Saturday’s trip to Ohio Stadium puts Oregon in a tough spot, but it also puts a spotlight on a player who may be ready for a bigger stage. True freshman Brandon Smith is coming off the kind of outing that can change how an offense looks at a backfield option, and the Ducks may need that spark against No. 12 Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have made life miserable for opposing ground games all season. They rank 15th nationally in rushing defense, give up just 95.8 rushing yards per game, and are allowing only 3.2 yards per carry.
That is a brutal assignment for any runner, let alone a freshman. But Smith’s performance against Northwestern gave Oregon a reason to believe he can handle a heavier load.
With Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison banged up, Smith was asked to do more against Northwestern, and he answered. The Fresno, California, native ran eight times for 82 yards, averaged 10.2 yards per carry, and ripped off a long of 35 yards. He also punched in a two-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a score that put Oregon ahead for good.
He wasn’t just a factor on the ground, either. Smith caught four passes for 32 yards and finished with 114 yards from scrimmage, showing the kind of versatility that could matter even more against a defense as stingy as Ohio State’s.
That versatility may be Oregon’s best path to creating space. If the Ducks can get Smith involved on screen passes, swing routes and checkdowns, they can avoid asking him to repeatedly bang into the Buckeyes’ front. A more reliable passing game from Dylan Raiola would only make that approach more dangerous by forcing Ohio State to respect more than one threat.
Raiola was quick to praise what he saw from Smith after the Northwestern game.
"That dude is special," Raiola said following the Northwestern game. "Being a freshman, getting here when he did, he raised the standard for himself, and you just saw it every day.
You see it in practice. You just kept seeing him make plays, make guys miss…Brandon's special, and he makes a lot of guys miss."
There’s also the matter of how Oregon’s backfield rotation shakes out after the injuries to Hill and Davison. Smith’s workload is worth watching, because the Ducks may need him to handle more touches again if those two remain limited.
The freshman has already drawn an eye-catching comparison, too. Smith said he has heard the Saquon Barkley talk and embraces it.
"I think it's kind of cool because Saquon Barkley is kind of like my favorite running back right now. So it's kind of exciting to hear that. I kind of model my game after him."
"You see some of the runs I had, I had people say I look like him. Like, my mom said I look like him. So I think it's kind of accurate."
One game doesn’t make a season, and nobody is handing Smith a breakout label just yet against a defense this good. Still, Oregon has found a back who can create in more than one way, and that alone gives the Ducks something useful heading into Saturday.
In Other News...
Oregons Freshman Lineman Is Emerging From The Ducks Toughest Daily Test
Tommy Tofi has been working his way into a starting role for Oregon this season, a gradual rise that says as much about his own progress as it does about the Ducks uneven offensive line. The true freshman guard has benefited from veteran help around him, but the biggest push has come in practice, where Oregons experienced defensive linemen have given him the kind of daily stress test that can speed up a young linemans growth.
Dan Lanning has even pointed to Tofis development as something that resembles the path Josh Conerly Jr. took in Eugene, with the staff seeing a natural climb rather than a sudden leap. For Oregon, the encouraging part is not just that Tofi is holding his own, but that he is doing it in a season when the line has needed answers and the Ducks have kept leaning on him for more responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Explains Why Oregons O-Line Suddenly Looks More Settled
For the first time this season, Oregon rolled out the same starting offensive line in back-to-back games, and the difference showed in a 34-26 win over Northwestern. The Ducks moved the ball well and kept the operation clean up front, with the group finishing without a penalty while giving the offense a steadier look than it had at other points in the year.
Dan Lanning still framed the line as a work in progress, which fits a season shaped by injuries and competition for jobs. Trent Ferguson and Immanuel Iheanacho have both affected the mix, but Lanning pointed to the current groups consistency and attention to fundamentals as reasons the unit has started to look more settled, even if the Ducks know more shuffling could still be ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Faces A Dangerous New Ohio State Quarterback Test
A fresh quarterback wrinkle is waiting for Oregon this week, and it comes in a setting that can make even a seasoned offense feel a little less predictable. Ohio State freshman Luke Fahey is set to make his first home start against the No. 23 Ducks after stepping in on the road against USC, where he completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown when the Buckeyes were forced to adjust because of an injury to the starter.
For Oregon, the challenge is less about the rsum and more about the unknowns that come with a young quarterback who has already shown he can handle a big stage. Ryan Day and Dan Lanning both weighed in on Faheys performance and upside, which only adds to the sense that this matchup could hinge on how quickly Oregon sorts out what kind of test it is getting from a passer still early in his college career. [Read more 🡒]