The last time Oregon visited Michigan Stadium, the Ducks were playing their second game under a new offensive coordinator, a hotshot from New Hampshire named Chip Kelly.

When they arrived at the Big House, the Ducks had to make sure the place was still standing. A week earlier, Michigan suffered one of the biggest upsets in college football history, an earth-shaking loss against an upstart FCS team named Appalachian State.

Mike Bellotti, Oregon’s coach, wasn’t happy about it. He figured the Wolverines would be seething after such a stunning defeat, and Appalachian State ran a version of the spread offense that was becoming Oregon’s signature weapon, meaning the Ducks wouldn’t have the element of surprise.

“I was very concerned, because obviously when a team like Michigan loses to a team like Appalachian State, it’s going to piss some people off,” Bellotti said. “It’s going to get them all riled up. They obviously had something to prove, and I was afraid we were going to be the target of it.”

What happened that day in 2007 was the end of one era crashing into the beginning of another.

The Ducks took over the Big House for their own coming-out party, a 39-7 win that showed the world what Oregon’s offense could do against a Big Ten power. Oregon’s game plan was a tour de force, complete with a Statue of Liberty play, a fake Statue of Liberty and a highlight reel that propelled quarterback Dennis Dixon into the Heisman Trophy race. Soon, teams around the country — including Michigan — would be running versions of the up-tempo spread offense that Oregon perfected.

Seventeen years later, Oregon is returning to the Big House as the No. 1 team in the polls and the Big Ten frontrunner. The Ducks look different now, though Saturday’s uniforms will be an homage to those worn by Dixon, Jonathan Stewart and other stars of their era. College football looks different, too. As teams find their footing in the era of the 12-team College Football Playoff era, no program is off to a better start than Oregon.

In their first season in the Big Ten, the Ducks have a chance to accomplish something that’s happened only once in the past decade. The last Big Ten team to beat Michigan and Ohio State in the same season was Michigan State in 2015. Oregon beat the Buckeyes 32-31 earlier three weeks ago and enters Saturday’s game as more than a two-touchdown favorite against the Wolverines, who have looked vulnerable during their 5-3 start.

Any worries that the Ducks would be worn down by the Big Ten schedule or awed by the league’s traditional powers have faded into the background. They still have to survive the gales of November, but they’ve shown no signs of taking on water.

“I see a really good football team, a complete football team that executes at a high level,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “We’ve got to go execute to win.”

Conference realignment has been a mixed bag for programs from the old Pac-12. USC and UCLA are a combined 3-8 in the Big Ten. Colorado is 4-1 in the Big 12, while Arizona and Utah are a combined 2-8. Cal and Stanford are a combined 1-8 in the ACC.

Rob Mullens, now in his 15th year as Oregon’s athletic director, credited coach Dan Lanning for steering the program smoothly through the transition. Lanning followed two coaches, Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal, who left Oregon for jobs in their home state of Florida — Taggart after one season for Florida State, Cristobal after four for Miami. The perception of Oregon as a stepping-stone job proved tough to shake.

Lanning, now 30-5 in his third season, has embraced Oregon as a destination. When Alabama was searching for Nick Saban’s successor, Lanning quickly spiked the speculation by releasing a video with the line, “The grass is damn green in Eugene.” It’s only gotten greener since then, as Oregon’s move to the Big Ten brought stability, exposure and guaranteed revenue streams that were lacking in the tumultuous final months of the Pac-12.

“The exposure, the reach, the connection that happens with that is great, not only for Oregon football, but for all of Oregon athletics,” Mullens said, noting that Saturday’s game on CBS will be the seventh consecutive network TV appearance for the Ducks. “We’re getting more traffic in the visitors’ center, more clicks on the website, more people taking a deeper look.”

When Ohio State played at Autzen Stadium earlier this season, the game aired in prime time on NBC and ESPN’s “College GameDay” set the scene. Oregon had record season ticket sales in part because of that game, and Eugene’s airport set a record for departing flights the next day, Mullens said.

“It was a chamber of commerce weekend,” Mullens said. “‘GameDay’ was here, national television crowd, a record crowd at Autzen Stadium. It was fun to have the game that everybody anticipated, two teams battling right down to the end.”

The Ducks beat Ohio State for the second time in the four years, this time with Kelly, their former head coach, back in the Autzen Stadium press box calling plays for the Buckeyes. It was a thrilling win, but the days of Oregon trying to measure itself against other elite programs are mostly gone.

When Oregon moved to No. 1 in the AP rankings for the first time since 2012, Lanning responded with a brisk, “Who cares?” Perhaps there was a time when Oregon had to prove it could go toe-to-toe with programs like Ohio State and Michigan, but since Lanning arrived, there’s been no need.

“I just don’t think we’ve ever measured ourselves based on what other people think,” Lanning said. “That doesn’t necessarily change. We have our own internal goals and our plan of what we want to be. At the beginning of every year, everybody asked me what success looks like. To me, it looks like us playing our best football at the end of the season.”

Lanning will be coaching his first game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, just as Bellotti was in 2007. Bellotti remembers telling his players the dimensions of the field to remind them that it was the same size as any other. The Ducks covered every inch of that turf while piling up 624 yards, the second-highest total ever allowed by the Wolverines.

“It just was one of those games where everything worked,” Bellotti said. “It was the quietest 110,000 people I’ve ever been in front of.”

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Big Ten beware: Oregon is readier than ever to make a splash

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That year, Michigan rebounded from its 0-2 start to finish 9-4 in Lloyd Carr’s final season. Oregon started 8-1 before losing Dixon to a torn ACL, then handed the reins to Kelly in 2009. The Ducks played for national championships in 2010 and 2014, experienced a brief dip in the transition from Mark Helfrich to Taggart and have been on a steady climb ever since.

Beating Michigan in the Big House wouldn’t be the milestone that it was 17 years ago, but Michigan is still the winner of three consecutive conference titles and the reigning national champion. The road to Big Ten championships goes through places like Ann Arbor, Columbus, Madison and State College. Now it goes through Eugene, too.

There was no single moment that put Oregon on a path to becoming a heavyweight in the Big Ten, but the last trip to Michigan Stadium was a big step along the way.

“We were recognized as somebody to be dealt with, an equal foe to the Big Ten,” Bellotti said. “The Michigan game was certainly one that got us more notoriety, because we went into the Big House and put it on ’em.”

(Top photo of Dennis Dixon: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

The Iowa Hawkeyes are traveling out west to Coravllis, Oregon to take on the Oregon State Beavers Saturday evening in what is set up to be the dual of opening weekend! Wrestling will start at 10 pm Eastern/9 pm Central/7 pm local Pacific time. You can watch live on Flo!

Projected lineups

125: Kale Petersen/Joey Cruz, Iowa vs #13 Maximo Renteria, Illinois

133: #3 Drake Ayala, Iowa vs Damion Elliott/Gabe Whisenhunt, Oregon State

141: Ryder Block, Iowa vs Nash Singleton, Oregon State

149: #4 Kyle Parco, Iowa vs Victor Jacinto, Oregon State

157: #1 Jacori Teemer, Iowa vs Ethan Stiles, Oregon State

165: #2 Michael Caliendo, Iowa vs Kekena Fouret, Oregon State

174: #7 Gabe Arnold/#4 (184) Nelson Brands, Iowa vs Sean Harman, Oregon State

184: #7 (174) Gabe Arnold/#4 Nelson Brands, Iowa vs Mason Christiansen/TJ McDonnell, Oregon State

197: #1 Stephen Buchanan, Iowa vs #5 Trey Munoz, Oregon State

285: #11 Ben Kueter, Iowa vs Brett Mower, Oregon State

125: Kale Petersen/Joey Cruz vs #13 Maximo Renteria

Kale Petersen

Year: Redshirt freshman

Hometown: Rockwell, Iowa

Career Record: 4-3

Joey Cruz

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown: Fresno, California

Career Record: 3-8

Maximo Renteria

Year: Junior

Hometown: Clovis, California

Career Record: 9-19

I am very intrigued by this matchup. Kale Peterson was #52 on the big board coming out of high school, but struggled his redshirt year. I think the drop down to 125 lbs could be beneficial for him. Similarly, Joey Cruz was #33 on the 2022 Big Board but has struggled in his first two years of college. Don’t be fooled by Maximo Renteria’s career record. After going 5-19 his first two collegiate seasons at Illinois, he came back out west and went 4-0 last season for the Beavers – including a win over future national champion Richard Figueroa. The potential is there for Renteria.

133: #3 Drake Ayala vs Gabe Whisenhunt/Damion Elliott

Drake Ayala

Year: Redshirt Junior

Hometown: Fort Dodge, Iowa

Career Record: 47-14

Gabe Whisenhunt

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown: Corvallis, Oregon

Career Record: 18-15

Damion Elliott

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown:

Career Record: 4-5

Gabe Whisenhunt was the starter last year, but Damion Elliott was hurt the entire season and defeated Whisenhunt in 4-1 in the wrestle-offs, so have to think the Beavers will roll with Elliot. Either OSU wrestler will be a heavy underdog to Iowa’s Drake Ayala. After making the NCAA finals last season at 125 lbs, this will be the first look at the Hawk at his new weight class.

141: Ryder Block vs Nash Singleton

Ryder Block

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Waverly, Iowa

Career Record: 0-0

Nash Singleton

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Hometown: Roseburg, Oregon

Career Record: 17-16

I am very excited to see what Ryder Block can do this year at 141. A 2X Fargo champion, he was #22 on the 2023 big board. He was sidelined last season while recovering from ACL surgery. The biggest question for him is the weight. Competing at 138/145/65 kg the summer after he graduated high school, a lot of folks thought he was going to be a 149 in college. Nash Singleton is a tough first test. He showed signs of promise last season while competing at 149 lbs. Similarly, the weight will be a question mark until proven otherwise.

149: #4 Kyle Parco vs Victor Jacinto

Kyle Parco

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Danville, California

Career Record: 103-20

Victor Jacinto

Year: Redshirt Junior

Hometown: Hollister, California

Career Record: 0-0 (Div I)

An all-California battle at 149 lbs. A transfer from Clackamas Community College where he took 3rd place at 149 lbs in 2022, Victor Jacinto won the wrestle-off over teammate Ayden Garver. A 4X D1 All-American Kyle Parco will be one of the bigger favorites of the night, but it will be his first time in an Iowa singlet. After two years at Fresno State and three at Arizona State, the California native transferred to Iowa this past off-season.

157: #1 Jacori Teemer vs Ethan Stiles

Jacori Teemer

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Long Beach, New York

Career Record: 85-17

Ethan Stiles

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Career Record: 3-3

Two new faces in the lineup with a heavy favorite to Iowa. Ethan Stiles transferred to Oregon State this offseason after going winning three open tournaments and going 1-2 in duals for the Huskers. One of those dual losses came to Jacori Teemer, who was at Arizona State at the time. The 3X All-American who comes into the season ranked #1 beat Stiles 7-2.

165: #2 Michael Caliendo vs Kekena Fouret

Michael Caliendo

Year: Redshirt Junior

Hometown: Geneva, Illinois

Career Record: 57-13

Kekena Fouret

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Nampa, Idaho

Career Record: 22-27

This will likely be the only rematch from last year’s dual. Michael Caliendo used four takedowns and three escapes the defeat Kekena Fouret 15-10.

174: #7 Gabe Arnold/#4 (184) Nelson Brands vs Sean Harman, Oregon State

Gabe Arnold

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Albany, Georgia

Career Record: 8-1

Nelson Brands

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa

Career Record: 42-19

Sean Harman

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: West Linn, Oregon

Career Record: 44-20

Iowa has one of the best roster battles on their hands at 174/184. Gabe Arnold was the #5 overall recruit coming out of high school and proved he was ready to go to right away last year by defeating All-Americans Travis Wittlake (in the Oregon State dual), Will Feldkamp, and Lennox Wolak. However, Iowa ultimately ended up deciding to redshirt him. Now they’ve got Nelson Brands, who was an All-American for the Hawks in 2023 at 174 lbs, returning after serving a suspension last season. It sounds like their both going to try and win the 174 lb spot.

Sean Harman doesn’t have the same hype as Arnold or Brands, but after five years at Missouri, he’s back in his home state of Oregon. While he never made the starting lineup in Columbia, he showed promise at times.

184: #7 (174) Gabe Arnold/#4 Nelson Brands vs Mason Christiansen/TJ McDonnell

Mason Christiansen

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Riverton, Utah

Career Record: 8-14

TJ McDonnell

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Fountain Valley, California

Career Record: 4-9

This time it’s not just Iowa with a question mark in the lineup. Mason Christensen and TJ McDonnell split in their wrestle-offs a week ago. Each guy took a match by a score of 4-1. Christiansen has spent time at 174 and 197 the past four years for the Beavers while McDonnell went 4-9 against D1 competition last season as redshirt. Now with Trey Munoz moving up to 197 lbs, they’re both vying for the starting 184 spot. Either wrestler will be a sizable underdog to whoever Iowa puts out.

197: #1 Stephen Buchanan vs #5 Trey Munoz

Stephen Buchanan

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Loyal, Wisconsin

Career Record: 86-25

Trey Munoz

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Mission Viejo, California

Career Record: 85-17

This is the premier match of the night! A top five showdown between two title contenders that could have NCAA seedin implications. Munoz has made the decision to move up to 197 lbs for the final season of his career. While at 184/174 lbs he was a 4X national qualifier and 2X All-American finishing 6th in 2023 and 3rd in 2024. Stephen Buchanan has spent his entire career at 197 lbs where he’s a 4X national qualifier and 3X All-American, but this will be his first time in an Iowa singlet. The Loyal, Wisconsin native transferred to the Hawkeyes from Oklahoma this offseason. 

285: #11 Ben Kueter vs Brett Mower

Ben Kueter

Year: Redshirt Freshman

Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa

Career Record: 3-1

Brett Mower

Year: Redshirt Senior

Hometown: Glenwood, Iowa

Career Record: 6-8

Ben Kueter is already one of the bigger names in college wrestling as just a redshirt freshman. A U20 World champion, he was the #2 overall recruit coming out of high school in 2023. After splitting time between football and wrestling last year, Kueter decided to forgo the football field this year to focus on wrestling. He went 3-1 while competing in duals for the Hawkeyes last season, only losing to national champion Greg Kerkvliet.

Kueter will likely see fellow Iowa native Brett Mower. After winning a JUCO national title at Iowa Western in 2023, Mower transferred to Oregon State. He sat behind Justin Rademacher last season at 197, but this year moved up to heavyweight Charley Hastriter in the wrestle-off. A lot of Beaver fans will, and should, be excited to see highly touted freshman Aden Attao, but it sounds like he’s going to rest for the first part of this season after a busy offseason competing overseas. 

The bad news: Oregon State lost 44-7 to California in Berkeley last Saturday.

The good news: Not many watched.

Oregon State’s most recent game against California, televised on ESPN2, had only an average of 183,000 viewers, according to sportsmediawatch.com.

By a large margin, it was a season low for viewership of a Beavers game. The previous low was Idaho State, which had an average of 381,000 viewers.

Cal-Oregon State is the only game this season shown on one of the ESPN networks.

OSU had success with viewership with its home games on the CW Network this season. The Beavers’ most recent CW game, UNLV, had an average of 507,000 viewers. Earlier in October, OSU-Colorado State had 568,000 viewers, a season high for games televised by CW.

Here are season viewership numbers for Oregon State games:

Oregon: 2.82 million (Fox)

Colorado State: 568,000 (CW)

UNLV: 507,000 (CW)

Purdue: 452,000 (CW)

Idaho State: 381,000 (CW)

x-San Diego State, Nevada: unrated (CBS Sports Network)

x-Nielsen does not rate and measure viewership for game on CBS Sports Network.

–Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel.

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