Boise State is well aware of its underdog status coming into Eugene for a season-opening matchup against the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks are one of the top contenders to win a national title this season, and the Broncos are the first obstacle in their path.
Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson isn't shying away from the fact that his team might be at a disadvantage from a talent perspective.
"Obviously, we're playing arguably the best team in the country," Danielson told reporters on Monday. "I know they're ranked No. 2. I'm not smart enough to know how everybody ranks those things, but when I look at their roster and how they've developed their team, I think they're the best team in the country."
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is among the favorites
for the Heisman Trophy, and the Ducks return plenty of talent around him. However, the situation was eerily similar in 2024, when Boise State traveled to Autzen Stadium and nearly knocked off the Ducks, who needed a walk-off field goal to win 37-34.
Two years later, both teams still have playmakers who performed in that game, but the rosters are still very different. Danielson has Boise State hunting for a spot in the College Football Playoff again, a feat he achieved in 2024. Starting the season against a roster like Oregon's might put the Broncos at a disadvantage, but Danielson had nothing but good things to say about how Dan Lanning has developed and constructed Oregon's roster.
"Hats off to Dan Lanning," Danielson said. "I don't know him super well, but I have a ton of respect for him. We've talked a couple of times. I have a ton of respect for him as a head coach, as a defensive coach and just what he's been able to do at Oregon over his time there. It's very, very impressive how they've been able to win at a high level consistently.”
Boise State isn't a slouch, but Danielson noted the Ducks' roster is laden with NFL-caliber players, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Week 1 matchups can often expose holes or weak points on a team, and the Broncos will test the Ducks in some areas.
Danielson praised Moore's accuracy throwing the football to all areas of the field, as well as Lanning's staff putting the team in a position to succeed. Oregon is replacing two coordinators this season, and Drew Mehringer and Chris Hampton were both promoted from within to fill those spots.
Boise State's pass rush might be the biggest challenge against Oregon's offensive line, which has some moving parts but doesn't lack talent. Danielson expects the Ducks to pound the rock as well, which might be overlooked given Oregon's obvious firepower in the passing game.
"Don’t get it twisted," Danielson said. "They will run the football, and they will do it at a very, very high level.”
Danielson is showering the Ducks with compliments, avoiding the bulletin board material that Lanning has put to good use in the past. We'll see how Oregon and Boise State challenge each other on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the season gets underway.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Boise State's Spencer Danielson tabs Oregon as ‘best team in the country’
