Fifth Quarter 2025: Montana State

 

Oregon vs. Montana State — Unit-by-Unit Analysis and Grades

Oregon’s 59–13 opener at Autzen was a comprehensive win built on trench control, explosive balance, and clean execution. Using the full box score, advanced metrics, and PFF grades, here’s how each phase performed.

Offense — Grade: A

What stood out: Balance and efficiency. Oregon piled up 506 total yards, split evenly (253 rush / 253 pass), and went 9-for-9 in the red zone and 7-of-10 on third down (70%). The opening drive (74 yards in 3:03) set the tone: under-center look, decisive cuts from Noah Whittington and Jayden Limar, and calm progression reads by Dante Moore.

QB play: Moore’s debut as QB1 was poised and on-schedule (18–23, 213 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT; 199.1 rating). He mixed quick game with selective shot attempts and used his legs early to keep Montana State honest. PFF graded Moore in the upper-mid tier for an opener (solid overall), which tracks with a performance heavy on good decisions and few negatives rather than high-degree-of-difficulty throws. Austin Novosad flashed with a 40-yard strike to Kyler Kasper on his first series.

Skill positions: The depth is real. Ten Ducks caught passes; six topped 20 rushing yards. Whittington (10–68–1) and Limar (3–20–1) were efficient; true freshman Jordon Davison finished drives with three TDs. Malik Benson (5–51–1) and Gary Bryant Jr. (4–31–1) were automatic on-target (both 100% catch rate). Kenyon Sadiq turned his lone catch into a TD and blocked well on the edge throughout the day.

Offensive line: Protection and displacement were markedly improved from last year’s opener. Oregon averaged 6.5 yards per rush and posted a 56% Rushing Success Rate (advanced), with no sacks allowed. PFF highlighted strong individual outings:

• Alex Harkey (#71 T) — 87.2 overall (top OL grade).
• Gernorris Wilson (#78 T) — 82.7 overall; clean in pass pro.
• Iapani Laloulu (#72 C) — 82.7 pass-block grade, steady anchor.
  Even with Emmanuel Pregnon briefly banged up, the group’s cohesion held. One holding penalty on Matthew Bedford was the lone blemish.

Bottom line: Multiple ball-carriers, on-schedule QB play, and a high-functioning line yielded a 52% Offensive Success Rate and 10.7 yards per play on third down (advanced). That’s A-level efficiency.

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Defense — Grade: A-

Run fit response: The offseason question was run defense. Answer: emphatic. Montana State, typically run-heavy, was held to 46 rushing yards on 27 attempts (1.7 YPC) and just six rushing first downs. Oregon logged 7 TFLs and 3 sacks, consistently denting the line of scrimmage.

Front seven & edges: Matayo Uiagalelei was the tone-setter: 2.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL with an 87.5 PFF overall and 90.6 pass-rush—elite edge disruption. Nasir Wyatt added pressure/TFL production (77.6 PFF overall), and A’Mauri Washington’s first-step quickness showed up in short-yardage stops (strong TFLs, 73.4 PFF overall).

Coverage picture: Montana State’s Justin Lamson went 23–31 for 198 by leaning into quick game and Taco Dowler (12–107) in space. Oregon’s underneath zones occasionally conceded easy pitch-and-catch possessions, especially late, but the red-zone clamps held (two early FGs, one late TD vs. reserves). PFF backed several solid coverage days:

• Ify Obidegwu (CB) — 72.7 PFF overall, steady in phase with 77.6 coverage component.
• Dillon Thieneman (S) — 69.4 overall, 82.3 coverage, clean triggers and angles.
• Jadon Canady (S) — 68.5 overall, active in the alley with ball production.
  Add in a pass breakup from Daylen Austin and timely pressure from Blake Purchase, and Oregon kept explosives to a minimum (Montana State’s 5 “big plays” for 92 yds vs. Oregon’s 11 for 274, advanced).

Bottom line: The structure was right, the edges won, and interior penetration erased a run-first identity. A couple of mid-field soft spots and a late touchdown in heavy-rotation time nudge this from A to A-.

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Special Teams — Grade: A-

Game-changers: Two first-quarter blocked punts flipped early field position and helped produce a 75% Field Position Rate (advanced)—a dominant hidden-yardage edge. In returns, Dierre Hill Jr. sparked a drive with a 50-yard kick return, and Gary Bryant Jr. added 34 punt return yards (with a fortunate bounce out of bounds on a fumble).

Kicking game: Atticus Sappington drilled his lone attempt (23 yards). Coverage units were sound; Montana State’s best return was 25 yards. Punting was largely unnecessary.

Bottom line: Blocks, returns, and field position set the table for the rout. Minor ball-security scare on a punt return keeps it at A-.

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Coaching — Grade: A

Plan & adaptability: Offensively, the under-center opener, early QB keep, and diverse formations stressed rules and created downhill run lanes. Defensively, the plan to force the Bobcats left-handed (short throws, no consistent run creases) worked. Rotational usage showcased depth without compromising structure.

Discipline & execution: Oregon committed just 3 penalties for 29 yards (vs. Montana State’s 7 for 54), finished 9-for-9 in the red zone, and 0 turnovers. Third-down sequencing on both sides matched the scouting report (offense 70% on 3rd, defense limited MSU to 25%). That’s crisp Week 1 operation.

Bottom line: Clean, physical, and intentional football with minimal procedural errors earns the staff an A.

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Advanced Metric to Know — Field Position Rate: 75% (Oregon)

Oregon started 75% of its drives beyond its own 25-yard line (advanced), compared with 33% for Montana State. That gap reflects the synergy of defense (quick stops), special teams (two blocked punts, explosive returns), and penalty discipline—and it’s a major reason the game flow tilted so quickly.

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Snapshot Box

• Total Yards: UO 506, MSU 244
• Rush Yards: UO 253 (6.5 YPC), MSU 46 (1.7 YPC)
• Third Down: UO 7/10 (70%), MSU 3/12 (25%)
• Red Zone: UO 9/9, MSU 1/1
• Sacks / TFL: UO 3 / 7; MSU 0 / 0
• Top PFF Performers:
• Offense: T Alex Harkey (87.2); T Gernorris Wilson (82.7); C Iapani Laloulu (82.7 pass-block)
• Defense: EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei (87.5, 90.6 PR); EDGE Nasir Wyatt (77.6); DI A’Mauri Washington (73.4)

Final Word: For Week 1, this checked every program box: physical identity, situational mastery, and depth validation. Penn State and other heavyweights will stress-test the ceiling, but the baseline is championship-caliber.