The Ducks came into their game against Washington State looking to rebound from a disappointing loss against one of their biggest rivals, the University of Washington Huskies, the week before. For a team with College Football Playoff hopes, a second loss in a season is a death sentence for that goal.
What resulted was the Ducks beating a Washington State team, which was at one point the No. 13 team in the country, by two touchdowns. The importance of a bounceback win during the college football season can not be overstated, especially when Oregon has as difficult of a schedule as it does this year.
Taking care of business against a good team like the Cougars gives the Ducks momentum heading into a clash with No. 13 Utah (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12). Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) still controls its own destiny, and can get into the Pac-12 championship game by winning out, but in the brutal Pac-12 conference slate, letting up for even a moment can lead to an early end to CFP hopes.
For Oregon, the game served as a test of what would be learned from their loss. No fourth-down conversions were attempted by the Ducks, which may have been an adjustment to the game plan after going 0-3 last week. It could also be seen as an accurate risk assessment on the part of the coaching staff. However, the shortest fourth down face by the Ducks this week still saw them needing five yards.
Dan Lanning has not shown that he will change his head coaching philosophy after it comes back to bite him. Two of the losses the Ducks suffered last season could be tied to taking unnecessary risks, the losses to Washington and Oregon State, but Lanning entered this season still taking those same risks. This game saw a much tamer spread of plays, but that was due to a lack of opportunity rather than a change in his coaching philosophy. He made similar playcalls against Washington last season as he did this year, and that aggressive play calling will likely see a return in the coming weeks.
There is also something to be said about showing a kicker that he still has the trust of the coaching staff. Whether or not the three failed conversions on fourth down against Washington were the correct calls or not, Camden Lewis missing a game-tying field goal will stick in the minds of those watching. Lewis missed his first attempt of the game against Washington State from a similar distance, which likely did not help his confidence. However, being called upon to kick a field goal every time the Ducks faced fourth down in range, and being asked to kick an extra point after each touchdown, showed that Lanning and the rest of the Oregon coaching staff did not have their faith in Lewis wavered at all.
A bounceback win is not just about getting a season back on the right track. It is about assessing the little fires that arise with a heartbreaking loss. Left unaddressed, those fires can derail a whole season. Oregon did not let it get that far.
The Ducks’ offense showed it can get big plays almost at will. There were four plays that went for at least 40 yard gains for the Ducks in the game, with three of them coming from Bucky Irving. Irving, who had three touchdowns in the game, was absolutely incredible and his performance was probably the brightest spot of the Oregon offense in a game where the gaping difference in the two teams’ ability to run the ball served as the main difference in the contest.
Oregon could have come into this game looking unimpressive after the loss in Seattle. However, the Ducks seemed to be out for blood. Any doubts were silenced as Oregon came out and played the same as it has all season, unwavering and unrelenting.
