Evan Stewart left no doubt that Oregon’s ceiling is still on the rise, even after the Ducks put 84 points on Portland State.
That kind of scoreboard usually tells the whole story. Oregon’s wideout wasn’t interested in treating it like a finished product.
After the No. 21 Ducks rolled past the Vikings 84-0 on Saturday, Stewart made it clear he believes this group still has another gear.
"This team overall, I think we still have a level we haven't reached," said Stewart. "I think we're determined. I think we're in good hands with good coaching, and I think the more and more we just keep pouring into it day by day, week by week, I think it's going to be something to see in November beside the end of the season, for sure."
Against Portland State, Oregon got a huge afternoon from Dante Moore, who threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns in one half. Stewart did his part too, finishing as the Ducks’ leading receiver with three catches for 72 yards and a score before leaving the game.
For Oregon, the blowout came with a clear purpose: reset after the loss at Oklahoma State. The Ducks are 2-1 after falling 39-31 on the road in Week 2, a game that exposed some issues on both sides of the ball. The offensive line and run game still have questions, while the defensive line - despite featuring four potential NFL Draft picks in the starting group - has not consistently created the kind of pressure Oregon needs.
That setback also came with consequences in the polls. Dan Lanning’s team opened the season at No. 2 in the AP Poll and has since slipped to No. 21, but the path to the College Football Playoff is still there.
Stewart sounded encouraged by the way Oregon answered the Oklahoma State loss, especially with a major test ahead. The Ducks travel to Los Angeles to face No. 12 USC on Sept. 26, a game that looms as a key measuring stick for both teams.
"I think it was a good bounce back game for sure, especially with what happened last week," said Stewart. "I think just building up the confidence and just getting that rhythm with this game and just catching our feet again just definitely made a difference and made an impact with all of us.
Just building on top of that, going into next week, knowing that we got a big week coming. So it was pretty good."
The lopsided win also left Stewart with a rare perspective. He said the 84-point total caught him off guard.
"Honestly, it didn't feel real at first. I've never really blown out a team that bad, honestly.
I was at A&M. We won.
I mean, Oregon, we won whenever I was here in 2024, but I don't think we ever did that. So, I mean, last year, whenever we beat O-State (Oklahoma State), 69-3, that was kind of like my first taste of a big blowout.
But yeah, seeing 84 on that scoreboard was an eye-opener. And I know we can definitely make a big difference this year," said Stewart.
He also had praise for some of the younger players who got their chances and delivered. Stewart singled out Messiah, calling him "My dog" and "my little young'un," while noting the freshman’s New York ties and the energy he brings.
He also pointed to JJ, another New York player, saying, "He say that's that 585 stuff. That's his little brother thing there.
We just try to hype him up. Seeing him make plays makes us happy.
You're the prince of New York, for sure."
Stewart said the reserves were ready when their numbers were called, especially with JJ out.
"Yeah, they really stepped up. I mean, when JJ was down, we told them that their numbers are going to be called and we were going to need them in the C-Gap.
You know, we call them the C-Gap CEOs. So we just needed them to own the C-Gap and just do their part.
And they definitely did that."
He closed by crediting the work those players put in before the game ever arrived.
"I mean, every single day in practice, they were detailed. They came prepared.
They were taking notes. And honestly, Kendre definitely took a big step, especially being a younger fella and Olesh coming from a different school and, you know, meeting our standard.
He's been a good idol and a good role in there," Stewart said.
In Other News...
Oregon Just Lost A Receiver Its Passing Game Really Needed
Jeremiah McClellans foot injury landed at an especially awkward moment for Oregon, which had been counting on its starting wide receiver to help stabilize the passing game. The setback happened during warmups before the game against Portland State, and head coach Dan Lanning later confirmed McClellan broke his foot and will be out indefinitely. For a Ducks offense still trying to find its rhythm, losing a key perimeter target this early changes the picture quickly.
Oregon has already started leaning on other options to absorb the extra workload, with Messiah Hampton and Iverson Hooks among the receivers getting chances to step up. That creates an immediate test for the depth of the room and for how well the Ducks can keep the passing game on schedule without one of its more important pieces. How quickly the new rotation settles in may end up shaping the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Had A Strong Answer For Oregon Blowout Critics
Dan Lanning spent part of this week trying to put Oregons lopsided win over Portland State in context, and his explanation was straightforward: the Ducks were willing to shorten the second half to 10-minute quarters, but Portland State declined. Once the game continued, Oregon kept its starters out after halftime and turned the rest of the afternoon over to backup players, giving them a chance to get meaningful game experience in a game that was never in doubt.
There was still a human side to the blowout beyond the score itself. For some Ducks, including Akili Smith Jr. and Brady Bidwell, the matchup carried personal moments that mattered inside a game otherwise defined by the criticism around the margin. That is the part Lanning seemed intent on emphasizing, even as the outside conversation kept circling back to how much running up the score really happened. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons Early Transfer Returns Are Raising One Uncomfortable Question
Through the first three games, Oregons transfer-portal haul has looked less like a roster overhaul and more like a mixed bag wrapped into a team that has leaned heavily on returners and younger players. The Ducks brought in help with clear expectations, but the early returns have varied from player to player, with some settling into useful roles and others still searching for a real foothold in the rotation.
For a program that has used the portal as part of its roster-building plan, the uncomfortable question is whether the additions have actually changed the shape of this team enough. Oregon has gotten more dependable production from familiar faces than from its new arrivals, and the next stretch will tell whether that is just an early-season snapshot or a sign that the Ducks may need more from the transfer class to match their bigger ambitions. [Read more 🡒]