Banks as well as a new secondary coach in Tyler Stockton. And yet, it was a new season but same old problems. Gabriel lit up the Vandals last week and it could be more of the same this week if the Broncos don’t make adjustments.

Rev's Route to a Bronco Win

TRUST THE PROCESS

Coach Danielson told his team, “Your best is enough, but your best is required.” He has also said in the past that he doesn’t need any of his players to wear a Superman cape. What he needs them to do is trust their process. Trust that the process their coaches have for them to get better each week is all that's required. Boise State doesn’t need a Herculean effort this week, but each player needs to play their absolute best.

STRONG START

No game can be won in the first quarter, but a game can certainly be lost in the first quarter. The key to this game is going to be if Boise State can start fast. Boise State has to find a way to plant the seed of doubt into the hearts of the Duck faithful and the Ducks themselves by having a strong start. If Boise State can find a way to control the ball and the clock and score points on their first few possessions they will be in good shape.

GET OFF THE FIELD

The Broncos defense has been under the microscope this week with their performance last Saturday. One of the glaring weaknesses of their performance was third down defense. GSU was able to convert on 12 of 19 on third down and was 7 for 7 in the Red Zone. Special Danielson said on Thursday, “We are going to lose if we don’t get off the field.” Boise State can’t let Oregon sustain long drive if they want any chance at winning this game.

Editorial Note:

For many members of Broncos nation, including myself, we may have “lost the forest in the trees” with last week’s performance against Georgia Southern. What should have been filled with euphoria at the coronation of the official Spencer Danielson era, with Ashton Jeanty and the offense churning out a record breaking day, racking up over 650 yards on offense and putting up 50+ points for the first time in over three seasons, was overshadowed by the scrutiny of the quarterback position and the fear that it may be a different year, but the defense still has the same problems.

I’ll be the first to confess, I let those things diminish the fact that the offensive line opened up Grand Canyon size running lanes for the best player in the county, Ashton Jeanty. I let the closeness of the game steal the joy of watching the boys get to 1-0 for the first time in a long time.

Yes, the defense had their issues, but listening to coaches talk this week, it seemed like they could and did identify what the issues were and how they were going to fix them.

Yes, the 5-start QB didn’t win the job, but the guy who did threw for 280 yards and a touchdown and played really well.

This Boise State team won a game last week that they would have found a way to lose over the past few seasons. They found a way to make enough plays when it mattered most and they found a way to win. That's what good teams do, they find a way to win. I think this is a good team. I think this could be the season that Boise State gets back “on track.”

But, this week Boise State plays the #7 ranked team in the nation. This week the Broncos might be getting the Ducks at the wrong time. This week Boise State might be running into a potential buzzsaw. This week Oregon is out to prove that last week against Idaho was just a fluke. This week Oregon is angry and ready to get the sour taste out of their mouth from last week and let the country know they are a top team in the nation.

At this point in the season I think Boise State is getting the CFP attention just based on brand and tradition and not based on the on-field product. Because let’s face it, Boise State hasn’t won one of these, no-one-gives-us-a-chance, we’re-going-to-prove-everyone-wrong, type games since they went to Provo and beat the #10 Cougars in 2021. The Broncos are 0-4 against top-25 or Power 5 programs over the last two seasons. They were 0-3 last year alone.

I think the world of Coach Danielson and I think his message of brotherhood is actually being heard and believed and I think this program is destined to start a new set of “glory days.”I just don’t see it happening this week against this opponent. I’ll be in attendance on Saturday cheering my heart out for the boys in Blue, and I bleed blue like the best of them, I just don’t know if the Broncos are quite ready to be giant killers yet.

Boise State 24, Oregon 38.

Rev's Rundown

PREVIEW | BOISE STATE (1-0) AT #7 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON (1-0)