Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers, game preview: Can the Beavers pull the upset?

A unique backdrop awaits as the No. 9 Oregon Ducks face the rival Oregon State Beavers on Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium.

The Ducks, steeped in national expectations in their first season in the Big Ten, have disappointed in the first two weeks with narrow victories over Idaho and Boise State. The Beavers, meanwhile, are 2-0 with wins over Idaho State and San Diego State, taking a victory lap after helping revive the Pac-12 that Oregon left behind.

No. 9 Oregon (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0)

When: Saturday, Sept. 14

Time: 12:30 p.m. PT

Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis

Coaches: Dan Lanning, third year (24-5) vs. Trent Bray, first year (2-0)

Latest line: Oregon by 16.5 (Odds via FanDuel)

TV channel: FOX (KPTV 12 in Portland)

On air: Radio on 1080 “The Fan” in Portland, KUJZ 95.3 in Eugene

Stream: Fubo (free trial) or DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on FOX Sports Live with your cable or satellite provider login information.

Oregon uniform combination: Green helmet, white jerseys, green pants.

Oregon State uniform combination: Black helmet, black jersey, black pants

What’s at stake: Bragging rights with unprecedented underpinnings. The Ducks have national championship aspirations and want to stomp their rivals to prove a point, while the Beavers seek a bit of revenge on one of the teams that left the Pac-12 and their athletic program in a precarious position. Oregon will be highly motivated, too, as several players on this roster were part of the 2022 team that lost in Corvallis. And the Ducks seek a lop-sided win to quiet outside critics and regain some confidence after a shaky start.

Oregon offense vs. Oregon State defense

The Ducks’ productivity on offensive centers around their ability to run block, and to protect quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Oregon admits its offensive line play in the first two weeks hasn’t been up to the standard, and it rotated a cast of characters through the interior against Boise State. But when this Oregon offense is on, and Gabriel has time to throw, its big play ability is undeniable. The weapons are everywhere on the field. It’s about creating the space to utilize them, and first establishing the run with Jordan James and Noah Whittington.

Oregon State has a rush defense that has allowed just 77 yards per game, good enough for 26th in the country. So, if the Beavers fill the gaps and contains James and company on the ground, it will fall on Gabriel to find his talented receivers. The question is, will he have time?

Oregon defense vs. Oregon State offense

Oregon was gashed for 192 yards and three touchdowns by Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty last week. A big part of that was Jeanty’s individual greatness, but the Ducks remain dissatisfied with giving up big plays on the ground. For much of the game outside of those big runs, though, Oregon was stout in the middle. Easy to say.

The Ducks defended the pass well against Boise State, too, save for a few soft spots in the intermediate areas. They lead FBS in passes defended. Transfer defensive backs Brandon Johnson and Jabbar Muhammad shined, and the Broncos leaned hard on Jeanty as a result. Not a bad guy to lean on in any event.

Oregon State loves to run the ball. It is woven into this team’s identity. The Beavers rank fifth nationally, averaging nearly 300 rush yards per game. They lead FBS in time of possession, too. Running backs Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson are a tough out for any defense.

If Oregon is to avoid the upset, physicality in the trenches from players like Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell is a must. Linebackers including Jeff Bassa and Bryce Boettcher need to close on the ball quickly and punch the Beavers in the mouth. And both Johnson and Muhammad will need to tackle well in space.

Matchup to watch: Oregon State’s run game vs. the Oregon front seven.

What Dan Lanning said: “Obviously, very excited to play Oregon State. They’ve had some success these first couple weeks, done a really good job running the ball. I think they’re really well coached team. Guy playing quarterback has done an unbelievable job. We actually watched a lot of his film before because he was at Idaho. Super athletic. Their run game’s really good. Defensively, like they’ve always been, since I’ve been here, really sound and create some tough looks. So it’s going to be a fun challenge for us.”

What Trent Bray said: “They just got a tremendous amount of athletes, obviously, very talented quarterback, there’s athletes everywhere on the field, up front, tight end, so they’re just extremely talented. And so that’s what you got to be able to make sure that you’re sound, you’re in the right spots. Likewise, with their defense.”

Key stat: Oregon has won 14 of the last 20 matchups with Oregon State, including 13 of the last 16. The teams have traded victories for the past five seasons.

Prediction: Oregon 45, Oregon State 20

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–Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.