Oregon rallies from slow start, thwarts Boise State's upset bid in season opener

No. 2 Oregon survived a scare in its first game of the 2026 college football season Saturday. Despite entering the opener as heavy favorites over unranked Boise State, the Ducks found themselves tied 27-27 in the fourth quarter.

But the Ducks ultimately held off a resilient Broncos team when wide receiver Dakorien Moore hauled in a 62-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dante Moore, putting Oregon ahead for good.

Oregon held on to win 34-27 and extend its home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 39 games, the longest active streak in the nation.

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Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) looks for an open receiver from the pocket during a college football game between Boise State and Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. (Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen finished with 181 passing yards and three touchdowns. Despite Saturday’s loss, Madsen delivered the kind of performance he can potentially build on this season after throwing for 2,334 yards and 18 touchdowns last year.

The Broncos, who join the rebuilt Pac-12 Conference this year, went 9-5 last season in the Mountain West.

Boise State scored on the first series of the game, with Madsen hitting Cam Bates with a 13-yard scoring pass to cap an 11-play drive. The Ducks tied it on Jordon Davison’s 1-yard dive early in the second quarter.

Boise State players gather during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)

After Evan Stewart muffed a punt and the Broncos recovered, Sire Gaines scored on a 37-yard reception to give Boise State the lead again. Canaan Moore added a 29-yard field goal to extend it with less than three minutes left before halftime.

With just 19 seconds left, Dante Moore found Jamari Johnson with a 27-yard pass to close the game to 17-14 at the break.

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After Gage Hurych’s 26-yard field goal, Oregon went ahead on Jeremiah McClellan’s 8-yard TD catch. But the Broncos tied it up again before the end of the third quarter on Madsen’s 7-yard scoring pass to Matt Wagner.

Oregon’s Davon Benjamin and Brandon Finney Jr. celebrate after a play during a college football game against Boise State at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 5, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. (Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Hurych and Canaan Moore traded field goals in the fourth quarter before Dakorien Moore’s touchdown.

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Oregon travels to Stillwater next week to face Oklahoma State. Boise State will host Memphis in Week 2.