Bobcat capsule: No. 2/2 Montana State at No. 7 (FBS) Oregon
FRITZ NEIGHBOR | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
SPORTS EDITOR Fritz Neighbor is the Sports Editor for the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees sports coverage across the Flathead Valley, including high school athletics, youth sports, and regional competitions. In his leadership role, he helps shape the newspaper’s sports coverage and editorial direction. Fritz’s column, Full Count, taps into his decades’ long career covering Montana sports. You’ll also see Fritz sharing his thoughts and insights on the Big Sky Now podcast. IMPACT: Fritz’s work celebrates the athletes and teams that bring Northwest Montana communities together. | August 29, 2025 12:00 AM
When: Saturday, 2 p.m. TV — Big 10 Network. Web — Varsity App; Radio — Bobcat Radio Network. Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore. (54,000, FieldTurf). Records: Both teams are 0-0.
When the Bobcats have the ball: Montana State will continue to run behind a stout offensive line and with two excellent running backs — Adam Jones, who had 1,172 rushing yards last season, and Julius Davis, who ran for 718 yards in 2023. Justin Lamson, the Stanford transfer, will start at quarterback. Florence’s own Patrick Duchien is listed as the No. 2. Chris Long, Ryan King and Taco Dowler are the starters at receiver. Dowler, a Billings West product, also is set to return punts. Jones is listed as one of the kickoff returnmen, along with freshman Jabez Woods.
When the Ducks have the ball: Coach Dan Lanning hasn’t announced UCLA transfer Dante Moore as his starter, but Moore did play in five games last season in relief of Dillon Gabriel and threw for 1,610 yards for UCLA in 2023. Akili Smith, Jr. — his dad was the Ducks’ QB in 1997-98 — is an option. Whoever starts can hand off to bruising running backs Noah Whittington and Makhi Hughes, and throw to receivers Justius Lowe and Gary Bryant, Jr. Hughes ran for 1,401 yards for Tulane last season.
Notable: Oregon leads the series 1-0, and the last time the teams played, in 1947, a guy named Norm Van Brocklin led the Ducks to a comeback 27-14 victory at Hayward Field. ... MSU defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV had 4.5 sacks during MSU’s postseason run in 2024. ... the Bobcats went 15-1 last season, losing to North Dakota State in the FCS title game. ... Oregon went 13-1 in its first year in the Big 10, losing to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl/CFP quarterfinal. .... Oregon beat Idaho 24-14 to open last season. ... Dowler is MSU’s career punt return leader with 1,036 yards. ... The Ducks have won 34 straight games at Autzen, and 14 straight home openers.
Pick: Ducks, 34-31.
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