USC got a little clearer picture of Oregon before the Trojans even finished their Sept. 12 night.
The jolt came from Stillwater, where Oklahoma State stunned No. 6 Oregon, 39-31, and flipped the conversation around the Ducks in a hurry. A team plenty of people had circled as a national title threat is suddenly dealing with an early loss, and that matters for USC in a big way.
The Trojans now have a path to make Oregon’s September a lot uglier. If USC beats the Ducks on Sept. 26 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, it can knock Oregon’s Big Ten title hopes and College Football Playoff chances off balance before the month even ends. A second loss would leave Oregon far from a lock for Indianapolis and far from safe in the 12-team postseason picture.
Oregon still has a way to recover, though. If the Ducks finish September with only the Oklahoma State defeat and then keep winning, the picture changes fast.
A win over USC on the road would help reset the resume, and beating current No. 1 Ohio State later in the regular season would push them right back into the mix.
That leaves a messy early-season logjam in the Big Ten, and Oklahoma State, as the Big 12 representative, just helped create it.
For USC, the immediate job is more basic: get past Louisiana, then handle Rutgers on Sept. 19. Those are the two hurdles before Oregon arrives in Los Angeles.
Still, coach Lincoln Riley, defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, offensive coordinator Luke Huard and the rest of the Trojans’ staff should be studying what Oklahoma State did. The Cowboys handed over a pretty direct blueprint for slowing Oregon down.
Cowboys coach Eric Morris has a Texas Tech connection to Riley, with Morris playing there from 2004 to 2008 and later working as an assistant from 2013 to 2017. They never really crossed paths in Lubbock, but Morris runs an offense with similarities to the one Riley uses, and he found a way to stress Oregon’s defense.
Drew Mestemaker did plenty of damage by taking advantage of Oregon defenders overpursuing and losing their eye discipline, especially on Oklahoma State’s first snap of the game, when he ripped off a 75-yard rushing gain.
Drew Mestemaker with a massive 75-yard rush on Oklahoma State's first play of the game 😤 pic.twitter.com/zTyXZb8ISH
He kept the Ducks off balance by making plays on the move and still pushing the ball deep. That gives Riley more to think about when it comes to attacking Oregon edge rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti in the Sept. 26 matchup.
Patterson, meanwhile, can zero in on the trench work. Oklahoma State won the leverage battle against Oregon’s tackles, which created real problems in pass protection for Ducks quarterback Dante Moore. Moore was sacked four times, had trouble pushing the ball downfield early, and had just 17 passing yards late in the second quarter before finishing with 191.
For now, USC has Louisiana and Rutgers to clear first. But Oklahoma State’s upset already changed the landscape, and the Ducks’ trip to the Coliseum now looks even more loaded with consequences.
In Other News...
Dante Moore Suddenly Has Oregon Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
Dante Moore came into the season carrying plenty of attention after choosing to return to Oregon rather than head to the NFL Draft, and his opener at least offered some early reassurance. But the first half against Oklahoma State was a different kind of test, the sort that can quickly shift the conversation around a quarterback expected to steady the Ducks in a big spot. NFL scouts were on hand to watch him closely, and the performance did not help quiet the scrutiny.
Moore completed just 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards and took two sacks before halftime, missing several key throws and never quite finding the kind of rhythm Oregon needed. The Ducks also had bigger issues than just the passing game, with the defense struggling to contain Oklahoma State as Oregon went to the break down 10 points. For a team that entered the night with postseason ambitions and a quarterback under the microscope, the first-half concern was less about one bad stretch than the possibility of a larger problem unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Has Injury Concerns In The Spots It Can Least Afford
Dan Lannings postgame injury update came with a little more concern than Oregon would like this early in the season, especially after a loss that already leaves plenty for the Ducks to sort through. Tight end Jamari Johnson, who was hurt in the previous game and missed practice this week, does not appear headed for a long-term absence, but the deeper issue is the line of players who were forced out against Oklahoma State and the roles they occupy.
Offensive lineman Douglas Utu and his replacement Trent Ferguson both left the game with injuries, which is the kind of development Oregon can least afford along the front. Running back Jordon Davisons status is still unclear, and while defensive tackle A'Mauri Washington was able to return for situational snaps after briefly exiting, the Ducks are suddenly waiting on several key answers at once as they try to rebound from the setback. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Has A Bigger Problem Than The Halftime Score Against Oklahoma State
At halftime against Oklahoma State, Oregon was still hanging around on the scoreboard, but the first 30 minutes told a far less comforting story. The Ducks trailed 24-17, and the bigger issue was how thoroughly they were being controlled on both sides of the ball, with Oklahoma State piling up yardage while Oregon leaned on a couple of deflected passes to stay within striking distance.
Dante Moore has not been able to settle the offense, completing 5 of 15 passes for 45 yards without a touchdown, and the passing game has been hampered by drops as much as accuracy. The ground attack has not offered much relief either, leaving Oregon with a lot to clean up if it wants to avoid letting a shaky half turn into something much worse. [Read more 🡒]