Ducks Looking to Regroup After Road Loss

Saturday, September 12

Stillwater, OK

9:00 AM

University of Oregon

1-1 , 0-0

Oklahoma State

1-1 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Oregon	7	10	7	7	31
Oklahoma St.	3	21	6	9	39

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/12/26 | Football

Box Score #6 Oregon 31, Oklahoma State 39 Photo Gallery

Oregon fell Saturday at Oklahoma State, 39-31.

By: Rob Moseley

STILLWATER, Okla. — A week after surviving mistakes to come from behind and win its opener, Oregon again rallied back from early errors but this time couldn't hang on and lost Saturday at Oklahoma State, 39-31.

The Ducks trailed 27-17 early in the second half, with both early touchdowns thanks to big plays on defense. The offense rallied to give the Ducks the lead early in the fourth, but the Cowboys responded with the final 10 points to hand Oregon its first road loss since 2023.

A game delayed nearly 90 minutes by weather saw the home team get off to a quick start. A pick-six by Devon Jackson and an interception by Matayo Uiagalelei that set up a rushing touchdown kept Oregon close while the offense struggled to get untracked in the first half.

Dante Moore threw touchdowns to Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart after halftime, but the Ducks turned it over on their final two possessions, once on downs and once with a fumble.

"We didn't have a lot of rhythm on offense; defensively, we gave up way too many explosives, some poor eye discipline, not winning at the point of attack," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "Our guys are much more capable of that, so all that starts with me. I didn't prepare our guys well enough."

Devon Jackson Interception

Penalties and turnovers hurt the Ducks a week earlier in their opening win against Boise State, and neither was as impactful for most of the day Saturday, until a late fumble when Oregon was already down eight in the final two minutes. But Lanning said tackling and play in the trenches remain concerns after both game one and game two.

"This is a game that we needed to show improvement," he said. "We didn't show improvement, so we have to see that now moving forward with our team."

The Ducks opened the preseason with their highest top-25 ranking ever, No. 2, and slipped to No. 6 after the uneven win over Boise State. A bigger drop is to come after Saturday's loss; while Oregon's championship aspirations both nationally and in the Big Ten remain intact despite the nonconference loss, the Ducks have much to address in their final nonconference game, against Portland State in Autzen Stadium this next Friday.

"We have to evaluate everything that we're doing," Lanning said. "On the same note, a lot of what we're doing is the same thing that's had a lot of success the last few years. So it's not like you throw stuff in the trash. You figure out where are the holes, how do you patch the holes and how do you fix them and attack them?"

After the 83-minute pregame lightning delay, Oregon struggled to contain Oklahoma State's offense and trailed badly in total yardage at halftime, 353-101. A 96-yard pick-six by Jackson in the first quarter was a bright spot, as was another interception in the second quarter by Uiagalelei, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordon Davison.

Matayo Uiagalelei Rush

Still, the Ducks trailed 24-17 at halftime, and Oklahoma State kicked a field goal to open the second half. That's when Moore and the UO passing game — which had three drops in the first half — got going. The UO quarterback was 5-of-5 for 80 yards and a touchdown on the drive that ended in Dakorien Moore's TD reception, and a TD to Stewart on the first play of the fourth quarter gave Oregon the lead at 31-30.

But Oklahoma responded with a touchdown to lead 36-31. The teams then traded punts, before Oregon went for it on fourth down in its own territory with 6:48 to play, and was stopped.

"I think you have to be aggressive in those moments, especially when you're not having success, to keep it going," Lanning said. "If it works, it works; if it doesn't, then you create short fields."

That short field resulted in an Oklahoma State field goal for a 39-31 lead. Oregon had a chance to tie with a touchdown and two-point conversion after taking over again with 3:11 to play, but a fumbled pitch between Moore and Dierre Hill ended dreams of a comeback.

The Ducks' big-picture dreams remain intact despite Saturday's result. But given immediate concerns, those are far from Oregon's minds.

"I don't get that feeling from our players that they were looking too far ahead," Lanning said. "I think they have high aspirations, but I think their focus has been on the immediate. But we didn't execute well enough. I think there's got to be a higher temperament at practice, a higher level of focus at practice for us to be able to execute, and then we have to be faster at making adjustments throughout the game."