Oregon’s QB Bo Nix only played a little more than half the game against Portland State but still threw for almost 300 yards, 3 TD’s and no interceptions while connecting on 85% of his throws. Once you add in backup Ty Thompson’s contribution, the Ducks connected on 33-of-38 in the air for 381 yards, 4 TD’s, and no interceptions. On the ground they were even more lethal rushing 34 times for 348 yards and 7 TD’s with RB’s Bucky Irving and Jordan James accounting for over 200 yards of that and 5 TD’s. Irving rushed only four times but gained 119 yards—averaging almost 30 yards per carry—while picking up 2 of those scores. The Oregon QBs connected multiple times with seven different receivers, seven times each with WR’s Troy Franklin and Gary Bryant Jr. who accounted for over 200 yards and 2 TD’s each.
Portland State couldn’t get anything going in this one and trailed the whole way with their only score coming on a 9 yard TD pass from Dante Chachere to WR Chance Miller. Trailing by just one point, 8-7, with seven minutes left in the 1st Qtr is as close as they would ever get in what turned into an 81-7 blowout—setting an Autzen Stadium record as well as winning their 19th straight home opener. In a conference that is quarterback rich with four of the top 10 QB’s in the nation after Week-1 Nix, with 47 career starts, is the most experienced of all of them.
Averaging more than 500 yards and close to 40 points a game last year the Ducks had 729 yards of total offense in this one, 529 yards more than Portland State along with four times more 1st downs, 37-9, and were a perfect 2-for-2 on their 4th down conversion attempts. On top of that they played a very clean game with no turnovers and only two penalties. It’s obviously not going to be this easy going forward but a great start to what looks to be a banner season for not just Oregon but the rest of the PAC-12 as well who were perfect in Week-1. The Ducks hit the road this next Saturday to take on Texas Tech.