Oregon vs. Michigan State

 The first Big Ten conference game in Eugene, Oregon, takes place on Friday night as No. 6 Oregon hosts Michigan State. After a strong road win last week against fellow Big Ten newcomer UCLA, Oregon is gearing up for a grueling seven-week stretch against traditional conference powerhouses. This stretch includes a home game against Ohio State and tough road games at Maryland and Wisconsin. However, the Ducks' immediate focus is Michigan State.

Michigan State started the season 3-0 but has faltered recently, suffering a 38-7 loss to Ohio State last week and a defeat at Boston College the week before. Their only Big Ten win came against Maryland on Sept. 7, marking their last victory over an FBS team. The Spartans will need to find their footing quickly as they face a formidable Oregon team.

This matchup also revives some old Pac-12 rivalries, with Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith having been the head coach at Oregon State. Smith, a former star quarterback for the Beavers, went 2-4 against Oregon during his tenure, but both victories were significant upsets against top-10 Ducks teams. He and Oregon coach Dan Lanning are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head rivalry, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, has been a revelation, leading the nation with an 81.5% completion rate and ranking among the top in multiple passing categories. Gabriel is on pace to challenge the NCAA single-season completion record set by Bo Nix just last year. In addition to his efficiency, Gabriel is climbing the career charts in both passing yards and touchdowns, threatening records held by Case Keenum.

On the other side, Michigan State is led by Aidan Chiles, who transferred with coach Smith from Oregon State. In his third road start, Chiles has shown flashes of brilliance with eight total touchdowns, but his eight interceptions through five games have contributed to the Spartans' offensive struggles. For Michigan State to have a chance, Chiles and the offense must play a cleaner game than they did in their recent loss at Boston College.

Oregon's offensive line has also found its rhythm after an inconsistent start to the season. Injuries and lineup changes caused early struggles, but the unit has now gone two straight games without allowing a sack and has powered the Ducks' best rushing performances of the year. With the offensive line stabilizing, Oregon looks poised to continue its success.

Facing a challenging road trip after a tough game against Ohio State, Michigan State’s rebuilding process will be tested against a high-powered Oregon team. With the Ducks hitting their stride and holding several key advantages, they may have the upper hand as they look to control the outcome of this Big Ten clash.