THE DUCKS ARE BUILT IN
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GAMEDAY
GAMEDAY, the Daily Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.
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(On The Cover) Jahlil Florence (6) celebrates after an interception. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
(Right) Nikko Reed (9) surveys the field as both teams warm up. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the Boise State Broncos 37-34 on Sept. 7, 2024, making a kick two seconds before the start of overtime. (Miles Cull/Emerald)
OREGON VS. UCLA GAME PREVIEW
Oregon’s first Big Ten opponent is a familiar face from the Pac-12
BECK PARSONS Sports Reporter
Ducks and Bruins fans alike are about to witness history. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the No.8-ranked Oregon Ducks football team will play its first ever Big Ten conference game in a visit to the Rose Bowl stadium and the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins.
The University of Oregon enters the game with an undefeated 3-0 record. After their best performance of the year, a 49-14 thrashing of longtime rivals Oregon State University, the Ducks had a bye week to prepare for their inaugural season of Big Ten conference play.
The Ducks will be hoping to begin that first season with a win over UCLA, who hold a 1-2 record and will enter Saturday’s game following two losses against the University of Indiana and Louisiana State University.
UCLA’s most recent game against No.16-ranked LSU started well, as UCLA carried a 10-7 lead into the second quarter and entered halftime with the score tied at 17. However, things changed after the break, as LSU scored 17 unanswered points to secure a 34-17 victory over the Bruins.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was able to dice up UCLA’s passing defense, completing 32 of 44 pass attempts for 352 yards and three touchdowns
without being sacked. He finished with an efficiency rating of 162.4, his best in his three matchups against “Power 4” conference teams this season.
UCLA has only five sacks this season, with none in their last two games. The Ducks offensive line, led by an elite tackle duo in Ajani Cornelius and Josh Conerly Jr., will be hoping to further UCLA’s pass-rush woes on Saturday.
After allowing seven sacks in their first two games, Oregon’s offensive line rebounded against Oregon State, allowing no sacks and committing no penalties. UCLA’s middling pass-rush presents Cornelius, Conerly Jr. and company with an excellent opportunity to build on the momentum they generated in Corvallis. If the offensive line can continue to protect quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Ducks should be able to capitalize on an underperforming UCLA defense. The Bruins’ defense ranks last in the Big Ten in pass yards per game (295.3) and ranks second-to-last in total yards per game (387.3).
Among the eight Big Ten teams who’ve played only three games so far, UCLA is second-to-last in total tackles (169) and tied for third-to-last in sacks with five. Among the same eight teams, Oregon ranks fourth in tackles with 186 and third in sacks with seven.
Unlike its defense, UCLA’s offense has been
responsible for plenty of quarterback pressure. The Bruins’ offensive line allowed five sacks against LSU, one of which resulted in a lost fumble.
UCLA’s offense has struggled all year. It ranks last in the Big Ten in total yards per game (292), rush yards per game (60.3), points per game (15.3) and average point differential (-14.3).
The team has only 181 rushing yards through three games. Leading rusher T.J. Harden has taken his 26 carries for only 72 yards and a single touchdown, averaging an underwhelming 2.6 yards per carry.
Things aren’t much better through the air. Quarterback Ethan Garbers has completed only 56.7% of his pass attempts, the third-worst rate in the conference. Garbers has thrown more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3) and has only a single receiver, sophomore Rico Flores Jr., with more than 85 receiving yards this season.
Oregon will enter Saturday’s Big Ten opener with momentum firmly on the Ducks’ side. “It’s a huge week for development,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “Every single one of our players has an individual improvement plan this week.”
UC-OREGON
OREGON
struggled during that same stretch.
According to Lanning, this approach to recruiting makes the locker room a much more exciting place and, of course, makes for a more
“That’s part of what makes this place great: when you walk in the locker room, it’s a melting pot of people. You have guys from the Islands all the way to Miami, to the DMV, all across the United States to make this a really special place,”
Eugene is definitely a special place, and this program is too, but it doesn’t become that special place off the back of recruiting out of only one or two pipelines. That special aura also fuels regression from a program such as UCLA in these circumstances, especially when the nation’s best don’t necessarily feel the need to play in their
Lanning also gave some color on why elite players would venture so far from home to play football.
“People come here to sign up for something that’s different, they want to sign up for [something] hard, they want to experience something that isn’t easily attainable … Every one of these guys was the best player on their high
Even in UCLA’s backyard with players that grew up supporting the Bruins, Oregon finds a great portion of its success. That only comes with Lanning’s obsession with the best and intense
As the best of the best continue to emerge from Southern California, programs such as Oregon will continue to get better, because the best of the best want to compete — something Lanning promises and credits as one of the driving forces of the strong familial bonds within the team.
Kobe Savage (5) grins as shouts and insults begin to rain down from the Beaver student section as the Ducks warm up. The Oregon Ducks travel up to Corvallis to face their in-state rival the Oregon State Beavers on September 14th, 2024. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
“ON INNOVATION,” PART IV: THE ETHICS OF REALIGNMENT
CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT IS THE HOT TOPIC ACROSS COLLEGE FOOTBALL. WHEN, THOUGH, IS IT IMMORAL?
BY OWEN MURRAY Sports Reporter
Conference realignment is tricky. It’s an especially sore subject, though, when you ask fans west of the Rockies about the Big Ten and Pac-12’s decisions over the past year.
One was announced in front of the world. The other dropped in the middle of the night. The situations couldn’t be more different — or so the narrative has been spun.
It’s innovation at its finest. Realignment is pitched as a spin of the college football merry-go-round. With one move, schools across the nation are no longer facing those they’ve played against for decades. It’s yet
avoid the destruction of one conference, the fate of many more has been altered.
That doesn’t mean that the former Pac-12 schools are without guilt. They left their conference as good as dead in the face of wilting media rights deals. Many of them (Oregon amongst this number) are some of the most notable brands in college athletics. They wanted more.
It’s worse for the athletes, too. Oregon football will travel nearly 5500 miles for three conference away games. It’s more for sports like basketball and soccer, where athletes play 10 or more games on the road in 2024-25.
The argument essentially boils down to whether or not you believe that a school’s brand and everything
opponents rather than display the history that these schools pride themselves on. There’s the argument too that the cross-country travel is what these athletes will experience as professionals, but it falls flat. “Athlete” is only half of their college life. Those professional athletes dedicate their time almost entirely to recovery and keeping their body safe. Patrick Mahomes doesn’t have an 8:00 a.m. business lecture to get to.
Realignment is fun. It’s exciting, and for Oregon (as a business), it’s relatively painless. The Ducks will play more big games, face better opponents and almost undoubtedly see their already-gigantic brand continue to grow.
It’s innovation at its finest, and a fantastic example
Washington State defensive back Sam Lockett III (0) dives to tackle Oregon's Tez Johnson (15). The Oregon Ducks football team takes on the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 21, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)
IMPROVEMENT AHEAD FOR DUCKS’ OFFENSIVE LINE?
Is strong play against Beavers a one-time thing, or a sign of what’s to come?
By JOE KRASNOWSKI Sports Reporter
The Ducks play in an offense that features one of the College Football’s premier passers, a bell-cow running back and two of its most dynamic receivers.
But make no mistake, the Ducks’ offensive line will be one of the most pivotal pieces going forward for a team expected to surpass last season’s 12-2 record and New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.
Early in this non-conference slate, there’s been plenty of talking points for fans and media outlets alike to harp on. Most notably, the line had struggled immensely in closer-than-expected wins over Boise State and Idaho. Although the Ducks ultimately came out on top, it was clear that Dillon Gabriel had become more accustomed to the Rich Brooks Field turf than former quarterback Bo Nix — who was sacked just five times last season — ever was.
However, in what the Ducks hope is a sign of things to come going forward in the Big Ten, they stiffened in a showdown with the Beavers, leaving Gabriel untouched.
"It's a great feeling to leave off the field knowing that we played Oregon ball," Iapani Laloulu said postgame.
The Ducks’ offensive line allowed for all types of familiar hallmarks as the Oregon offense finally clicked into gear.
Gabriel connected on 20 of his 24 passes for a pair of touchdowns amidst a clean pocket, while the line bulldozed a path for Jordan James (12 carries for 86 yards) to average over seven yards a carry.
“I’m just proud of the guys up front, just the way they compete and continue to do so. It’s been great to see,” Gabriel said.
But if the Ducks look to carry that same success and dynamism into Big Ten play in a conference known for being hard-nosed and defensively-minded, the offensive line will have to continue doing its part.
It might help that even with three returning starters, Oregon’s offensive line will be allowed to gel together even more, now with three weeks of game-film and a bye week preceding their conference slate. It’s important to note that the offensive line that was showcased in the first three games of the season
looks nothing like last year’s. Walk-on Charlie Pickard started at center in Week 1 with Laloulou moving to guard, all while transfer guard Matthew Bedford was held out until Week 3 in Corvallis.
And when they all clicked together, so did the Ducks’ offense.
“I love how everyone in the building has continued to focus on the process and getting better every single day. I think that allowed us to play confident, play free and let loose,” Gabriel said.
In no position group is that process more evident than the offensive line's strong play in making Gabriel, James and co.’s job that much easier.
“Obviously we’ve changed up the lineups there at times,” Lanning said of the offensive line after the Oregon State game. “We’re still trying to find the right group … we were able to move them up front tonight and because of that we were able to find some success.”
And again, to continue that success in all facets of the game, the line will continue to be key — regardless of the stars that play behind it.
Marcus Harper II (55) drops back to defend against the pass rush. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the University of Washington Huskies in an away match at Husky Stadium in Seattle, on Oct. 14, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)
