School Soccer Playoff nationwide champion Georgia opens its title protection on Saturday towards Pac-12 runner-up Oregon from Atlanta on Saturday.
The sport will probably be a reunion of kinds for Dan Lanning, who as coordinator helped engineer Georgia’s historic protection a 12 months in the past and who now serves as Oregon’s head coach.
This is what it is advisable know in regards to the Week 1 matchup.
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Georgia and Oregon open up the 2022 school soccer schedule
Tips on how to watch
When: Sat., Sept. 3
Time: 3:30 p.m. Japanese
TV: ABC community
Stream: ESPN.com/watch
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Georgia vs. Oregon odds
Line: Georgia -17
O/U: 53
Moneyline: UGA -900 ORE +600
FPI choose: Georgia 91.5%
Oregon vs. Georgia: What to look at
1. Oregon’s offensive line. That is theoretically the place the Geese can win the sport. They bring about again all 5 starters, a gaggle that collectively is without doubt one of the higher within the nation, and arguably one of many 5 finest Georgia will face this 12 months. It must create a fortress round Bo Nix so he has sufficient time to seek out no matter holes there are in Georgia’s secondary group, and as early as doable: even with how stable it’s, Oregon’s line will get worn down by the Bulldogs’ relentless energy up entrance over the course of the sport.
2. Georgia’s talent group. Oregon’s could be one of the best linebacking corps Georgia goes towards this season — save Alabama’s within the SEC title recreation — and kinds the core of a dominant entrance seven that regarded nice towards Ohio State early final 12 months. However the likes of Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington, and Arik Gilbert might be its kryptonite. Few targets within the recreation are higher at creating area and getting chunk yards after the catch. The “huge play” issue leans closely in Georgia’s favor.
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3. Dan Lanning’s edge. He helped create the monster that’s Georgia’s protection, arguably one of the best ever, and that inside data is essential to his scheming the way to assault it. And it doesn’t matter what strategic adjustments Georgia will make, Lanning nonetheless is aware of this unit inside-out down to every participant, and had the complete offseason to craft a gameplan towards it. Whether or not he has the athletes to implement it’s one other query.
Georgia vs. Oregon: Quick Details
+ Georgia ranked No. 1 nationally in whole protection below Lanning from 2019-21, permitting 13.6 factors per recreation
+ Oregon was fifth nationally with 17 INTs a 12 months in the past and was 6-0 in video games the place it gained the turnover battle
+ Georgia did not permit an offensive TD in six video games, main FBS faculties
+ Oregon was 4th in third down offense with a 51.1% conversion price, and was one among 5 groups that went over 50%
+ Georgia had 9 TD passes that went at the least 38 yards final season
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+ Oregon was seventh in FBS going three-and-out on 13.38% of drives
+ Georgia averaged 38.6 factors per recreation and outscored opponents 579-153
+ Oregon restricted adverse performs in 2021, dropping yards on 6.8% of snaps, the seventh lowest price in FBS
+ Georgia’s opponents entered the crimson zone simply 32 instances and failed to attain on 12 of these possessions
+ Bo Nix has 7,250 profession passing yards, fifteenth amongst FBS quarterbacks
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+ Georgia’s protection allowed solely 13 whole TDs a 12 months in the past whereas itself scoring 4 instances
What occurs?
Very similar to final season, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett would not must go loopy making spotlight performs: his receivers and the Bulldogs’ protection will deal with that.
Even with these main losses — an NFL report 15 draft picks are gone — Georgia nonetheless returns a foundational core of expertise that’s professional prepared at the moment, particularly up entrance with studs like Jalen Carter anchoring the road and Nolan Smith behind it.
Bowers, Washington, and Gilbert will greater than check Oregon’s sturdy entrance seven defensive alignment. And the Geese’ D will in flip check Georgia’s receivers with an array of various coverages.
Oregon’s linebacker corps is legitimately nice — led by Noah Sewell, among the best freshman gamers at any place final fall — and needs to be among the best that Georgia strains up towards this season.
However the Bulldogs have the sure edge on the talent positions and pound for pound continues to be a grade higher than what Oregon has on the strains or coming off the perimeter.
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School Soccer HQ prediction: Georgia 37, Oregon 23
Based on AP High 25 ballot
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No. 9 Oregon State put on a show in its first 2025 home gymnastics meet Saturday, scoring 196.40 points to easily beat Brigham Young at Gill Coliseum.
Senior Jade Carey, performing in a home meet for the first time since winning two Olympic gold medals last summer, scored 39.725 in all-around. Carey had scores of 9.95 on bars and floor, 9.925 on beam and 9.90 on vault.
Carey had the highest score in each event on either team. The best scores by a Beaver gymnast aside from Carey were 9.85s by Natalie Briones (bars), Sage Thompson (bars), Lauren Letzsch (beam), Savannah Miller (floor) and Sophia Esposito (floor and beam).
Brigham Young scored 194.2 points. Kylie Eaquinto led the way with an all-around score of 39.050.
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— Nick Daschel covers the Oregon State Beavers. Reach him at 360-607-4824 or @nickdaschel. Listen to the Beaver Banter podcast or subscribe to the Beavers Roundup newsletter.
On Saturday morning at the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, three-star prospect T’Andre Waverly announced his commitment to Oregon State over Washington and Notre Dame.
The product of Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington, is ranked as the nation’s No. 96 athlete and No. 18 player in the state in the 2025 class by 247Sports. Once he arrives in Corvallis, he’s expected to play tight end.
“I believe in [offensive coordinator Ryan] Gunderson for the future,” Waverly told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. “And I’m excited to get to know the new tight ends coach [Will Heck].”
“[Head coach Trent] Bray seems like a real get to business guy and I like that. I don’t want a coach who will pamper me. I want someone who will tell me what I need to do and what to do.”
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Despite seeing the in-state prospect going elsewhere, tight ends coach Jordan Paopao has pulled in a promising batch at the position after signing four-star Baron Naone and three-star Austin Simmons in December.
For an athlete, a loss can shake even the strongest mental foundation. For Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, those feelings bubbled up after losing to the Oregon Ducks 32-31 at Autzen Stadium in early October.
While interviewing with ESPN before Ohio State’s semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns for the College Football Playoffs, the quarterback reflected on that feeling of loss.
“It’s been a rollercoaster. Some of the ups and downs that we did go through are why we’re sitting here today in the semifinals and probably playing our best ball right now,” Howard said. “There have been some tough moments. I’d say that Oregon loss early on in the season was rough.”
Oct 12, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) walks off the field after losing 32-31 to Oregon Ducks during the NCAA football game at Autzen Stadium. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Howard, who went 28-35 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, remembers what he did after that fateful quarterback keeper turned slide that sealed the fate of the Buckeyes during that regular season encounter with the Ducks.
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“Coming out of it I felt like I played a good game but it was really just the ending. I sat there and stewed over just how could I have done that differently. But when we got back here I think it was about six in the morning. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was kind of at a loss. I went into the indoor and I just laid there for about an hour – hour and a half. I was in a dark place. I just wanted another crack at them so bad. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the next chance I could get,” Howard said.
It wasn’t too long before Howard got his second chance with Oregon. After winning the Big Ten Championship, the No. 1 ranked Ducks were seeded for the Rose Bowl. With the Buckeyes easily beating Tennessee at home the previous week, Ohio State faced the Ducks once more.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) motions at the line of scrimmage during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Before every game, I listen to two voicemails that my late grandmother sent me and I’ve been doing that every game for the last three years now,” Howard said. “I listened to the voicemail and it just brought this immense peace over me. This year for the playoffs it actually probably got me going even more. It really helped.”
Those voicemails helped Howard correct his headspace before facing Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Howard went 17-26 in passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes completely shut out Oregon in the first quarter, with the Ducks only responding at the end of the second quarter with a touchdown and two point conversion. Howard reflected on the point in the game where the Buckeyes were up 34-0 against the No. 1 team in the nation.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) holds a rose following the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Ecstatic. I mean, at that point it felt like it was almost not real. It was like ‘Man, are we really up on the No. 1 team in the country right now that we were in a dog fight with at their place?’” Howard said.
The Buckeyes won against Oregon 41-21, advancing to the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Texas Longhorns, where Howard and the Buckeyes are knocking on the door of a National Championship.
“You take a big National Championship ring and hoisting the trophy up. It takes a lot of the hardships and bad things that happened this year and kind of go out the window,” Howard said.
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