Dan Lanning, Oregon won't overlook Boise State after wild 2024 game

Dan Lanning hasn't forgotten the fight the Broncos gave his Ducks two years ago.

He also knows Boise State is a historically proud program that sees the Ducks as the biggest game on its schedule heading into Week 1.

Ahead of the No. 2 Oregon football team's season-opening contest at Autzen Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 5, the question on everyone's mind is how will the Ducks attack a team with nothing to lose that has given Lanning and UO all it can handle in the past?

The fifth-year coach broke down the Broncos' run game, what the Ducks and he remember about the 2024 contest, Oregon's first win over Boise State in four tries, and the various position battles that ensued during fall camp Monday.

Lanning said Monday no one in the Ducks' program is shortchanging the Broncos, despite Oregon being heavy favorites.

Look no further than the Ducks' history against Boise State, which, until 2024, featured three losses. Oregon finally broke through, though it took two special teams touchdowns and a last-second field goal by Atticus Sappington in Week 2 to win.

"They’re certainly aware of it," Lanning said of his players remembering the 2024 game. "I think they have a lot of respect for Boise State. There’s a reason this team has been so successful over so many years. It’s really an identity program and they have a great identity ... They remember that game, they remember how tight it was and it could’ve gone a lot of different ways."

When asked what that identity is, Lanning said Boise State teams always run the ball well, are crafty on special teams and tackle extremely well on defense.

Ashton Jeanty won't be marching through the tunnel at Autzen Stadium, after rushing for nearly 200 yards in 2024, but the Broncos haven't exactly slowed down in the run game either. Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines are a pair of backs that could play on any team Oregon has scheduled this season and combined to rush for nearly 2,000 yards as a tandem last season.

"They’re really, really talented, they’ve got change of speed," Lanning said. "They have proven to be really good backs. They have recruited well at back and they have explosive ability when it comes to the run game and then those guys also catch the ball well out of the backfield."

Lanning specifically cited Boise State's ability to spread the ball around and fool defenses with a slew of weapons with versatile talents. It's not just the running backs, but the tight ends and receivers that can line up just about anywhere.

"I think that’s one of the things that makes Boise tough to prep for is they can throw it to their tight ends, they throw it to their backs, they throw it to their wideouts," Lanning said. "Their runs look like screens … they complement each other with the way they play and the way they prep."

Lanning, usually airtight about the information he reveals publicly, suggested Monday his offensive line could rotate players against Boise State.

That's because several players are playing "above the line football," Lanning said, while trying to replace three starters from a year ago.

"I think you’ll probably see some different guys in the lineup throughout, and that’s because they’ve earned that and they worked through it," Lanning said.

It's unclear which players will be the ones to do so, and Oregon has completely closed off its practices to the media and public under Lanning's tenure. The coach also mentioned lineups change over time and Saturday's game will be a real indicator for who can and can't play for them this season when the lights come on.

Lanning also said starting guard Dave Iuli is healthy and practiced this week and that he feels "comfortable" Iuli could play Saturday after a triceps injury last postseason.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Dan Lanning, Oregon won't overlook Boise State after wild 2024 game