The AP Top 25 shook up Oregon’s early-season outlook, and not in the way Ducks fans wanted. After surviving Boise State 34-27 at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 5, Oregon slid from No. 2 to No. 6 in the Week 1 rankings.
That drop makes sense when you look at how the opener unfolded. Oregon was a 24.5-point favorite against the Broncos, per DraftKings Sportsbook, yet found itself down by as many as 10 points before finally settling in offensively after halftime. Dante Moore powered the comeback effort, completing 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns.
Jeremiah McClellan was just as sharp in the win, hauling in six catches for 150 yards and a touchdown as Oregon avoided an upset and moved on to prepare for its first road test of the season at Oklahoma State.
The Ducks weren’t the only team to take a hit in the new poll. Michigan took one of the steepest falls, dropping from No. 16 to unranked after a controversial 13-12 home win over Western Michigan. The finish has sparked plenty of conversation around the college football world after Michigan’s converted second Hail Mary attempt, when a second was added back on the clock.
Texas A&M and Washington also slipped, with the Aggies and Huskies both falling two spots despite winning their Week 1 games.
The biggest riser in this AP Top 25 update was LSU, which blasted Clemson 51-10 to open the season and jumped three places to No. 8. Lane Kiffin’s Tigers also picked up five first-place votes after the statement win in Baton Rouge.
LSU’s starting quarterback delivered a balanced night, throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown while adding 113 rushing yards and two scores. Winston Watkins Jr., who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU, made an immediate impact in his debut with seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Oregon’s next challenge comes against Drew Mestemaker and Oklahoma State, which is coming off a 24-10 road loss to Tulsa. Kickoff from Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is set for 9 a.m. PT, with ESPN carrying the game.
In Other News...
Eric Morris Just Put Oklahoma State's Oregon Challenge In Plain Sight
With the Oregon trip looming, Eric Morris spent time laying out where Oklahoma State stands after its opening loss to Tulsa and what has to tighten up before the Cowboys take another swing at their season. He pointed to execution issues and even his own play-calling as part of the problem, framing the week as less about panic than about fixing details and finding a little momentum before the record gets any harder to manage.
The line, though, is where the challenge gets real. Morris confirmed that Jacob Sexton is out for the season with a leg injury, leaving a major spot to be patched as Oklahoma State prepares for one of its biggest tests of the early schedule. For a team already trying to rebound from a 0-1 start, the matchup now comes with an added layer of uncertainty up front, and the Cowboys will have to sort out who is ready to step in before they meet the Ducks. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Gives Oregon An Early Road Test They Cant Ignore
The first road trip of Oregons 2026 season already has a different feel to it, with the Ducks heading into a setting that will test more than just their ranking. Dan Lanning and Jordon Davison have both stressed the basics of travel prep, leaning on hydration and acclimation as the Ducks get ready for the shift in temperature and time before meeting Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
Oregon has made a habit of handling road environments, carrying a 12-game active road winning streak into this one, but the early-season challenge is obvious. The Ducks will also have to deal with a weather forecast that can complicate everything from tempo to stamina, making this opener a useful measuring stick for a team that knows tougher road conditions are coming later, too. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces An Oregon Problem Eric Morris Knows Too Well
With Oregon looming on the schedule, Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris spent time this week sizing up a defense that looks every bit as disruptive as advertised. He pointed to Bo Nix at quarterback, along with Kayvon Uiagalelei, Mase Funa and safety Nick Perich, and made clear that the Ducks bring more than just name recognition. Morriss view was straightforward: Oregons defense is the kind of group that can squeeze an offense in multiple ways and force a clean game from start to finish.
What makes the matchup even more interesting for Oklahoma State is that Morris did not stop at the obvious headliners. The Ducks also have added another layer of difficulty with transfer safety Dillon Thieneman, who arrived with a strong debut and immediately showed up as a factor against the run. For a coach trying to prepare his team for a tough early test, it is the sort of opponent profile that leaves little room for comfort, and even less for overlooking the details that usually decide these games. [Read more 🡒]