Boise State’s trip to Eugene turned into a mess before the Broncos ever reached campus, and Oregon may end up with a little extra edge before kickoff.
The Ducks open the season less than 24 hours from now, and while Boise State isn’t the biggest name on the schedule, it’s still a strong Non-Power 4 opponent. Oregon is expected to handle the Broncos, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing the Ducks as 24.5-point favorites.
But Friday brought some unwelcome travel drama for Boise State. The team had planned to fly into Eugene, only for rain-covered runway conditions to force the plane down in Portland instead. Once it became clear the Broncos couldn’t make the short hop from Portland to Eugene by air, they switched to a bus.
According to B.J. Rains, the team’s players and coaches got off the plane in Portland and were set to bus to Eugene, a trip that was expected to take about three hours in traffic. That was already a rough turn, and it got worse from there: the buses had to come from Eugene, which meant Boise State was not expected to arrive until nighttime.
For a team with a 12:30 p.m. local kickoff the next day, that is hardly the kind of schedule you want to be dealing with. Whether the delay actually impacts performance remains to be seen, but it’s certainly not the smoothest way to prepare for a season opener.
There was at least one clean part of the forecast for game day. Around kickoff, conditions are expected to be a cool 63 degrees, with a 0% chance of precipitation.
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Jeremiah McClellan May Have Forced His Way Into Oregons Plans
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McClellan also added a touchdown on an eight-yard reception that was reviewed and confirmed, giving the Ducks another weapon in the red zone. Dante Moore praised his dedication and big-play ability afterward, and for Oregon, the question now is less about what McClellan did in one game than how quickly that showing pushes him into a bigger role going forward. [Read more 🡒]