EUGENE, OR – The No. 15 Oregon Ducks started the 2023 season at home with a landslide 81-7 victory over the Portland State Vikings. Oregon’s 81 points Saturday was a new record for the Ducks in the modern era, and the most points ever scored at Autzen Stadium.
Heisman buzz has been brewing for Bo Nix ever since he announced that he would be returning for another season, and his hopeful campaign got off to an impressive start Saturday as he led the Ducks to touchdowns in all 8 of his offensive series. In his opening drive, Nix drove the Ducks 66 yards year, and found Troy Franklin for a 13-yard touchdown. Nix completed 23/27 passes on the day, finishing with 287 passing yards and 3.
When asked about Bo Nix’s performance after the game, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said “Ultimately, I thought he did a great job taking care of the ball. We weren’t able to connect on a few of our deep shots like we have in the past, so I think we’ve got to get in a rhythm there. Overall, he ran the offense well. He got to a third down early in the game and was able to convert.”
Portland State looked sharp on their second possession of the game, answering Oregon’s initial 8 points with a quick 7 of their own. Quarterback Dante Chachere moved the ball effortlessly on the ground and through the air on the drive, capping it with a 9-yard touchdown to Chance Miller.
The Ducks were expected to beat Portland State, heading into the game as 48.5-point favorites, but their blowout victory not only showcased their potential for the season, but gave the Ducks a chance to give experience to their younger players.
Lanning holds everyone in his program to extremely high standards, and believes in the next man up approach, so playing time for athletes lower on the depth chart is a huge win for the Ducks. “What I did see today and in the fall is a group that wants to compete. They understood that if they step on the field, they’re viewed no differently than a starter.” Said Lanning.
Possibly the most impressive performance came from sophomore quarterback and former 5-star recruit, Ty Thompson. Thompson struggled when given opportunities in his first two seasons at Oregon, but looked sharp Saturday, completing 7/8 passes for 81 yards and 1 touchdown. With Nix leaving Oregon after this season, Thompson will likely compete for the starting quarterback position next season.
The Ducks are figuring out who will be the number two receiver this season, and Sophomore WR Gary Bryant Jr. immediately stood out as a favorite. Bryant Jr. only had 2 receptions last season but logged 7 receptions for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns today.
With the game out of hand, Oregon’s young running backs were also able to shine. Sophomore Jordan James rushed for 86 yards and 3 touchdowns, and freshman running backs Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar both took 8 carries for over 50 yards and a touchdown.
The Ducks will travel to Lubbock, Texas next week to face the Texas Tech Raiders.
