Week 2 of the college football season sure had its fair share of excitement. There was the usual chaos, some intense matchups—like Texas against Ohio State—but what really left everyone speechless was Oklahoma State’s unexpected victory over the Oregon Ducks.
Heading into the season, many experts believed the Ducks would be among the elite teams in the country. They were back in the playoff conversation for 2025, having only lost to the eventual National Champion, Indiana. Plus, they secured a solid recruiting class, bringing in four five-star prospects to an already talented roster.
Quarterback Dante Moore made a surprising decision to return for another season, and while head coach Dan Lanning had to replace a couple of coordinators, the assumption was that everything would transition smoothly thanks to internal promotions.
But so far, it’s been a different story for Oregon. They struggled to beat Boise State in their first game, clinching a narrow 34-27 victory. However, their second game was even more disappointing.
Despite a few turnovers being forced by Oregon’s defense, they couldn’t mask the Cowboys’ dominance on the field. Oklahoma State executed a staggering 83 plays, racking up 554 yards and averaging 6.7 yards per play. Their ground game was impressive too, accumulating 237 rushing yards at nearly six yards per carry.
On the flip side, Oregon’s offense failed to find a rhythm. Their once-feared offensive line was frequently bested, leading to a paltry 3 yards per carry and a total of just 281 yards with an average of 4.8 yards per play. It’s interesting—sometimes upsets feel haphazard, benefiting from lucky breaks. But this wasn’t one of those cases. The Cowboys truly outplayed the Ducks, and the final score didn’t reflect just how dominant they were.
This shocking outcome, especially for a team that previously lost 12 games in a row and lost to Tulsa just a week before, raises some big questions. Specifically, how did this happen? According to a postgame report from Oklahoma State, it seems the Ducks might have contributed to their own downfall.
“We noticed earlier in the week that their (Oregon’s) offensive line showed tendencies that helped us understand whether it was a run or a pass, giving us spots to exploit,” remarked linebacker Tate Romney. “And our defensive line took advantage of that.” That’s a fascinating insight, right? It parallels baseball—like when a pitcher inadvertently signals a pitch to a batter.
It appears this may not have been the only signal leaking through. Commentary from Landon Tengwall also hinted at something peculiar about quarterback Dante Moore’s pre-snap positioning. Essentially, he used two different stances—one before runs, and another for passing plays.
It’s unclear if the Cowboys caught on to that particular tell, or if it was merely the movement of the offensive and defensive lines that gave them a hint. Nevertheless, it raises an intriguing question: could Oregon’s missteps be partly responsible for their poor showing?
Maybe. But it’s easy to point fingers when you’re on the losing side. And even if they were tipping their plays, individual players still need to perform well against their opponents. You might know a pass is coming, but if your defensive line is at a disadvantage, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll reach the quarterback. Plus, Oklahoma State’s offense had no trouble moving the ball against Oregon’s defense, and nobody has mentioned the Ducks signaling their coverages or blitzes.
Looking ahead, Oregon faces Portland State this weekend. Any adjustments on their part may not matter much, given the clear talent disparity. However, with a major game against the now No. 12 USC Trojans looming on September 26, Lanning and his coaching staff will likely be dissecting tape to address their predictability.
