So how is it that as a fan of Oregon college football teams, after watching Oregon State fall to Houston yesterday 33-20, and the University of Oregon defeat Boise State 34-27, I felt quite a bit better about OSU’s loss than Oregon’s win?
Must come down to expectations.
Since Oregon was ranked #2, with a quarterback rated as the best in the nation, I figured that while the game wouldn’t be an absolute blowout (Boise State always is tough to play), the Ducks would handle the Broncos without much of a problem.
Well, Boise State was a heck of a problem. Oregon was fortunate to end up with a win.
The game easily could have been a rare home loss for the Ducks if a few plays had turned out differently. For most of the game Oregon looked less like a smoothly functioning national championship-quality team, and more like a sputtering overly-highly-ranked collection of skilled players who weren’t close to living up to their potential.
Two dropped punts. Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Excessive reliance on flare passes that went nowhere. Defense pushed around by smaller Broncos offensive line. Uncreative play calling. Offsides penalty when Boise State had a 4th and six, and the announcers saying Broncos aren’t punting because they hope to draw Oregon offsides.
Other teams in the top ten must be thinking, “Sure would be nice to get the Ducks in the playoffs.”
When the game came to an end, I was relieved that Oregon had managed to eke out a victory. Dante Moore played great, passing for a career high 378 yards with three touchdowns. The Ducks’ receivers were scarily fast and shifty. But there was something off about the team that left me with an uncomfortable feeling, despite the win.
Oregon State, by contrast, was playing its first game as part of the rejuvenated Pac-12 conference. They’d lost key players to the transfer portal. They had a new coach, JaMarcus Shephard. Houston was ranked #23. The Beavers would have been ranked in the dream on category.
I fully expected that Oregon State would lose. I just hoped that it wouldn’t be more than by the three touchdowns I recall Houston was favored by.
From the start, though, I was impressed with the Beavers, Even when the score was 26-7 in the third quarter. Then Houston only got one more touchdown while Oregon State got thirteen points to make it a one-score game until Houston put the game away with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
The Beavers have some excellent receivers, and a really good quarterback. Braden Atkinson looked poised and confident all through the game. Houston had more talent, but Oregon State made full use of the talent they have. Well, except for tackling, which needs improvement. Too often the Beavers would make initial contact with a runner, only to have him break free and gain more yards.
Coach Shephard had appealing sideline energy and positivity. I’ve blanked out on the name of the head coach of the Beavers last season, probably because he performed so poorly and struck me as unduly emotionless. Shephard seems popular with his players, for good reason.
I doubt that Oregon State can come out on top in the Pac-12 conference given how good Boise State is. I bet the Beavers will be #2 or #3 though, hopefully qualifying for a bowl game.
Regarding Oregon, I saw Dante Moore say that he was pleased the Ducks didn’t have a blowout victory over Boise State, because their narrow win will force them to take a hard look at how they can improve — which will make them a better team in the long run. Hope he’s right.
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