Week 1 can fool people fast, and Nick Saban made sure College GameDay didn’t let the hot takes run wild on Saturday morning.
As ESPN’s pregame crew broke down the early-season noise, the conversation turned to Oregon after the Ducks had a tight opening test against Boise State. Desmond Howard called that his overreaction, pointing to Oregon’s shaky first half and the way the game seemed to be slipping away before the Ducks steadied themselves.
"My overreaction is Oregon. Oregon struggled last week against Boise [State], especially in the first half, looked like they may lose the game.
You've got to know every now and then, and then you come up against a team that kind of has your number, and they give you all they got. I think the Ducks are just okay.
It was a great overreaction last week about Oregon."
Nick Saban didn’t let that stand without a response. He pushed back hard on the idea that one game should be treated like a final verdict, taking aim at the way early results get inflated into sweeping conclusions.
"I mean, everybody has the opportunity to improve. It's a long season. One thing I hated and despised about the media is how they proclaim your team early"
That reaction fits Saban’s long-running disdain for quick judgments. During his coaching career, he was famous for brushing off praise with his “rat poison” line, and now in the studio he’s using the same instinct to keep the conversation grounded.
Oregon’s Week 1 showing did spark plenty of chatter, especially because the Ducks were facing a Boise State team viewed as a potential College Football Playoff contender. A close game was enough to trigger the noise, but it also gave Dan Lanning’s group a real early-season test instead of a runaway win that would have told them very little.
The Ducks now move into Week 2 with a chance to look cleaner when they face Oklahoma State on Saturday morning. That game also comes with its own pressure points, since Oregon has already heard all week that it is not quite as good as some thought and has slid in the AP Poll. A stronger performance would quiet plenty of that talk.
Oklahoma State is carrying criticism of its own after losing to Tulsa. Eric Morris has assembled a roster with real promise, and the Cowboys have the pieces for an explosive offense if Drew Mestemaker and the transfers start clicking together.
Oregon and Oklahoma State kick off at 9:00 AM PT from Stillwater.
In Other News...
Dante Moore Suddenly Has Oregon Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
Dante Moore came into the season carrying plenty of attention after choosing to return to Oregon rather than head to the NFL Draft, and his opener at least offered some early reassurance. But the first half against Oklahoma State was a different kind of test, the sort that can quickly shift the conversation around a quarterback expected to steady the Ducks in a big spot. NFL scouts were on hand to watch him closely, and the performance did not help quiet the scrutiny.
Moore completed just 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards and took two sacks before halftime, missing several key throws and never quite finding the kind of rhythm Oregon needed. The Ducks also had bigger issues than just the passing game, with the defense struggling to contain Oklahoma State as Oregon went to the break down 10 points. For a team that entered the night with postseason ambitions and a quarterback under the microscope, the first-half concern was less about one bad stretch than the possibility of a larger problem unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has Injury Concerns In The Spots It Can Least Afford
Dan Lannings postgame injury update came with a little more concern than Oregon would like this early in the season, especially after a loss that already leaves plenty for the Ducks to sort through. Tight end Jamari Johnson, who was hurt in the previous game and missed practice this week, does not appear headed for a long-term absence, but the deeper issue is the line of players who were forced out against Oklahoma State and the roles they occupy.
Offensive lineman Douglas Utu and his replacement Trent Ferguson both left the game with injuries, which is the kind of development Oregon can least afford along the front. Running back Jordon Davisons status is still unclear, and while defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington was able to return for situational snaps after briefly exiting, the Ducks are suddenly waiting on several key answers at once as they try to rebound from the setback. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Has A Bigger Problem Than The Halftime Score Against Oklahoma State
At halftime against Oklahoma State, Oregon was still hanging around on the scoreboard, but the first 30 minutes told a far less comforting story. The Ducks trailed 24-17, and the bigger issue was how thoroughly they were being controlled on both sides of the ball, with Oklahoma State piling up yardage while Oregon leaned on a couple of deflected passes to stay within striking distance.
Dante Moore has not been able to settle the offense, completing 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards without a touchdown, and the passing game has been hampered by drops as much as accuracy. The ground attack has not offered much relief either, leaving Oregon with a lot to clean up if it wants to avoid letting a shaky half turn into something much worse. [Read more 🡒]