No. 7 Oregon embraces fresh start, giving dangerous FCS foe due attention

With 17 new starters and an opponent Oregon last played in the 1940s, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is embracing the novelty factor around the opening game of the 2025 season on Saturday in Eugene.

The last time he prepared for a game, Lanning and the Ducks were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff, headed to the Rose Bowl to face Big Ten rival Ohio State.

After a 20-point blowout to the eventual champions and immense roster turnover, Lanning and the Ducks are pining for another shot at the playoff.

“I think regardless of result or whoever we are on Saturday, I hope it’s not remotely close to who we become, right?” Lanning said Monday. “And you always talk about becoming, you know, the best version of yourselves. And I think we’re a long ways away from what we could become, but I think this would be a good starting point to assess exactly where we’re at.

It won’t be an easy start for No. 7 Oregon.

The Ducks open the season Saturday against Montana State — ranked No. 2 in the most recent AFCA FCS coach’s poll — while trying to reset their own identity.

The Ducks were an offensive powerhouse in 2024 scoring at least 30 points in all but three games. They finished 13th in the FBS in passing offense, and 22nd total offense with Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel at quarterback.

Lanning still has yet to officially name his starting quarterback for Saturday, but all signs are pointing toward Dante Moore.

A transfer from UCLA, Moore hasn’t started a game since his true freshman season. In 14 career games Moore has 1,659 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Lanning and Moore will be keen to extend their nation-leading non-conference home winning streak, but will have to do so against a stout Montana State team.

“I think there’s a lot of respect for this team that we’re about to play,” Lanning said. “There’s some unknowns about the opponent, because it is game one, and they have some changes just like we have. So can you make sure that you have sound rules again for your players and let them execute at a really high level.”

While Oregon was on a dominant run last season, the Bobcats were on an equally explosive tear at the lower tier of college football.

Montana State is coming off of a 15-1 season which ended in a heartbreaking three-point loss in the FCS national championship game. The Bobcats had just three games decided by fewer than 14 points, and are looking to continue that dominance.

Fifth-year Montana State head coach Brent Vigen remains focused on a ground-and-pound offense. The Bobcats led the FCS in rushing offense in 2024, finishing with nearly 1,200 yards more than the next closest team.

Vigen has a strong running back room, headlined by 1,000-yard rusher Adam Jones and a smash-mouth starting quarterback.

Vigen deploys Stanford transfer Justin Lamson, a run-first quarterback with more career rushing attempts than passing, as the Bobcats’ starting QB on Saturday.

“From the time (Lamson) got here late spring his work ethic has been his biggest priority,” Vigen said Monday. “When you have that and you don’t assume anything in our culture you’re going to fit in just fine.”

Lamson started a game against Oregon in 2023, a 42-6 Ducks win. He was 11-for-20 passing for 106 yards and had 22 rush attempts for 32 yards.

Jones is one of 30 players on the Walter Payton Award watchlist, an honor given to the top FCS offensive player each season.

He was the 2024 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and 2025 Preseason Big Sky MVP honors, and gained 1,172 yards on the ground last season.

These teams last played in 1947.

–Field Level Media