Slow-Starting Oregon Gets 'Wake-Up Call,' Survives Boise State in 34-27 Thriller

EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 2 Oregon Ducks opened their 2026 season with a 34-27 victory over Boise State on Saturday afternoon, but the final score doesn't tell the full story. For much of the game, the Ducks looked sluggish, sloppy, and on the verge of a stunning upset at the hands of a Broncos team that refused to back down .

Oregon has now won 16 straight season openers at Autzen Stadium and extended its home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 39 games, the longest active streak in the nation . But this win felt more like an escape than a statement.

A Game of Contrasts

Oregon, a 24.5-point favorite entering the matchup , was out of sync from the opening whistle. Boise State, playing its first game as a member of the rebuilt Pac-12 Conference, struck first — and struck early .

The Broncos marched 75 yards on 11 plays on their opening possession, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Maddux Madsen to Cam Bates . It was a sign of things to come.

The Ducks finally answered early in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordon Davison, but Oregon's momentum was immediately undercut by a costly mistake. Star receiver Evan Stewart muffed a punt, giving Boise State the ball deep in Ducks territory . On the very next play, Madsen found Sire Gaines for a 37-yard touchdown to put the Broncos back on top, 14-7 .

Boise State extended its lead to 17-7 with a 29-yard field goal from Canaan Moore . But with just 19 seconds remaining in the half, Dante Moore connected with Jamari Johnson on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 17-14 .

It was a critical response — but the Ducks still trailed at halftime, with their fans looking stunned and their coach looking for answers.

The Ducks Find Their Footing

Whatever Dan Lanning said in the locker room, it worked. Oregon came out of the break a different team, but even then, the Broncos wouldn't go quietly.

Gage Hurych's 26-yard field goal tied the game at 17-17 early in the third quarter . After a Boise State punt, Dante Moore found Jeremiah McClellan for an 8-yard touchdown to give the Ducks their first lead of the game, 24-17, with 5:30 left in the third quarter .

Boise State answered again. Madsen, who finished with 181 yards and three touchdowns, connected with Matt Wagner on a 7-yard scoring pass on fourth down to knot the score at 24-24 with 1:20 left in the third quarter .

Hurych added a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth to give Oregon a 27-24 lead, but the Broncos responded with a 36-yard field goal of their own, tying the score at 27-27 with 8:15 remaining .

The Breakthrough That Saved Oregon

On the ensuing possession, the Ducks needed a spark. They got one from receiver Dakorien Moore, who turned a short pass into a 62-yard touchdown that would prove to be the game-winner .

Moore made two defenders miss near the sideline before sprinting to the end zone, putting Oregon ahead for good, 34-27 .

"It was a little weird," Dante Moore said of Boise State dancing to Oregon's "Shout" tradition during the fourth-quarter break. "Actually, they were just doing something that we've done before, and that's just trying to flip your mind when you find a way to try to steal the juice from the crowd" .

The Ducks' defense finally held. After forcing a Boise State punt, the Broncos got the ball back with 2:24 remaining and two timeouts. But Oregon's defensive line generated pressure when it mattered most, forcing an incompletion on fourth-and-10 to seal the victory .

By the Numbers

• Dante Moore: 28-of-37 passing for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns 

What It Means

"We won the game, it starts there," Lanning told CBS after the game . "There's a lot to fix. There's a lot to clean up."

The Ducks were penalized 10 times for 90 yards, failed on all three of their fourth-down attempts, and committed a muffed punt that directly led to a Boise State touchdown .

"I'm glad this game was how it was," Dante Moore said. "We got lots to learn" .

For Boise State, the loss is a bitter pill — but also a statement. The Broncos, who entered as 24.5-point underdogs, proved they belong among the top non-Power Four programs . In 2024, Boise State earned a College Football Playoff berth after a close loss to Oregon in Week 2. This year's team may be on a similar trajectory .