The No. 2 Oregon Ducks keep turning into appointment viewing, and their Sept. 5 clash with Boise State proved it in a big way.
CBS Sports said the Ducks’ 34-27 win inside Autzen Stadium drew the network’s most-watched season-opening game in 28 years. An average of 4.831 million viewers watched the matchup, which featured Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and a deep group of weapons on offense, along with edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti creating havoc off the edge.
The audience only grew from there. CBS said the game was up 115 percent from last season’s season opener for the network, and the broadcast peaked at 7.527 million viewers when mobile streaming was included.
It was a fitting stage for two programs with College Football Playoff hopes, even if Oregon’s bigger dream is still out there: the school’s first national title. The opener gave a clear look at what the Ducks can be, and they’re not done making noise.
Oregon is already lined up for another milestone on Sept. 18, when it plays Portland State in Japan. The week three game will be streamed free for Japanese fans through DAZN, a move the university announced in late Aug. 2026.
"Working with Big Ten Network and DAZN lets us bring Oregon football to fans in Japan and in all international markets DAZN serves, and we look forward to continuing to add additional content and other elements to this partnership," said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens in a Aug. 27 release announcing the historic move.
The Ducks had already expanded their reach to Japan during the offseason, with coach Dan Lanning making the trip alongside Moore and other Oregon players. Now the program is aiming to build a new fan base there.
Before that international trip, though, Oregon has to handle week two business on the road against Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys were hammered 69-3 in last year’s meeting, a loss that helped end Mike Gundy’s long run as head coach. This season, Oklahoma State is led by former North Texas coach Eric Morris, who brought along former Mean Green quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker had even been linked as a possible Oregon portal addition, but Lanning said he did not speak to him directly.
Oklahoma State also has to do without top blindside protector Jacob Sexton, who is dealing with a lower leg ailment.
Oregon has settled on former Nebraska five-star quarterback signing Dylan Raiola as Moore’s top backup, while Mestemaker now gets the challenge of facing one of the nation’s deepest defenses with Moore on the other sideline.
That Oregon-Oklahoma State game will be televised by ESPN.
In Other News...
Oregons Boise State Win Just Took On A Different Look
Oregons narrow escape against Boise State looked a little different once the first week of the season was fully digested. The Ducks still sit comfortably inside the top 10 in ESPNs Football Power Index at No. 8 with a 22.7 rating, but their season-opening win came with a smaller bump than they probably wanted after being pushed harder than expected.
The matchup also looks more workable now from Oregons side, with Oklahoma State down at No. 72 in the FPI after a loss to Tulsa and a -1.6 rating. The Cowboys are still sorting through a roster with several new faces, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, and they also took a hit up front with starting left tackle Jacob Sexton out for the rest of the season, which only adds to the sense that this Week 2 game has changed shape since it was first circled. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons New Uniform Reveal Taps Into What Makes This Program Different
The newest Oregon uniform reveal leaned into the programs long habit of treating game day as a showcase as much as a contest, with the Ducks unveiling a combination inspired by their 2008 Mighty Oregon and Gang Green looks before facing Oklahoma State. Running back Jordon Davison modeled the set, which nods to past Ducks players such as Jeremiah Johnson while drawing on the schools well-known history of pushing the edge with its on-field style.
Oregons latest look is another product of the collaborative process that has long defined these reveals, with Nike, designers and team personnel all part of the mix. Fans are being asked to wear green to the game as part of the theme, adding another layer to an atmosphere the Ducks have helped make part of their brand, even as each new uniform drop keeps one familiar question hanging in the air about where the next idea will come from. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lannings Freshman O-Line Message Says A Lot About Oregons Priorities
Freshmen offensive linemen Immanuel Iheanacho and Tommy Tofi are still in the early stages of the climb at Oregon, and Dan Lanning made it clear after the opener against Boise State that the Ducks are not handing out jobs based on reputation alone. Oregon leaned on a rotation of six to eight linemen in that game, with the more experienced players getting the nod to start, a sign that the staff is comfortable letting the front sort itself out while the newcomers get their footing.
For a program that has made roster depth and development part of its identity, the message to the two freshmen was as much about process as it was about patience. Lanning pointed to effort and learning the system as the key steps before either player can expect consistent snaps, which says plenty about how Oregon plans to handle the offensive line this fall. The talent is there, but the Ducks are making it clear that trust in the trenches has to be earned. [Read more 🡒]