Oregon got exactly the kind of Friday night it needed against Portland State: a chance to clean things up, get the starters out early, and then hand the spotlight to the freshmen who are supposed to carry this program forward.
With the game in hand by halftime, the Ducks were able to save wear and tear on the top line while giving fans a first real look at some of the young talent Dan Lanning and his staff have stocked away. And the early read was clear: this class has juice.
Brandon Smith was one of the first freshmen to make a real imprint. The true freshman running back, a late addition to Oregon’s class who drew strong reviews all offseason, finished with 14 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. In a game like this, that kind of workload matters because it suggests he may have a role in the backfield beyond just mop-up duty.
At STAR, Davon Benjamin also took advantage of the extra snaps once the starters were out. Brandon Finney Jr. had moved inside to start the game, but Benjamin still managed to leave his mark in the third quarter with his first career interception. Oregon may have uncovered a useful wrinkle with Finney inside, but Benjamin and Carl Williams IV both look like pieces the Ducks will need as the season rolls on.
Then there was Jett Washington, who turned his first night in Autzen into a showcase. After missing his first career tackle, he settled in fast and made the kind of plays that get noticed immediately: two diving interceptions on back-to-back drives. Oregon already has veteran help at safety, but Washington made a strong case that he’s too good to keep buried for long.
The biggest headline among the skill players might have been Kendre Harrison. With Jamari Johnson out injured and Andrew Olesh starting, Harrison still ended up as the tight end everyone talked about.
The 5-star freshman flashed the athleticism that made him such a coveted recruit, catching 4 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. There was one concerning moment late in the third quarter, though, when he appeared to get hurt and limped back to the locker room as the fourth quarter began.
Messiah Hampton rounded out the freshman standouts by continuing to build momentum with Dante Moore. Jeremiah McClellan missed the game with a foot injury, and Hampton picked up right where he left off last weekend. He caught 6 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns, including the first of his career, and he looks every bit like the Ducks’ WR4 right now.
In Other News...
Oregon's Blowout Clarified One Position Battle Fans Need To Watch
Oregons rout gave the Ducks exactly the kind of late-game runway a staff wants when the score gets out of hand early: starters could ease off, younger players could stack reps, and a few rising names had a chance to show where they fit next. Jordon Davison, Kendre Harrison, Messiah Hampton, Dylan Raiola and Nasir Wyatt all popped in their own ways, a reminder that the depth chart in Eugene is still very much alive as the season moves forward.
Carl Williams IVs situation is the one worth watching most closely after the dust settled. His injury and the way Oregon adjusted during the blowout could open the door for someone else, while Simeon Prices absence only added another layer to the picture. For a team that just showed how much talent it can roll onto the field, the real question now is which young pieces turn a strong outing into a longer-term role. [Read more 🡒]
Kendre Harrison Concern Just Clouded Oregons Next Big Stretch
Oregons win over Portland State came with a reminder of how quickly the Ducks tight end room can shift from a strength to a concern. Freshman Kendre Harrison kept making an impact in the passing game before leaving in the fourth quarter after appearing to get hurt, and his production was a welcome part of an offense that has leaned on young playmakers early this season.
Jamari Johnson has also been sidelined, which puts more pressure on Oregons depth if Harrisons issue lingers beyond the weekend. For a team heading into a more demanding stretch, the health of that position group suddenly matters a lot more than it did before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Has Oregon Fans Debating One Part Of This Rout
Oregons 84-0 win over Portland State was the kind of result that usually gets buried under the numbers and moved on from quickly, but this one lingered for a different reason. The Ducks piled up a historic scoring total for the program, and Dante Moore and Dylan Raiola helped drive the avalanche with more than 400 passing yards and seven touchdowns between them.
Dan Lanning still ended up fielding a different kind of postgame attention, as some fans took to social media to question the teams aggressiveness even with the game long out of hand. For Oregon, the margin was the headline on the field, but the conversation afterward turned to how far is too far when a powerhouse keeps its foot on the gas. [Read more 🡒]