It’s so arduous to guage a group that performs an FCS opponent that clearly is on a distinct stage. However contemplating how issues went across the nation with a number of upsets, Oregon’s 70-14 win over Jap Washington was a pleasing sight to see.
Bo Nix threw for 5 touchdowns with no interceptions and appeared just like the senior quarterback he’s. Oregon’s receivers and tight finish dominated the smaller and slower Eagles secondary and the operating backs, saved plugging alongside.
On the defensive aspect of the ball, Oregon pressured two turnovers, together with a Decide-6. It wasn’t precisely the prettiest of performs, however six factors is six factors.
However for the second straight recreation, the linebackers had been comparatively pedestrian. They weren’t unhealthy, however didn’t do something particular both and that needs to be a priority shifting ahead.
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All in all, a win is a win and Dan Lanning and the Geese will certainly take it. Right here’s how the report card appears for everybody concerned.
Quarterback
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
Grade: A
Bo Nix got here out and was throwing darts to receivers within the early going. He was 28-of-33 for 277 yards and 5 touchdowns. It was a efficiency Oregon wanted as a group and what Nix wanted individually.
Ty Thompson additionally acquired some much-needed enjoying time as he was 5-of-7 for 63 yards towards the Eagle backup protection.
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Extra of this please.
Working Backs
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Grade: A-
As soon as once more, it was tailback-by-committee for the Geese as 5 completely different operating backs noticed enjoying time, Nobody emerged as the highest canine, nonetheless. Everybody had their moments. Three completely different tailbacks discovered the top zone with Mar’Quise Irving main the way in which with 74 yards and a landing.
Receivers/Tight Ends
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Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Grade: A+
This group performed as much as their capabilities and confirmed how scary good they are often. Troy Franklin is rapidly changing into an excellent receiver that’s arduous to cowl. He caught 10 balls for 84 yards and a landing.
Terrance Ferguson scored twice, together with a landing the place he gained a tip drill, went by way of a defender and spun himself into the top zone. Nevertheless it was Cam McCormick who had the spotlight of the night time as he scored a landing for the primary time since 2017 whereas carrying No. 18, the jersey variety of the late Spencer Webb.
Offensive line
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Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Grade: B+
Oregon’s offensive line opened up holes for the backs all night time lengthy and guarded the quarterbacks to the tune of zero sacks given up. They might have imposed their will a bit extra, however they bought the job finished.
Defensive position
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports activities
Grade: B
That is the road that imposed their will on the opponent. Oregon’s entrance 4 was within the backfield a ton and held Jap Washington to only 100 dashing yards and Brandon Dorlus had a sort out for loss. Once more, it’s troublesome to correctly choose towards such an inferior opponent. Subsequent week would be the large check with BYU coming.
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Linebackers
Steve Dykes/Getty Photos
Grade: C-
This needs to be a priority. Oregon’s linebackers ought to have been in EWU quarterback Gunner Talkington’s face much more than they had been. DJ Johnson did report a sack, however that was the one noteworthy factor this group did. It’s solely going to turn into harder from right here. Hopefully, they had been simply saving themselves for the upcoming schedule.
Secondary
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Grade: A
The secondary performed nice and welcome to Autzen Stadium Christian Gonzalez. The switch from Colorado intercepted a go as did Twikweze Bridges, which led to a landing.
Jap Washington’s Freddie Roberson, an All-Massive Sky choice and the most effective receivers on the FCS stage, caught simply three balls for 33 yards. A type of receptions was for a landing, however aside from that, Roberson was by no means actually open. There wasn’t going to be one other Cooper Kupp-like efficiency on this night time.
Particular Groups
Tom Hauck/Getty Photos
Grade: A
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Camden Lewis’ leg bought exercise in as he was an ideal 10-for-10 on additional factors. Adam Barry punted simply as soon as for 39 yards. It’s all the time day when the punter sees the sector one time.
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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