10 takeaways from No. 6 Oregon’s rout of Oklahoma State

No.

6 Oregon routed Oklahoma State 69-3 on Saturday.

Here are 10 takeaways from the game as the Ducks (2-0) prepare to head to Northwestern (1-1) on Saturday (9 a.m.

PT, FOX).

1) Adapt or die When this series was agreed to in Sept.

2018, both programs were in very different places.

Oregon was setting the foundation in Mario Cristobals first full season and Oklahoma State was coming off three straight 10-win seasons.

In the years since, theyve gone in nearly polar opposite directions.

Oregon won back-to-back Pac-12 championships and been a near perennial New Years Six/College Football Playoff team.

Oklahoma State had two seven-win seasons, two eight-win years, 12 wins in 2021, 10 wins in 2023 and a bottoming out 3-9 last year.

Mike Gundy took a paycut and reworked buyout, hired a whole new coaching staff and blew up the roster in an attempt to be more competitive and make up for years of failing to utilize the transfer portal properly, by his own admission.

Dan Lanning and his staff took the proverbial torch from Cristobal and launched the Ducks into a new stratosphere, backfilling with transfers where needed and recruiting at a level never seen before in Eugene.

This was a display of what adapting with the times looks like, versus being left behind.

I cant speak to any other teams situation than ours, Lanning said, but I can tell you thats part of whats separated Oregon for a long time, is were always looking whats next and how do we have to adjust.

2) Video game numbers Oregon had seven plays of 50-plus yards last season and 10 in 2023.

It already has five this season, with four coming against a hapless Oklahoma State defense that gave up two in the first three plays of the game.

Oregons 10.18 yards per play is absolutely absurd and was 10.8 before the final two possessions.

Likely a program record, it is the highest in a game since at least 1995.

Its also the most allowed by Oklahoma State since at least 1995, with only the 2017 Bedlam game, which was a 62-52 shootout, being higher.

3) Dante Moores vertical game is there Moores touch on multiple deep throws was on point.

Regardless of whether the windows were huge, the receivers were wide open or who was playing defense, Moore connected with Dakorien Moore and Malik Benson in stride for long touchdowns.

Benson is also nearing the point of being deserving of an apology from fans who were skeptical of his offseason addition and extremely vocal of his drop in the spring game.

4) The defense had a banner day Eight three-and-outs and two interception return touchdowns is hard to against any opponent.

There were no defensive penalties, a high rate of havoc, in few pass rush opportunities they got pressure and allowed only one pass over 15 yards to a team built on airing it out.

There isnt much that will translate against talented opponents, but that was as dominant a display as Oregon has had on defense since at least 2019.

5) Jerry Mixon is proving more than capable After two years of limited reps on defense, Mixon is showing hes ready to be a significant contributor.

The pick-six capped what was already a strong day for Mixon, who has already tied his career-high with five tackles.

6) Jayden Limar is playing his best football Limar has been buried on the depth chart the past two years but hes off to a great start this season.

He showed some speed and power during his six carries for 87 yards and a touchdown and is making a solid case to be the No.

2 running back.

7) Punter is decided James Ferguson-Reynolds had Oregons first punt of the season, which was downed inside the 20, and added a 37-yarder.

He was the first holder against Montana State, which indicated he won the battle over Ross James, but until a punt happened it was somewhat open-ended.

8) Pre-snap penalties were the only glaring issue In terms of what the coaches will actually want to clean up from such a lop-sided performance, five pre-snap penalties on offense could top the list.

Some are going to be lived with when you utilize tempo and some formations, but five in a home game is too many and one negated a two-point conversion that in a competitive game would have real consequences.

9) Covered up receivers made for advantages Will Stein utilized plenty of personnel groups again, with multiple tight ends and running backs throughout the game.

But two big plays came with covered up receivers, which Oklahoma States defense had no idea were ineligible.

10) Take very little from first two weeks As outrageous as Oregons output has been through the first two games, and likely the next two, theres very little that can truly be applied to the games that matter most, particularly at Penn State.

Evan Lanning didnt want to make too much of 10.18 ypp.

Well have to measure (offensive production) when we play somebody that measures up well against us, Lanning said.

-- James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten..

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