Oregon’s Offense Reloads in Time for CFP Run - and That Should Worry Everyone
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon didn’t need to be at full strength to put up 51 points in its College Football Playoff opener. That much was obvious less than two minutes into the game, when the Ducks found the end zone with ease and never looked back in a 51-34 win over James Madison.
Despite missing their top three wideouts in full capacity, Oregon’s offense didn’t skip a beat. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns, slicing through the Dukes’ defense with a receiving corps that looked more like a preview of the program’s future than its present. Malik Benson (119 yards, two touchdowns) and Jeremiah McClellan (83 yards, one touchdown) stepped into starring roles, and the Ducks rattled off explosive play after explosive play against a defense that simply couldn’t keep up.
What’s more, this wasn’t even Oregon at full strength - not yet.
The Ducks are starting to get healthy at exactly the right time, and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the CFP field. Freshman phenom Dakorien Moore, who missed the final four games of the regular season with a knee injury, returned to action and caught a short pass early in the second quarter.
It was a modest stat line, but a significant step in his return. The rust is coming off - and fast.
Veteran receiver Gary Bryant Jr., sidelined the past three games, was also back on the field in a limited role. And perhaps most intriguing of all, Evan Stewart - the former five-star transfer who was expected to be Oregon’s WR1 this season - suited up in full pads for the first time all year.
He didn’t play, but he warmed up and was listed as a game-time decision. For a player who’s been out since the offseason with a knee injury, that’s a major milestone.
“I love how the fans were cheering on Evan when he caught his first warmup pass in a long time,” Moore said after the game. “I was glad to see him back.
We had Dakorien, Gary, everybody getting back. It’s great to have all your weapons.”
And Moore’s not exaggerating. Oregon has rattled off seven straight wins without its full arsenal at receiver. Now, with Moore and Bryant easing back into the mix and Stewart inching closer to a return, the Ducks are suddenly looking like the most dangerous offense still standing - and they’ve been plenty dangerous already.
Offensive coordinator Will Stein couldn’t hide his excitement after the win.
“It was just great to see them out there again,” Stein said. “They pose a lot of threats to the defense - their speed, their willingness to block on the perimeter, their ball-in-hand attributes. They’re just exceptional players.”
And Oregon’s going to need every bit of that firepower.
Next up is a heavyweight clash with No. 4 seed Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl - a team that ranks third in scoring defense and boasts one of the top 25 pass defenses in the country. If the Ducks get through that, they’ll likely face another elite defense in the next round. It’s a gauntlet, no doubt, and it’s going to take Oregon’s best football to survive it.
The last time Dan Lanning’s squad faced a defense of that caliber, it lost a home game to No. 1 Indiana by 10 points - and that was with a healthy Moore and Bryant. Could Stewart’s return be the missing piece this time around?
It’s not just a hopeful storyline. Stewart was brought in to be the guy for this offense, and while injuries kept him on the sidelines all season, the extended playoff window has given him a shot at redemption. If he does return, he won’t just be a bonus - he could be a game-changer.
Moore already looks locked in, throwing darts and showing poise beyond his years. Now imagine him with a full deck: Benson and McClellan continuing to shine, Moore and Bryant rounding into form, and Stewart - the speedster with WR1 tools - potentially joining the mix.
That’s what makes Oregon such a legitimate threat to win it all. They’re not just surviving the postseason. They’re getting stronger.
And if their best offensive football is still ahead of them?
Watch out.