Prolific Performance Gets Ducks Back in Win Column

Friday, September 18

Eugene, OR

7:30 PM

University of Oregon

2-1 , 0-0

Portland State

0-4 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Portland St.	0	0	0	0	0
Oregon	28	21	14	21	84

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Photo by: Eric Evans Photography

Prolific Performance Gets Ducks Back in Win Column

09/18/26 | Football

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Oregon set multiple program records and bounced back in a big way during Friday's 84-0 victory over Portland State.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Points were piling up, the defense was raising havoc and fans were dancing in the aisles to "Shout!"

For one night at least, that was more like it.

Oregon wrapped up nonconference play in the 2026 regular season with a return to form Friday night in Autzen Stadium. Tougher challenges await in Big Ten play, starting next week at USC, but the Ducks took care of business and bounced back from defeat in a big way Friday, 84-0 over Portland State.

A team looking to clean up its play and fans looking for a stress-free night of entertainment in Autzen both got what they wanted Friday. What it all means for the future remains to be seen, but for a team looking to re-establish momentum for the remainder of the season, it was a good start.

"No disrespect to Portland State, but that's the way it should look when you execute the way we're supposed to execute," said UO coach Dan Lanning, who celebrated his 50th win as the program's head coach.

Evan Stewart Cheer Jube

The Ducks (2-1) were historically prolific Friday night, setting a program record for points in modern program history, posting the largest margin of victory ever at Autzen Stadium and recording the 15th shutout in team history. They played four quarterbacks, forced four turnovers and dominated for four quarters.

Receiver Jeremiah McClellan didn't play after suffering an injury pregame, but freshman Messiah Hampton stepped up in his absence and led the Ducks with six receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jamari Johnson missed his second straight game, but freshman Kendre Harrison and transfer Andrew Olesh each caught a touchdown pass in his stead.

Oregon's depth shined all night, with UO legacies Brady Bidwell and Akili Smith Jr. getting in on the action, freshmen Brandon Smith and Tradarian Ball rushing for their first career touchdowns and defensive back Cole Thomas making one of the biggest hits of the night on special teams.

Nasir Wyatt Rush

When "Shout!" played before the fourth quarter, the entire UO sideline erupted in jubilation. Coming off a tough defeat at Oklahoma State, everyone in Autzen not on the visiting sideline Friday was thrilled to get back to having fun again.

"For all of our players, it's fun when players get to enjoy the success of their teammates out there on the field," Lanning said.

Defensively, the Ducks played so many players, and defended so few plays, nobody on the team had more than three tackles. Jett Washington picked off two passes, fellow freshman Davon Benjamin intercepted another and Washington forced a fumble that was recovered by Gavin Nix on a kickoff.

What it all means for the future, again, remains to be seen. But Dante Moore came back from a week that forced him to re-evaluate his pre-snap footwork by completing 19-of-23 passes for 280 yards and four scores, and Dylan Raiola completed all 11 of his passes in his UO debut, for three touchdowns.

Gavin Nix Offord Jube

The Ducks had a 273-2 advantage in rushing yards, after being outrushed 330-209 in their first two games. In the first half alone Friday, they had a direct snap to a running back, a pitch play on which Moore lined up under center, a touchdown run with an offensive lineman playing fullback and multiple other new concepts dusted off.

"I did like some of the creativity that I was able to see from scheme, and then the execution," Lanning said. "I got to see the plays that we ran tonight were the same plays we ran consistently throughout practice, multiple times at a high level. … What showed up in practice really showed up in the game tonight."

Of all the lessons the Ducks needed to learn from the loss to Oklahoma State, and reinforced Friday, that might have been the biggest. For winning to be a habit, winning habits have to be built in practice. The next test of Oregon's ability to do that will be much tougher than Friday's — a date next Saturday at USC.

"We've always had good battles with them in the past," Lanning said. "So I know our guys are anxious to get to work and start attacking on them."