Why Dan Lanning’s Best Chance To Beat The Huskies Has Arrived
By SPENCER McLAUGHLIN
Contributor, 750 The Game
Dan Lanning’s best chance to beat Washington has arrived. There’s no other way to say it, Lanning has to win this football game. And Oregon fans would probably prefer, given the circumstances, that the final margin is by more than 20 points. If Oregon plays as it’s capable, that will come to pass. But there are questions to answer on both sides of the ball.
Let’s start on offense. Is the running game going to explode? Or will the onus once again fall on Dillon Gabriel and the passing attack? They’ve got Tez Johnson back this week and that should help. They were great without him against Michigan (which was most of the game) but struggled in his absence against Maryland and Wisconsin. Gabriel was under 200 yards for the first time this year against Maryland, followed by his first game without a touchdown against Wisconsin in Madison.
Is Saturday truly a “get right” game for DG and the weapons around him? The bye was much needed for a team that looked tired and sloppy in those two games offensively. That should help along with Johnson’s return. However, this Washington pass defense has been exceptional, conceding just 160 yards per game through the air this season. They’ve looked more vulnerable through the air in their last 3 games than in the first 8, but that’s definitely the strength of this Steve Belichick defense.
I expect Jordan James to be over 100 yards, he has run well against Washington and those Husky defenses were more talented than this one. How much balance can Will Stein create on Saturday?
Then there’s the defense, where my confidence is noticeably higher than the offensive side. The questions are fewer and more comforting for those in green and yellow this weekend.
How many sacks will this defensive line generate? Will Jordan Burch play? The Ducks’ front 4 seems to be more reliant on Matayo Uiagalelei than the former South Carolina transfer, but both guys can be absolute game wreckers. If they’re dogs in a dog-eat-dog world, the Husky offensive line is wearing milkbone underwear.
Yes, that was a ‘Cheers’ line from Norm Peterson–but it applies here.
Oregon’s defense has racked up 29 sacks this year in 11 games, while Washington has given up 24 sacks. The Huskies’ OL is all new from last season and it has shown for Jedd Fisch’s team. Not a single blocker up front has a PFF grade of 65 or higher, on a scale where 70 is about an average grade. Whether it’s Will Rogers or Demond Williams at QB for Washington, either one is likely to be under constant duress.
Can Washington win this game? Sure. I never rule out anything in this season of college football, especially in a rivalry game. To do that, Jedd Fisch’s team has to play a darn near perfect game. Stay balanced on offense, don’t turn the ball over, create a special play on special teams, and hope Oregon gets in their own way.
The Ducks have done that this year at times, such as Dillon Gabriel’s nation-leading 4 interceptions inside the 5 yard line. Or the 12 penalties against Maryland that likely gave the Terrapins 10 points they wouldn’t otherwise have gotten.
Lanning’s last “you need to win this rivalry game” was Oregon State in 2023. Oregon was at home against a Beavs team better than this Husky unit that hasn’t won a road game this season. The Ducks led 14-7 late in the second quarter and won the game 31-7.
Anyone else wondering what Dan Lanning’s motivational message will be to his team this week as he seeks his first win against the Huskies? Guess we will have to wait until Tuesday to find out.
PREDICTION:
Oregon 30, Washington 13
Spencer McLaughlin is an Oregon Ducks football contributor to 750 The Game. He also hosts the “Locked On Oregon Ducks” and “Locked On College Football” podcasts and has work featured throughout the season here.