Autzen Stadium – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Photo Gallery: Oregon made sure the BYU fans had little to cheer about

Photo Gallery: BYU had its share of fans, but Oregon made sure they didn’t have a lot to cheer about in the 41-20 win.

It’s quite unusual for a non-conference team to have that many fans come into Autzen Stadium, but the BYU contingent filled up its share of seats. The Ducks, however, made sure they didn’t have a lot to cheer about as Oregon dominated No. 14 team in the nation 41-20.

Oregon jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead and made sure the Cougars wouldn’t have a chance to rally with a touchdown to open the third quarter. Bo Nix scored five total touchdowns, three rushing and two passing. Tight end Terrance Ferguson caught both scoring passes and the Duck had to do plenty of pushups Saturday afternoon. Here is how the day went in Eugene in photos.

With top-25 showdown on deck, Autzen Stadium’s heart needs to be on full display

It’s been a few years since the Ducks needed Autzen’s crowd to really show up. On Saturday against BYU, it could be the ultimate difference-maker.

All offseason, Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning spoke about wanting his defensive players to wreak havoc. The coaching staff has talked endlessly about “havoc plays” that muddy up a line of scrimmage and make it impossible for the opposing team to operate as planned.

Can a stadium wreak havoc? If the stadium in question is Autzen in Eugene, then the answer is most definitely yes.

Over the past decade and a half, Autzen has garnered a reputation as one of the toughest places to play in the nation. It is relatively small compared to that of The Big House, or The Shoe, or Death Valley, holding fewer than 60,000 fans at full capacity. However, any player or coach who has been to Oregon in a big game will tell you that it is one of the toughest environments that they’ve had to play in.

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The thing is, though, it’s been a while since we had a massive game at Autzen Stadium. Looking back at 2021, I guess you could say that the Oregon State game was the most consequential. Maybe Fresno State? You’d have to go all the way back to October of 2018 to get a top-25 matchup in Eugene, when the No. 17 Ducks beat the No. 7 Washington Huskies in overtime, 30-27.

That’s going to change this weekend with the No. 14 BYU Cougars coming to town. High-stakes, meaningful football is returning to Eugene, and it will be interesting to see how the fans react.

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“I think this place is really special. I think we have really passionate fans and the fans are what makes that thing tick,” Lanning said of Autzen Stadium. “I’m hoping to see it even 10-fold this weekend. With the game that we have coming in, the atmosphere that we can create can be a big piece of our success when we can put some fans in the seats and go create an environment like that. I think it makes it really tough for an opponent.”

Against an opponent like BYU, Oregon is going to need some help from a passionate fanbase that is aggressive and loud. It’s been a few years since Oregon has needed to lean on the support of Autzen stadium to will them to a win. We’ll see if the deafening glory and unrivaled home-field advantage are still alive and well.

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Know the Opponent: BYU’s improved defense primed to slow down Ducks

BYU brings a much-improved defense from a year ago inside Autzen Stadium in hopes of slowing the Ducks down.

BYU would be the first ones to tell you that its defense wasn’t that good last season. The Cougars allowed over 25 points and nearly 400 yards of total offense per game.

What a difference a year has made.

So far, the defense in Provo has been excellent and the Cougars expect more of the same as BYU heads into Autzen Stadium to face an Oregon offense that is looking for big plays downfield.

Easier said than done, however.

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Baylor has been known for explosion plays over the last decade or so, but against this BYU defense, they were nowhere to be found. In the 26-20 double overtime victory, the Cougars held the Bears to just 289 yards of offense.

That’s usually a typical half for Baylor.

But against BYU’s 4-2-5 alignment, the Bears had a tough time moving the ball down the field on a consistent basis. Finding their way into the opponent’s backfield was a tough task for BYU in 2021 as they only garnered 20 sacks and 64 tackles for loss.

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In 2022, the Cougars have lived in the backfield with five sacks already, including four last week. Having healthy linebackers seems to have done the trick as both Keenan Pili and Payton Wilgar are back from injury. Those two along with their leading tackler from a year ago, Ben Bywater, and second-leading tackler Max Tooley, BYU has a linebacker corps that would rival anyone in the country.

According to Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, their athleticism and knowledge of the game are what make BYU’s linebackers different from others.

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“They play a lot of vision break defense, so when you watch them play, you’re gonna see a lot of zone eyes where when the ball is thrown, you have guys swarm to the ball because they have a vision of it,” he said. “They’re not necessarily a man-match team or a lot of man-to-man and because of that, backers are gonna swarm around the ball, they’re gonna be able to get interceptions on tip balls or get their hands on the balls. We have to do a good job of protecting and finding those small windows in between the defenders.”

The BYU defenders have just one interception in their first two games, but if Oregon’s Bo Nix isn’t careful with the ball, that number will definitely increase.

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From the vault: BYU’s last visit to Autzen wasn’t a pleasant one

Lanning was asked about Oregon’s historic upset of No. 4 BYU in 1990. He said he was excited to learn about it. You should learn more about it as well.

Picture it.

Autzen Stadium, 1990.

The Oregon Ducks were coming off their first bowl win in 26 years with the Independence Bowl victory over Tulsa the year before. But this wasn’t Tulsa.

This was No. 4 BYU coming into Autzen Stadium and they boasted a Heisman hopeful in quarterback Ty Detmer. The Cougars had put on a campaign for the ages in order get their guy to New York in December.

But BYU had not expected the kind of atmosphere that was awaiting them of 45,000 delirious Duck faithful. The Cougars also didn’t expect a defensive line to play out of their minds. Oregon sacked Detmer five times, including defensive tackle Marcus Woods planting the Cougar signal caller into the turf of the east end zone of Autzen.

Oregon led 12-7 at the half and blew the game open in the third quarter with two Bill Musgrave touchdown passes to receiver Michael McClellan and tight end Jeff Thomason to make it 25-10. Musgrave finished the scoring early in the fourth with a three-yard touchdown run and the Ducks defense took it the rest of the way.

If that bowl win in 1989 didn’t give an indication of what Oregon’s football future could be, this upset victory the very next year certainly did. The 32-16 Ducks win put a damper on Detmer’s Heisman chances for a while (he wound up winning it anyway), but any hope BYU had of a possible national championship went by the wayside as they finished the season 10-3.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was four years old.

In his Monday night press conference leading up to the upcoming game with BYU on Saturday, Lanning was asked about this historical contest. As expected, he didn’t have a lot to say.

“I’m gonna look it up now,” he said. “I haven’t heard a lot about that game. But looking forward to going back and finding maybe some old film.”

All Lanning has to do is to go look on YouTube and obviously, there are no on-the-field factors he can take away since it was 32 years ago. But Lanning will see a raucous crowd that will not only take the opponent out of their game plan but also lifts his own team up to do things they thought that possibly they were incapable of doing.

Those factors will be present on Saturday. Oregon can only hope the end result is also there.

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Photo Gallery: Oregon dominates EWU through smoky skies in 2022 home opener

Photo Gallery: Oregon dominates Eastern Washington 70-14 in the 2022 home opener inside Autzen Stadium.

Not only was it nice to see the Oregon Ducks football team dominate someone else, but it was also needed.

For the first time since Nov. 27, 2021, a span of three games, Oregon came out victorious with a 70-14 win over Eastern Washington.

Bo Nix threw for 277 yards and five touchdowns and receiver Troy Franklin set a personal best of 10 catches for 84 yards and a score.

While the attendance number of 47,289 may be a bit disappointing for head coach Dan Lanning’s debut, the lack of air quality due to the local wildfires probably had some people stay inside and watch the game on the Pac-12 Network.

But for those that braved the elements, it was a good time had by all as Autzen Stadium once again proved to have one of the best atmospheres in college football.

Oregon Ducks Player of the Game: Quarterback Bo Nix

Dan Lanning got a much needed blowout victory in his Autzen Stadium debut, thanks in large part to our Ducks Wire Player of the Game: Bo Nix.

Dan Lanning is officially 1-0 at Autzen Stadium, and Oregon Ducks fans can breathe a little easier after the team blew away the Eastern Washington Eagles, 70-14, on Saturday evening.

While a lot of players had excellent performances – hard not to when you put up 70 – the Ducks Wire Player of the Game goes to the man under center, quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix completed 28 out of 33 passing attempts, throwing for 277 yards and five touchdowns in an all-around dominating performance in the first half.

Ty Thompson (5-7 for 63 yards) and Jay Butterfield (1-1 for 1 yard) each got some action while the game was well out of hand, thanks to a nearly perfect performance from the Auburn transfer.

Nix spread the wealth, tossing two touchdowns to tight end Terrance Ferguson and one each to Troy Franklin (who was a perfect 9-for-9 receiving) Byron Cardwell, and Cam McCormick.

Obviously there is a (very) wide gap between Eastern Washington and Georgia, it’s hard not to be encouraged seeing how well Nix bounced back in his first game at Autzen Stadium.

BYU will represent a far more comparable opponent, making Nix a very intriguing player to watch in Week 3.

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Eugene listed among the best college towns in the nation

Eugene was recently ranked as one of the best college towns in the nation. Can’t say that’s a surprise.

You know those Saturday mornings when the sun peeks over the Coburg Hills and starts to warm the crisp fall air? Some college students straggle home from Rennies’ Landing to the fringes of Oregon’s campus, and the city slowly wakes up, getting ready for what is sure to be an exciting and eventful Duck football game as they flock to Autzen Stadium.

It’s days like those that make Eugene a special place.

A city that sees a large influx of college students settle into town each fall has made a reputation off many things, sports and fandom being two of them. But when you look at the place as a whole, it really is special.

In a recent piece surveying the greatest college towns in the country, Hemisphere’s Magazine recognized the University of Oregon as the gem of the northwest. It was listed as one of the five best college towns in the United States.

Thanks to an alum by the name of Phil Knight, Eugene and the University of Oregon are inextricably linked with sports. The Nike founder and his wife have reportedly dedicated more than $1 billion to the school over the last four decades, and the city is sometimes called “Track Town, USA,” on account of the shoe company and U of O’s dynastic track program. Beyond its athletic pedigree, though, Eugene’s location at the southern end of the fertile Willamette Valley make it an ideal place for pinot noir drinkers and steelhead-chasing fishers, as well as boho types such as 1957 U of O grad and Merry Prankster Ken Kesey.

If you’re a regular reader of USA TODAY’s Ducks Wire, you likely are aware of what a special place Eugene is. It’s home to the Ducks, and a place where countless memories — both centered around sports and otherwise — have been made over the years.

It’s always nice to see that getting some recognition.

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11 players we’re most excited to watch in the Oregon Ducks’ spring game

From freshmen to transfers, to players getting their first real chance, there are several Ducks that fans are eager to watch on Saturday.

From transfers to freshmen, to those who haven’t had the chance until now, there are several Oregon Duck football players fans are eager to see on April 23 when Dan Lanning gets to wear an Oregon headset on the sideline for the first time.

The Ducks will feature a lot of very young, but very talented players who are eager to show off the new style of play under Lanning’s and his staff’s tutelage, and their fans are eager to watch them perform and have a good time.

But let’s face it. Any time you get to be inside Autzen Stadium with nice weather (it never rains) and enjoy some Oregon football, it’s a good time.

These are a few players fans will be on the lookout for.

Autzen Stadium projected as one of NCAA’s toughest environments to play in 2022 season

There’s a reason Dan Lanning wants recruits to come and see the Oregon Spring Game; when Autzen Stadium is rocking, there’s nothing quite like it.

There’s a reason that Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning has been making such a push to get some of the top recruits in the nation to Eugene for the spring game in April. He wants them to see what the competitive environment can be like, and feel the energy of a gameday in Eugene.

Because when Autzen Stadium is rocking, there are few places in the college football world that can match it.

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That’s not just the opinion of a lifelong Duck and Oregon alumni, but one shared by 247Sports as well. They recently went through to ranks and projected the top 10 “most terrifying places to play” in 2022, and made sure to make mention of Eugene, saying in particular that when the Utah Utes come to town on November 19, there is going to be some vitriol in the stands as fans are searching for some vengeance.

It’s difficult to simulate the rowdiest environment in the Pac-12. Opposing teams can pump in crowd noise all they want at practice, but Autzen Stadium is one of those venues you have to experience up close to really feel the sound traveling from over top of you down to the field level. Because of the stadium’s strange design, the volume seems to be turned up a notch and rarely escapes. You’re not going to find a bigger game out West this season than the Ducks’ matchup with defending league champ Utah at home on Nov. 19. That’s a potential College GameDay setting and Oregon’s fan base will be ready.

After losing to the Utes both in the regular season and Pac-12 championship game last season, the Ducks will certainly be looking to make amends for their past shortcomings. The fact that they get Utah at home this year will help, and the stakes are likely to be high, with both teams potentially in the running for another meeting in the Pac-12 title game.

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Oregon vs. Fresno State: Ducks Wire staff predictions and opinions

Will fans be impressed by Anthony Brown? Who is the defensive MVP not named Justin Flowe? What will the final score be? We answered all that and more.

In any week during the college football season, we will have spent several days previewing and breaking down the Oregon Ducks and how they might fare against their next opponent. As it happens, for the opening week of the season, we’ve been focused on this game against Fresno State for much longer than just a few days, having September 4th circled on the calendar for quite some time.

We’ve covered the depth chart, figured out what questions we want to be answered, and gone in-depth on the opponent. Now one of the only things left to do is actually make our predictions.

As will happen every week of the season, the managing editor of Ducks Wire, Zachary Neel, will convene with staff writers Don Smalley and Andy Patton to preview the game, set expectations, and ultimately make a final prediction.

Here’s what Ducks Wire thinks about the game against Fresno State:

What to expect from Anthony Brown

Question: A major big-picture question for Oregon this season is how good QB Anthony Brown will be. Just from a fan’s point of view, do you think we will be leaving Autzen on Saturday feeling impressed with his performance or left wanting more?

Zachary Neel: I think that any reasonable Oregon fan trusts the coaching staff when they say that Anthony Brown is the right guy to lead this team, and they aren’t holding unrealistic expectations over his head. However, those people who are expecting a massive stat-line against Fresno State will likely be disappointed. Rather than throwing for 300-plus yards and 4 touchdowns, I think we should be happy to see 2-3 solid quarters of play (hoping Brown does not need to play much in the second half) with a handful of touchdowns and no turnovers.

Don Smalley: What’s the old saying? The backup QB is the most popular guy in town. Perhaps unfairly, fans are going to want to see what Ty Thompson has to show. I think no matter how well Anthony Brown does, fans will look for any little excuse to see Thompson. I think Brown is going to play very well in this game. As long as he isn’t a turnover machine, which he’s not, he’ll be the main guy for the entire season.

Andy Patton: I think Brown will be good in this game; he has plenty of weapons around him and assuming he limits turnovers he should complete his primary task, which is to win a football game for his team. However, I don’t anticipate him doing much to completely wow or win over the crowd, and I don’t think the Ty Thompson supporters will necessarily be convinced after this performance.

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