Oregon will be under pressure every single game until the end of the season. That was shown in  today’s 38-24 victory over Washington State.

Pressure because the Ducks’ are just one loss away from being effectively eliminated from the college football playoff.

Pressure to keep Bo Nix’s name alive as a Heisman candidate.

Pressure to maintain head coach Dan Lanning’s self proclaimed “Oregon standard.”

But as Bucky Irving burst through the Washington State defense on his way to his third touchdown of the game, the pressure was lifted from the Ducks’ back Saturday afternoon. 

At least for now. 

The pressure was immediately on Oregon, a Ducks’ touchdown called back by penalty, followed by yet another missed Camden Lewis field-goal to start the game. 

Oregon was far from clean early, the big plays were scarce and the offense had little rhythm. Defensively, the Ducks struggled to contain Cam Ward and the Cougar offense.

Lethargy is to be expected after a big loss. Washington State – who scored six points last week – exposing a previously stout Oregon defense? That was not. 

“We weren’t playing to our standard,” defensive back Nikko Reed said. “That’s what we had to adjust, we came out and just balled.” And ball did they ever.

The remedy for the Ducks? The run game. An Irving touchdown got Oregon going and the rest of the team followed. That  would not relent with the Ducks scoring the game’s next five touchdowns. 

Oregon’s offensive-line in particular shined. The Cougars were held sack-less and the Ducks averaged over 7.5 yards per carry. 

“We always want everybody to run the ball,” center Jackson-Powers-Johnson said. “When we hear run, we all get excited.”

The Cougars did themselves no favors either. Following a timeout from Oregon’s 39-yard line, Washington State dialed up an elaborate trick-pass play that fell harmlessly to the ground.

Despite 100-yard receiving efforts from receivers Lincoln Victor and Kyle Williams, Washington State struggled mightily in the red-zone. The Cougars took the lead early in the second quarter and would find the end-zone just once more.

Oregon’s rushing attack shined throughout. The Ducks went into the half leading by four, with their final drives of the half resulting in two rushing touchdowns drives containing 136 yards rushing, zero passing. 

“That was huge, I mean we just ran the ball, that’s pretty much all we did in the second quarter,” Nix said. “We got the scoring going and that was good for us.”

With the Ducks and Cougars trading punts to start the second half, the pressure was on. Oregon’s offense needed a spark; que Irving yet again, who took a Nix screen pass 42-yards to the house.

“This dude is so passionate,” Lanning said of Irving. “He cares so much for his teammates.”

Oregon held the Cougars to a field-goal, and it was Irving who shined  once again. This time,, in the form of a 43-yard rushing touchdown that iced the game for the Ducks. The chants of “Bucky” that filled the seats of Autzen tell the story, all game long, Irving was galvanizing.

“He’s hard to tackle,” Nix said of Irving. “He’s just a really smart football player, so he can do a lot of different things.”

“I don’t know if anyone on this team wants this team to be more successful than Bucky Irving, he cares about his teammates, he loves hard,” Lanning said. “I have three sons, I hope my sons can grow up to be like Bucky Irving.”

If pressure makes diamonds, Irving was a gem Saturday afternoon. 

Amid Irving’s greatness, Oregon’s offense had its stars too. Nix and his adopted-brother, Tez Johnson, connected for a fourth-quarter touchdown. Jordan James was once again electric. 

Oregon showed its ability to overcome a slow start Saturday afternoon, Lanning and the rest of his squad hope that ability is untried in the future. 

“I still don’t feel like we played a complete game,” Lanning said. “What I feel is our team plays for each other, you really saw that today in the way those guys competed.”

The pressure will remain with Oregon. A duel with Utah awaits the Ducks, who still face questions of slow starts, crucial penalties, and occasional defensive lapses. For now however, Oregon saw the pressure and did not blink.