No. 15 Oregon Ducks notch historic blowout win over Portland State in season opener

The Oregon Ducks kicked off the 2023 season in blowout fashion Saturday with an 81-7 steamrolling of Portland State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

With the win, Dan Lanning’s squad set a modern program record for points in a single game.

Bo Nix went 23-for-27 passing with 287 yards and three touchdowns, and Bucky Irving ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries.

Jordan James added 86 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries, and Troy Franklin caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Live updates: No. 15 Oregon vs. Portland State

Pregame

— All of Oregon’s scholarship quarterbacks are in uniform and participating in warmups.

— Casey Kelly was not with the tight ends during warmups. Terrance Ferguson, Patrick Herbert, and Kenyon Sadiq are all good to go.

— Jestin Jacobs was not with the linebackers during warmups. He has been a limited participant in practice over the past several weeks.

— Kicker Andrew Boyle was not with the Ducks’ specialists during warmups.

— Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson, Gary Bryant Jr., Nikko Reed, Jordan James, Bucky Irving, Noah Whittington, Kris Hutson, and Rodrick Pleasant were taking punt and kick returns during warmups.

— Redshirt freshman receiver Ahston Cozart is not in uniform for the Ducks today.

— Oregon’s first-unit offensive line during warmups is as follows:

• LT: Josh Conerly Jr.
• LG: Marcus Harper II
• C: Jackson Powers-Johnson
• RG: Steven Jones
• RT: Ajani Cornelius

— With kickoff 15 minutes away, the following Oregon scholarship players are OUT:

• LB Jestin Jacobs
• OL Nishad Strother
• TE Casey Kelly
• WR Ashton Cozart
• K Andrew Boyle
• OL Michael Wooten
• OL Lipe Moala
• WR Josh Delgado
• DL Tevita Pome’e

— Oregon captains are:

• Bo Nix
• Jeffrey Bassa
• Bucky Irving
• Casey Rogers

First quarter

— Oregon forced a Portland State three-and-out on the first drive of the game.

— The Ducks opened the scoring — and scored their first touchdown of the season — on a 13-yard pass from Bo Nix to Troy Franklin. They then converted the two-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead.

— The Vikings answered back with a scoring drive of their own when Chachere found Miller for a nine-yard score. Portland State went 75 yards on nine plays without much difficulty to cut the Ducks’ lead to 8-7.

— Bucky Irving uncorked a 52-yard touchdown run for his first score of the season to push Oregon’s lead to 15-7.

— Franklin grabbed his second touchdown of the day on a 32-yard completion from Nix to push Oregon’s lead to 22-7.

Second Quarter

— Jordan James rumbled into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown to push Oregon’s lead to 29-7 with 11:11 left in the half.

— Portland State mugged the ensuing kickoff and Bryce Boettcher recovered it for Oregon. Four plays later, Jordan James punched in his second touchdown of the day to push Oregon’s lead to 36-7.

— Irving and James each ran in touchdowns before the half ended to further bolster Oregon’s lead.

Halftime: Oregon 50, Portland State 7

Third Quarter

— Nix completed passes of 17, 33, and 10 yards to lead another quick Oregon scoring drive and pushed the lead to 57-7.

— Ty Thompson replaced Nix at quarterback for the Ducks’ second drive of the second half and linked up with Gary Bryant Jr. for a nine-yard touchdown to make it 64-7.

— Portland State produced its first third-down stop of the day. Oregon kicker Camden Lewis came on and drilled a 41-yard field goal to push the Ducks’ lead to 67-7.

Fourth Quarter

— Freshman running back Dante Dowdell scored the first touchdown of his Oregon career to increase the lead to 74-7.

— Oregon’s first punt of the day came with 6:10 left in the fourth quarter. Ross James boomed a 56-yarder.

— Freshman Jayden Limar closed out the game with a 17-yard rushing touchdown.

Final: Oregon 81, Portland State 7