Oregon strolls into Stillwater as the second-ranked team in the country. Oklahoma State is still trying to figure out who it is under a brand-new coaching staff.
−Entire coaching staff and both coordinators are first-year
−QB threw 2 picks in opener, OL starter's status in limbo
This is Dante Moore's show right now, and Oregon needs it to be. The Ducks' quarterback threw for a career-high 378 yards and 3 touchdowns in the opener, and his 62-yard strike to Dakorien Moore broke a tie in the fourth quarter against Boise State. Oklahoma State counters with Drew Mestemaker, who threw for 241 yards but tossed 2 interceptions in a home loss to Tulsa that opened Eric Morris' tenure with a thud.
The bigger story in Stillwater might be the sideline, not the roster. Morris, hired in late November after Oklahoma State moved on from Mike Gundy, is running his system with a first-year offensive coordinator in Sean Brophy and a first-year defensive coordinator in Skyler Cassity. Everything is new at once, and it showed against Tulsa. Oregon has its own staff transition underway with OC Drew Mehringer and DC Chris Hampton, but the Ducks have Moore, a loaded defensive front, and a national-title-contender pedigree to lean on while it settles in.
Health is the swing factor for both sidelines heading into Saturday. Oregon is already without running back Jordon Davison for a stretch after a collarbone injury, and receivers Jalen Lott and Iverson Hooks were banged up entering the opener — though Dan Lanning said this week he expects Hooks back to full strength for this one. Oklahoma State's concern is more pressing: offensive lineman Jacob Sexton was carted off against Tulsa, and his availability for Saturday was still unresolved as of this week.
Neither team plays another game before this one — both open their seasons in Week 1 and meet here in Week 2, so what happened Sept. 5 is the only form either program has to lean on. Oregon's defensive front, with Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander both back, was already being talked about as one of the best units in the country in the preseason, and that group now gets to work against a line that's already down a starter.
The stakes here aren't close to even. Oregon is trying to look like a Big Ten and playoff contender in its first true road test of the year. Oklahoma State is trying to show its new staff can build something out of a Week 1 gut-punch before the Big 12 slate even starts. Kickoff is set for 11:00 AM ET at Boone Pickens Stadium.
