The No. 2 Oregon Ducks open the 2026 season at Autzen Stadium against Boise State, and the matchup arrives with plenty of attention on both sideline rosters and the weather.
Oregon brings back a strong veteran core, headlined by senior quarterback Dante Moore and senior center Iapani "Poncho" Laloulu. The Ducks also return senior defensive linemen A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander, senior tight end Jamari Johnson, senior wide receiver Evan Stewart, and senior edge rushers Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei. Tuioti’s brother, sophomore Mana Tuioti, is on the Broncos.
The Ducks also add several new faces, including Minnesota junior safety transfer Koi Perich, freshmen receivers Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton, and kicker Gage “Iceman” Hurych as part of a revamped special teams group.
Boise State arrives after three straight Mountain West championships and in its first season of Pac-12 Conference play. Fifth year senior quarterback Maddux Madsen is expected to lead the offense as it tries to settle in after the departure of Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty.
“Obviously, we’re playing arguably the best team in the country,” Broncos coach Spencer Danielson said in his pregame press conference about the Ducks. Danielson called the chance to face the No. 2 team in the country an "awesome moment" for college football.
Kickoff is set for approximately 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS.
There was also some travel disruption for Boise State before game day. According to Bronco Nation News writer B.J.
Rains, the team’s charter had to land in Portland after rain in Eugene prevented a safe arrival at Eugene Airport. Buses were then sent to Portland International Airport to bring the Broncos to Eugene, with the team’s estimated arrival projected for Friday night at 9 p.m.
PT.
Weather could be a factor as well. AccuWeather says Eugene has a 55 percent chance of precipitation on game day, with a forecast high of 71 degrees and a low of 50. The outlook calls for "Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a thundershower."
Oregon will take the field in a mix of the "Generation O" "Mighty Oregon" and "Gang Green" uniforms, giving the Ducks a classic green, yellow, and white look for the "stripe-out" atmosphere.
Relentless strength.Elite speed. Game 1 uniform combo for @oregonfootball. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/F6wRlM3Ry0
One other wrinkle from game week: neither team is releasing a depth chart. Boise State had originally planned to provide a two-deep chart for the trip to Autzen, but after learning Oregon would not release its own, the Broncos reportedly decided not to release theirs either.
The series history favors Boise State, which holds a 3-1 edge over Oregon. The Ducks earned their lone win in the matchup with a 37-34 victory at Autzen Stadium in the second game of the 2024 season.
Before that, Oregon lost to Boise State in Las Vegas in 2017, in Boise in 2009, and at home in 2008.
Be early and bring the noise. See you tomorrow, Ducks! #GoDucks https://t.co/depyGRYuXY pic.twitter.com/mOiOW3RNg4
In Other News...
Oregon Faces An Early WR Twist Fans Didn't Expect
Oregons season opener against Boise State brought an early shakeup to the receiver room, with Iverson Hooks not dressed for warmups and set to miss the game. That is a notable development for a transfer who arrived from UAB as one of the Ducks more interesting offseason additions and even landed on the Preseason Biletnikoff Award watchlist, raising expectations for what he might add to the offense right away.
Freshman Jalen Lott was also not dressed, which opens the door for other Oregon wideouts to pick up snaps and prove their place in the rotation. For a team trying to establish rhythm early in the year, the absence of two receivers changes the look of the depth chart before the first kickoff is even in the books. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Opens With An Early Jalen Lott Concern Fans Will Watch
Oregons build toward its 2026 season opener against Boise State at Autzen Stadium got a little more complicated before kickoff when freshman wide receiver Jalen Lott and transfer Iverson Hooks were not spotted in pregame warmups. Lotts absence stood out most, given the attention he brought into camp and the fact that he was reportedly dealing with injuries suffered during the preseason stretch.
Because this is a non-conference game, the Ducks do not have to put out an official injury report, so the full picture remains unclear for now. What is clear is that Oregon may need to lean on some of its younger receivers sooner than planned, which adds another layer of intrigue to a first game that was already supposed to offer an early look at the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Got A Title Nod That Raises The Pressure Fast
Before the season even gets into its full grind, Oregon has already found itself in the kind of spotlight that can make a good year feel bigger. During a CBS Sports pregame show, the studio anchor and three college football analysts all said they believe the Ducks are the team to beat for the 2026 national championship, a prediction built around Dante Moore returning at quarterback and Dan Lanning still steering the program.
For Oregon, the attention is flattering, but it also comes with the familiar weight of expectation. The Ducks have been to the national title game before, in 2010 and 2014, and the next step is the one that has eluded them. Being talked about as a future champion is one thing, but living up to a forecast like this starts long before January. [Read more 🡒]