Oklahoma State heads into its Sept. 12 matchup with No. 2 Oregon already forced into a major change up front. Left tackle Jacob Sexton is out for the rest of the season with a lower leg injury, leaving the Cowboys to sort out who will protect the blind side against one of the nation’s most disruptive edge groups.
That’s a tough ask for a unit trying to steady itself against a Ducks defense that made life miserable for Boise State in Week 1. Oregon opened with a 34-27 win, and quarterback Dante Moore had a clean enough night behind his line: just one sack allowed and 119 rushing yards on the ground.
Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is dealing with the opposite problem. First-year head coach Eric Morris made it clear there’s no mystery about how the replacement decision will be made.
"Whoever practices the best this week," Morris said to reporters on Sept. 8. "We'll see who gives us the best chance to win."
The current depth chart points to either Desmond Magiya or Shaun Torgeson at left tackle. Magiya already knows Morris from their time together in Stillwater after his previous stop at North Texas. The 6-4 lineman originally signed with North Texas in the 2023 recruiting class.
Torgeson brings a different path to the job. He started his college career at Portland State through its 2024 class, and he also played high school football at Ventura, California power St.
Bonaventure. That even put him on the same Marmonte League stage as Ducks freshman safety Davon Benjamin, a former Oaks Christian standout.
Whoever gets the nod will be stepping into a brutal first assignment. Oregon’s pass rush showed plenty of bite against Boise State, with Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti teaming with defensive tackle Bear Alexander to form a front that produced three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. Uiagalelei and Tuioti were especially active, while Alexander did the heavy lifting inside.
That trio gives Oklahoma State plenty to worry about, especially with a new starter at left tackle still working through timing, communication, and pre-snap responsibilities with the rest of the offense. The Cowboys do at least get to play in front of their home crowd rather than inside Autzen Stadium, but Dan Lanning and defensive coordinator Chris Hampton have a chance to bring the pressure early and make the new blindside protector prove himself fast.
In Other News...
Oregon Heads To Stillwater With One Big Injury Concern Already Looming
Oregon opened the season with a win over Boise State, but the Ducks did it while working around a cluster of injuries that already had the depth chart looking a little thin. Jalen Lott, Iverson Hooks and Simeon Price all missed the opener, and coach Dan Lanning said Lott will be out for a short period after hand surgery while Hooks is expected back soon from a hamstring injury.
The next test comes at Oklahoma State, and the trip to Stillwater will give Oregon a quicker read on how well it can absorb those early absences. The Ducks are hoping to get some of those pieces back in time for that matchup, but the status of the injured group is still the storyline to watch as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Dante Moore Just Gave Oregon Fans A Reason To Dream
Week 1 offered a little bit of everything for college football quarterback watchers, and Dante Moore was right in the middle of the conversation. Around the country, several passers turned in eye-catching starts, from Mason Heintschel and Kevin Jennings to Darian Mensah, Cutter Boley and Braden Atkinson, but Moores performance stood out as one of the more encouraging signs for Oregon fans looking for early evidence that the offense can be something special this fall.
Mensahs name is already getting early Heisman attention, according to DraftKings Sportsbook odds, which says plenty about how quickly the national quarterback chatter can move. For Oregon, though, Moores strong opening is its own kind of spark, the sort of debut that gives a fan base a reason to think bigger even before the season really gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duck Kenyon Sadiq Suddenly Looks Ready For His NFL Debut
Kenyon Sadiqs NFL debut now appears to be right around the corner, which is a notable development for a former Oregon tight end who had been slowed by complications from hernia surgery. The Jets rookie missed the preseason, but he has been back in positional work and is trending toward being available for New Yorks season opener against Tennessee.
Aaron Glenn confirmed Sadiq is on track to play, giving the Jets a timely boost at a position that often takes young players a little longer to master. For Ducks fans, it is another reminder of how much former Oregon talent is scattered across NFL rosters, with Sadiqs path now turning from recovery to his first chance to make an impact on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]