EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon Ducks enter their second season in the Big Ten with high expectations and plenty of new faces. Ranked No. 7 nationally, Oregon opens its 2025 campaign Saturday at Autzen Stadium against defending Big Sky champion Montana State. Both teams look much different from the versions that finished last fall.
Roster Turnover on Both Sides
Oregon lost a significant chunk of its offensive firepower to the NFL draft, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel, wide receiver Tez Johnson, and running back Jordan James. Montana State also saw major departures: star quarterback Tommy Mellott, who accounted for 46 touchdowns last season, was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, while running back Scottre Humphrey transferred to New Mexico.
With so many departures, scouting has become more challenging. Both programs enter the opener with lineups that haven’t been fully tested at the college level.
Familiar Face at Quarterback
Montana State will start Justin Lamson, a transfer from Stanford. Ducks fans may remember him from 2023, when he started against Oregon and went 11-of-20 for 106 yards in a 42-6 loss. He was sacked four times in that game.
While Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledged the benefit of past film, he emphasized that preparation focuses more on Montana State’s overall scheme than Lamson’s individual tendencies.
“You look at that for an evaluation as a player,” Lanning said, “but you spend a lot more time watching scheme from a coordinator’s perspective.”
Lamson appeared in six games last year for Stanford, finishing with 300 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Ducks’ New Leader Under Center
For Oregon, the offense will likely be led by Dante Moore, who transferred from UCLA and redshirted last season as Gabriel’s backup. Moore is expected to bring a new dynamic but less experience than Oregon quarterbacks of recent years.
Montana State coach Brent Vigen pointed out the contrast.
“They’ve had the two most experienced quarterbacks in the history of college football,” he said of Gabriel and Bo Nix before him. “So that’s going to change.”
Vigen expects the Ducks to lean more on their depth of playmakers than on one individual star.
Bobcats Rewind
Montana State is coming off a historic 2024 campaign. The Bobcats went 15-1, claimed their third consecutive Big Sky title, and advanced to the FCS National Championship, where they narrowly lost to North Dakota State 35-32.
Despite losing Mellott, the Bobcats retain top receiver Taco Dowler and running back Adam Jones, who rushed for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns last season on his way to being named Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Jones enters this season as the conference’s preseason offensive MVP.
Ducks Rewind
Oregon’s inaugural Big Ten season was nothing short of remarkable. The Ducks upset top-ranked Ohio State at home in October and went on to beat Penn State 45-37 in the Big Ten Championship, finishing the regular season undefeated.
However, their playoff run ended abruptly when Ohio State avenged its earlier loss, defeating Oregon 41-21 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl.
A Work in Progress
As Oregon prepares for its 2025 debut, Lanning stressed that early-season results should not define his team.
“I hope [Saturday] is not remotely close to who we become,” he said. “You always talk about becoming the best version of yourselves. I think we’re a long ways away from what we could become, but this will be a good starting point.”
Key Questions for Week One
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Can Oregon’s new offense click early? With Moore stepping into the spotlight, the Ducks will need quick chemistry with their new group of receivers and backs.
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Will Montana State’s balance make up for Mellott’s absence? Jones and Dowler are proven playmakers, but Lamson must avoid turnovers against a fast Big Ten defense.
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How will Oregon’s defense look? With so many changes on offense, the Ducks may rely on defense to steady the opener.
Conclusion
Saturday’s game at Autzen Stadium marks the start of a new chapter for both programs. Oregon is eager to prove it can reload quickly and remain a Big Ten powerhouse, while Montana State hopes to show it can compete even after losing its record-setting quarterback.
For the Ducks, the season opener is less about perfection and more about establishing identity. As Lanning put it: “This is just the beginning of what we could become.”
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