Sometimes, Oregon is just the more talented team.
Sometimes, the bevy of talent that having perennial top recruiting and transfer portal classes leads to is on full display.
Sometimes, Oregon dominates from start to finish.
Plain and simple. Oregon is just better. As seen in Saturday’s 35-6 destruction of Utah.
Coming into Saturday’s matchup, Utah was flying high after a win against USC. With backup-quarterback-turned-starter Bryson Barnes leading the way, a packed house at Rice-Eccles Stadium looked destined to lead Utah to an upset win over Oregon.
And absolutely none of it mattered.
At all.
Oregon dominated from start to finish, and the Utes were no contest.
Coming into Saturday’s game, Utah had gone 18 straight home games undefeated. Oregon saw that record and did not bat an eye, and the dismantling ensued.
“I’m extremely proud of our team,” head coach Dan Lanning said after the game. “I thought this was our most complete game; we faced moments of adversity, our guys never flinched.”
Never flinched? How about they were never challenged. The Utes were listless all game long.
Sione Vaki, who was a week removed from a 149-yard, two-touchdown torching of USC, failed to record a reception. The Utah defense that Lanning had categorized before the game as the unit that he had the “most respect for” in the Pac-12? Exposed for 6.7 yards per play.
“We wanted to try to make them play left-handed,” Lanning said after the game. Forget left handed, Oregon looked to be playing a different sport than the Utes.
It was shocking, too; with other key wins against Florida and UCLA, Utah looked to be a formidable opponent for the Ducks. But the Utes just weren’t even close.
A let up could be expected, as few teams can continue a dominant season with a backup quarterback. Utah looked to be an outlier until it met the Ducks.
“The guy plays tough,” Lanning said of Barnes before the game. “He’s impressive.”
Respect quickly turned into contempt Saturday afternoon: all game long Barnes looked flustered, completing just 52% of his passes.
The Oregon defense dominated. Its players flew around the field holding the Utes to a measly six points.
It’s not a shock on paper either. Oregon is flat out the more talented team. When it comes to recruiting top talent nationally, the Ducks just outclass Utah.
According to 247 Sports, since 2000, Utah has yet to have a five star recruit. Oregon has had 13. The Ducks’ 2023 transfer portal class ranked No. 9 nationally in 2023. Utah’s? No. 44.
In every recruiting category, Oregon is plain and simple in a league of its own compared to Utah.
Oregon was plain and simple in a league of its own compared to Utah Saturday afternoon.
One of those transfer portal acquisitions, Evan Williams, flew around the field tallying seven total tackles on the day.
“Our defense is the reason we won the game today,” Bo Nix said after the game. “They gave up six points; they gave them absolutely nothing.”
Offensively was no different. Nix — a transfer portal addition from a year ago — added to his Heisman campaign with three total touchdowns. Another transfer portal addition, Bucky Irving, added a touchdown of his own.
“Bo Nix is the best quarterback in the nation,” Lanning said after the game. “This guy just plays consistent, he gets us in the right call, he comes to the sideline and helps us through adjustments.”
Nix and the Ducks sure were consistent, and the box score says it all: it was a routing in Salt Lake.
Oregon — for the second time in as many weeks — didn’t allow a sack. Jonah Elliss, who came into Saturday’s matchup third in the country with 10 sacks, was a non-factor.
“That dude’s a good player,” Lanning said of Elliss after the game. “I’ll tell you that we knew where he was at all times.”
The Ducks probably don’t know where to look now. Elliss’ name does not appear on the stat sheet.
Things aren’t bleak yet for the Utes, as conference realignment will lead Utah to likely be favored in the Big-12. However, for perhaps the final time against the Ducks, Utah was outmatched by Oregon.
“When you have a good team like we have, and a quarterback like we have,” Lanning said. “That’s a special recipe for success.”
The special recipe for success was on full display. Another possible recipe? Being plain better than your opponent.
