Eugene, OR – With new QB Dante Moore in his first U of O start, the Oregon Ducks scored 17 points on their first three possessions. Defensively, held the FCS runners-up from last season, Montana State, to three-and-outs on their first three possessions. Despite the great Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) reputation of Montana State football, Oregon and other top 25 programs just have so many advantages now with NIL money and open transfer portals. The talent disparity among 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams alone is substantial enough. The Duck dominated leading 38-3 at halftime and went on to win in the opener for both, 59-13. Granted, Oregon loaded with talent, displayed its superiority. On the other hand, Montana State, who we saw win their opener last season over FBS New Mexico, 35-31, displayed poor blocking and tackling capabilities early and never recovered.
Collegefootballfan.com moves the chains
Not only did this contest mark our 714th (“Babe Ruthian” number) game since 1979 , but Oregon’s Autzen Stadium became the 99th FBS venue we’ve attended. In addition, the state of Oregon became the 42nd (Washington, D.C. included) that we’ve seen a game played in. Due to distance from our original home in New Jersey, this contest became our third Oregon Duck encounter. Others include vs. PSU in 1995 Rose Bowl loss, 38-20; last year’s 16-13 win over U. of Wisconsin in Madison, WI). Regarding Montana State, as stated, last year was our first seeing the Bobcats. A home game at Bozeman looms for us in the future. We need to add the state of Montana to that particular goal of ours.
Oregon Ducks off to flying start
Montana State deferred the opening coin toss to kick off to Oregon. First mistake but probably didn’t matter. The Oregon Ducks started from their 26 and drove the length of the field. RB Jayden Limar swept around left end for an 11-yard TD three minutes and three seconds into the game. Montana State picked up five yards after the ensuing kickoff and punted. Duck Jeremiah McClellan deflected the punt out of bounds to start the Oregon Ducks from the MSU 40. QB Dante Moore connected with TE Kenyon Sadiq on a short route in the left flat. He bounced easily off a poor tackling defender and raced the ball into the end zone for a 20-yard scoring play.
Once again, the Bobcats punted after a three-and-out. This time, the Ducks did not just deflect the punt, they blocked It. Oregon took over at the Montana State 10. Give credit to the Bobcat defense here. They held to force the Oregon Ducks to a 23-yard FG by Atticus Sappington. The subsequent MSU possession resulted in a turnover on downs. U of O stopped a fourth and one run on their 40 to take possession once again. They gained ten yards before the period ended. leading, 17-0.
Blow-out city unfolds before our eyes
Oregon had driven to the 30 to start the second. At the 11:08 mark, Jordon Davison ran it in from two for a 24-0 lead with 11:08 left in the first half. The next Bobcat possession resulted in no yards. Another punt (unblocked) put the Oregon Ducks at the MSU 49. With 4:34 left, RB Noah Whittington scored from the one. Montana State finally showed some life primarily with completions to WR Taco Dowler (12 receptions for 107 yards). From 42 yards out, Myles Sansted put MSU on the board trailing, 31-3, with 1:03 to play in the half.
Revised rule regarding Blow-outs
At this point, if the Oregon Ducks score again before the half, I’ve seen enough. Sure enough, the home team drove once again. WR Malik Benson did the damage hauling in an 11-yard pass from Moore, and I decided, time to go. To attain the initial goal to see every team play at least once, the self-imposed rule required to stay to the very end. No more. A blow-out is a blow-out. The second half becomes a waste of time – try-outs or game experience for the non-staters. Better things to do. Today, I had to walk 40 minutes back to the car parked off campus in case of a quick escape if necessary. To get to the nightcap in Corvallis, no idea what to expect about this trip – first time in Oregon for any reason ever.
Finishing touches by Oregon Ducks
Not that I stayed, but the Oregon Ducks continued to dominate the Bobcats on a hot sunny day. Sansted opened the scoring in the third for Montana State with another 42-yard FG. Dante Moore capped a 70-yard drive with his third TD pass of the game to WR Gary Bryant. Davison scored again at the end of a 65-yard drive to make the score 52-6 at the end of three. In the fourth, Davison scored his third rushing TD of the day with only six carries for 26 yards. Montana State closed out the final score with an Adam Jones two-yard run with over two minutes left to play. At 59-13, we were already on the road to Corvallis.
Autzen Stadium altitude
The wide-open bowl has one mezzanine level leading to stairs going down and stairs going up. Going up, you start in around row 40. Then it’s a long way up to row 82. Many Oregon fans, like me were not regulars sitting in that area. Probably had gotten tickets from others online who figured saving their climbs for more critical Big Ten encounters. Few fans this day in Section 36 were familiar with the long ascent. A lot of people came up huffing and puffing or a little dizzy. Some even carried young children or grandchildren who couldn’t lift their legs high enough. Long hike up for all ages. Work out on those stair masters for Autzen ascending.
Didn’t want to even venture going down. At some point in that climb, it would be nice to have another level to break the ascent and offer services not too far below. Luckily, I keep in pretty good shape, but the stair climbing can be a challenge for many. Make sure you make a pit stop prior to taking your seat because it’s long trek back down and back up again. Can’t imagine walking up all those steps on a cold day and bundled up in layers. Oregon fans must be avid mountain climbers to sit in those upper seats.
Buyers beware
Returning to my car parked off campus a 30-minute walk away, tickets were issued on my rental and many others on the parking site that we had prepaid. Like others I met there before the game, we had purchased parking passes on the StubHub website. Fishy though, the address I was given by an affiliate, Park Whiz, was in a two-car driveway across the street. Others had questions like I had as they had prepaid as well. No attendant there two hours prior to kick-off, but there happened to be one wondering the lot when we returned with a ticket pad.
The big office building adjacent seemed vacant. Only significant parking lot around the neighborhood. Many people came from out of town, both Oregon and Montana State fans. Only response we got regarding our complaint was to e-mail the address on the back requesting $50-$100 more depending on when you respond. I’m addressing this through StubHub who’s insisting on feedback with many messages I have from them. They will hear alright. I was wary on the way to Corvallis – different issue there that will also be addressed as arrangements are made through this Park Whiz group. Be aware of them. I would not use their service at all based on what happened parking near both university campuses in Oregon.
Corvallis parking issue
Later, again through StubHub/Park Whiz, I had an issue at Corvallis for the Oregon State game. The directions for my prepaid lot brought me to a desolate, free public parking lot. I have a bone to pick with StubHub on both counts. Double check any “parking deals” with StubHub. I am going to question them about their relationship with Park Whiz who arranged both. Charged me and requested the plate number to confirm my acceptance. Now a third party wants to charge me even more I’m fighting both. Heads up!
College Football Week 2 Coming up
Oregon hosts Oklahoma State (3-9 in 2024) next week. The Oregon Ducks and the Penn State Nittany Lions will collide before us in State College on September 27. Neither will be challenged in their three games before they meet. Most likely, they will start focusing on that date well before they play. It will be a critical, early Big Ten brouhaha!
Montana State steps back into their world of reality
Next week at home, they play against FCS South Dakota State, another perennial power at that level. Without QB Tommy Mellot who graduated from MSU last season after starting for four years and now playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, they will find out if they can still compete at the FCS level or not. As well as the Bobcats compete at the FCS level, the Oregon Ducks play at a much higher level.
The FBS New Mexico Lobos we saw the Bobcats beat last season, play nowhere near the No. 7 Oregon Duck level. Basically, the FBS teams no longer recruit many high school players. Now, they open the portal and take any player they want from another program at any level. Do these players even have to go through the transfer process that other students do for academic acceptance? It doesn’t seem to be part of the process anymore. Students play a sport. That’s all that seems to matter now.
Our next game, a nightcap
We at collegefootballfan.com left Eugene and motored about 50 minutes north to attend California at Oregon State. It will be our second game in Oregon, of course, and another new venue to see a football game – primary reasons we planned for this weekend. Look for our California vs. Oregon State wrap Tuesday night. Even though retired, still had to enjoy Labor Day with some working friends.
Check out our tales of yesteryear as we start up our 46th season! Unbelievable?
Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season.
Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.
