​There are just under two months remaining until the Oregon Ducks begin their football season, and under head coach Dan Lanning, the program is ramping up for what is expected to be another thrilling pursuit of a spot in the College Football Playoff. The opening test on the schedule is a sizable one: the Boise State Broncos are visiting, presenting Oregon with a matchup against one of the nation’s premier Group of 6 programs right out of the gate. While the Ducks will undoubtedly enter as favorites, this game won’t resemble a soft opener against a smaller program like Montana State or Portland State—no disrespect intended—because Boise State is widely regarded as a top G6 contender with a real chance to contend for a CFP berth.
If the Broncos are going to contend for a postseason bid, adding a win over Oregon—or at least keeping the game competitive—would be a significant feather in their cap. They understand they might be the underdogs, but that isn’t the mindset head coach Spencer Danielson plans to bring into game one. “I think you’re always going to have one of those games that feels outside your weight class, but you know what, you don’t have to beat them ten times; you have to find a way to beat them once,” Danielson said, as quoted by On3. “You need those games on your schedule; you want to play them again. We played them in 2024 and stood toe-to-toe with them. The success they’ve enjoyed since then, and the players they’re bringing back, make the challenge clear, but I do relish these kinds of matchups. The difficulty is amplified when it’s the season’s opener.”
Back in 2024, Dillon Gabriel’s first year with Oregon, Boise State gave the Ducks a hard-fought battle, and Oregon needed a late score to escape with a 37-34 victory. Oregon would eventually reach the CFP as the No. 1 overall seed, while Boise State earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye as the top-ranked Group of 6 program. Although the CFP seeding structure has since changed, it’s plausible we could see both teams in the playoff picture again this season. That opening weekend will serve as a strong early indicator of how the Ducks stack up against a formidable non-conference foe and how they might navigate the rest of the schedule if they are to pursue another playoff run.
This week’s clash promises to be a telling early test for both programs as they interpret the new season’s stakes. Stay plugged in as Oregon faces Boise State and begins to chart a course toward another competitive year in the Pac-12 and beyond. To keep up with continuing Ducks coverage, follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like the Ducks Wire page on Facebook for updates, notes, and opinions. This overview originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Boise State coach details mindset ahead of opener vs. Oregon.