Ducks dominate, Ohio State showdown prepared

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks hosted the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium in a game that was their first home game as a Big Ten program. The Ducks showed their most impressive performance of the season so far and won comfortably 31:10.

Chaos. That's the only word that describes the start of the game between the Oregon Ducks and the Michigan State Spartans. The second half? It wasn't pretty, but can you say Oregon looked like a Big Ten team?

“We play physical and make sure we run the ball. We take some of the decision-making out of our hands,” said coach Dan Lanning in the FOX interview after the game. Sometimes the game is so simple.

The first quarter was a roller coaster ride with every team losing the ball at the goal line. Oregon forced a fumble from Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles, but quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw an uncharacteristic interception in a head-scratching decision.

The opening quarter also featured a total of 10 first downs, an impressive catch from the ground by wide receiver Traeshon Holden and a punishing throwback run by running back Jordan James, who finished the first quarter with 83 yards on eight attempts. The frame finally ended with a nine-yard touchdown run by Dillon Gabriel for a 7-0 lead.

There were ups and downs in the second quarter, but the key takeaway was Oregon's ability to impose its will in the trenches. The Ducks finished the first half with 192 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jordan James rushed for a career-high 151 yards on 16 attempts and one touchdown. This directly reflects the improvement along the offensive line.

The Ducks’ defensive line also dominated on the other side of the ball. The Ducks' front seven finished the game with three sacks and four tackles for loss while limiting the Spartan rushing attack to just 21 rushing yards. One of the biggest questions of the season was how the trenches of Oregon and all of the PAC-12 transplants could hold up against Big Ten units.

So far, so good. The Ducks took a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Dillion Gabriel is one of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history. He has appeared on three different prominent programs and left his mark at every appearance. The expectation associated with this can sometimes be difficult to fulfill. With this experience and talent, there isn't much room for error. Mistakes that would be forgivable for weaker players simply won't be ignored.

Gabriel doesn't play badly. Even if he had bad moments, it would be disingenuous to put his entire game into that framework. Still, Gabriel and the Ducks' goal isn't just to be a good team. It's about being the best and winning a national championship. This goal requires extraordinary attention to detail. Gabriel needs to be better, especially in the red zone. He threw red zone interceptions two weeks in a row and three total.

Some of that blame can be placed on offensive coordinator Will Stein. Stein was the architect of two of the best passing attacks in the NCAA. However, sometimes it's better to keep the game simple. Relying more on the running game, especially in the red zone, can reduce mental lapses and the likelihood of a turnover.

To be honest, the same applies to the open field too. The screen play and quick passing game were effective to a degree, but certainly became predictable. It was good enough, but the big dogs are coming again. Maybe they saved the versatility and variety for the tougher opponents.

Gabriel reacts great every time he makes a big mistake, but against a tougher opponent it will be crucial for the Ducks to avoid that mistake altogether.

Next up is Ohio State at Autzen. No more tests, the real intermediate exam is here.