Bo Nix, No. 15 Oregon host Portland State

Ranked fifteenth within the preseason AP High 25 Ballot, the Oregon Geese open their season on Saturday at house in Eugene in opposition to FCS foe Portland State.

Final 12 months, Oregon went to Atlanta to open the season. This season, the marketing campaign begins at house.

“It is enjoyable for us to have the ability to have a house recreation first,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned. “I am excited to see our followers on the market. I do know we’ll have an important crowd. It’s going to be an important surroundings for our gamers to get to go expertise.

“Like I’ve mentioned a number of occasions, guys are able to hit anyone else. And it will be enjoyable to play a staff that is proper up from this area as effectively.”

The Geese are coming into their second season underneath Lanning. After a season-opening loss to Georgia, Oregon rattled off eight straight wins and seemed to be able to compete for not solely the Pac-12 title, however a School Soccer Playoff look.

The Geese reached as excessive as sixth within the CFP rankings, however late-season losses to Washington and Oregon State value them positioning. Nonetheless, Oregon completed Lanning’s first marketing campaign with a 10-3 file capped by a win within the Vacation Bowl over North Carolina.

Among the many returners for Oregon this 12 months is quarterback Bo Nix, who’s coming into his second 12 months with the Geese and his fifth season of faculty soccer. Nix got here to Oregon after spending three seasons at Auburn.

Final season was statistically his greatest as a passer. Nix threw for 3,593 yards and 29 touchdowns whereas finishing 71.9 p.c of his throws. He additionally rushed for 510 yards and 14 scores and completed fifth in all of FBS and second within the Pac-12 for complete touchdowns with 44.

Nikko Reed is a newcomer to Oregon, a defensive again who transferred in from Colorado. He is blissful he would not need to face Nix any longer in Pac-12 play.

“It is sort of exhausting to bait him to throw us a decide, or bait him to take a look at one other learn,” Reed instructed The Athletic. “He is simply so sensible.”

Oregon’s offense additionally returns working backs Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, who mixed for 14 touchdowns and greater than 2,300 yards from scrimmage.

Main receiver Troy Franklin – who had 61 catches for 891 yards and 9 scores – is again, too. By means of the switch portal, Oregon added receiver Traeshon Holden, who scored six touchdowns for Alabama final 12 months, and receiver Tez Johnson, who hauled in 56 passes for Troy final season.

The offensive unit is gifted, however must modify to a brand new play-caller in Will Stein, who involves Oregon from UTSA after former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham left to take the top teaching job at Arizona State.

For particular groups, Lanning mentioned earlier this week that the competitors for beginning punter stays open between Luke Dunne and Ross James.

Portland State is coming into its ninth 12 months underneath coach Bruce Barnum. Apart from 2015 – when the staff went 9-3 and made the second spherical of the FCS playoffs – the Vikings have not produced a profitable file underneath him.

The Vikings are led on offense by Dante Chachere, a 6-foot-3 quarterback coming into his fifth season of faculty ball. He scored by means of the air and on the bottom final season, dashing for 609 yards and 7 touchdowns, and throwing for 1,956 yards and 19 scores.

“Dante’s added weight has not slowed him down and his grasp of the offense has him reacting extra and higher than he did final 12 months.” Barnum mentioned just lately. “We now have seen him mature by means of final season and into camp this season.”

Portland State is 0-5 all-time in opposition to Oregon and 4-44 in opposition to all FBS competitors.

– Subject Stage Media