Boise State showed up for its first game as a Pac-12 program and nearly walked out of Autzen with the sport's signature Week 1 upset — it took Dante Moore's biggest throw of the day to keep No. 2 Oregon's opener from turning into a disaster.
This was supposed to be a coronation. Instead Boise State came out throwing haymakers, and Maddux Madsen — the guy Spencer Danielson named QB1 well before fall camp wrapped — threw a pair of touchdowns in a half that had the Broncos up 17-14 at the break. For a program stepping into the Pac-12 for the first time, after 3 straight Mountain West titles, that's about as loud a statement entrance as you can make.
+Entered No. 2 in the country with a proven quarterback
+Moore passed on a top-5 draft slot to run it back
+Dave Iuli returning at guard after a zero-sack season protecting Moore
−Evan Stewart still working back from a season-long patellar injury
−Interior protection tested by an unfamiliar Boise State front
−Special-teams miscue directly gifted the opponent points
The game turned on special teams, and it turned Boise State's way first. Evan Stewart — one of Oregon's 4 captains, back after missing all of last season with a torn patellar tendon — muffed a fair-catch attempt on a punt, and Boise State's Sire Gaines turned the ensuing possession into a 38-yard touchdown grab that put the Broncos up. Dave Iuli, who didn't allow a sack all last season protecting Moore's blindside, had to hold up against a Boise State interior front breaking in 2 new starters — the kind of matchup that looked fine on paper and got tested for real all afternoon.
Oregon never did pull away clean. The two sides were tied at 24 heading into the fourth quarter, which is not where a 24.5-point favorite is supposed to be with 15 minutes left. Whatever the market thought it knew about this gap in talent, the scoreboard spent 3 quarters disagreeing with it.
Moore finally settled it with a 62-yard catch-and-run to Dakorien Moore that put the Ducks up for good. From there Oregon's defense did the rest — forcing a punt, then finally getting consistent pressure on Madsen to force a turnover on downs with 1:41 left before Boise State could cross midfield again. It was the first time all game Oregon's defensive front looked like the unit that was supposed to show up from the opening whistle.
Oregon leaves Week 1 with the win and a real gut-check. Moore made the decision to skip a likely top-5 NFL Draft slot to run this offense back, and this is exactly the kind of game that decision was supposed to prevent from happening — a shootout that comes down to one throw. Boise State, meanwhile, walks out of its Pac-12 debut having pushed the No. 2 team in the country to the fourth quarter. That's a considerably louder first impression than a blowout loss would have been.
