Dan Lanning’s defense faces a brutal ground test as Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines aim to revive the Broncos' rushing dominance in this high-stakes season opener.
The 2026 college football season is finally here, and the Oregon Ducks are set to take on the Boise State Broncos to kick off the regular season.
Head coach Dan Lanning and his coaching staff did an excellent job of retaining multiple veterans from the 2025 season and adding plenty of key playmakers through the transfer portal this offseason. This includes the likes of star quarterback Dante Moore, along with former Minnesota Golden Gophers safety Koi Perich.
However, the Ducks' defense must prepare for the Broncos' lethal running back duo of Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, who will be looking to make a statement in Week One.
Oregon Must Stop Boise State's Run Game
Sep 20, 2025; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Dylan Riley (24) runs the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesIn the last showdown between Oregon and Boise State, former star running back and 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty almost led the Broncos to a massive upset in 2024. Jeanty ended the contest with 25 carries for 192 yards and three touchdowns against the Ducks.
Now, with the program two years out from Jeanty's legendary season, Boise State will once again turn to Riley and Gaines for the 2026 season.
Last year, the Broncos recorded 2,507 rushing yards thanks to the likes of Riley. The 5-foot-10, 210 lbs. running back accounted for 1,125 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, while simultaneously recording 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 15 receptions.
To make matters more interesting for the Ducks' defense on Saturday, Boise State also possesses a terrific pace-of-play back behind Riley in sophomore Sire Gaines.
As a freshman, Gaines tallied 811 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 161 carries. The duo of Riley and Gaines combined for an average of 5.6 yards per carry in 2025, and with a full season under head coach Spencer Danielson, the dynamic one-two punch on offense is poised for another big season in 2026.
For Oregon to defeat Boise State for the second time in three seasons, the defense must key in on the run game. Luckily for Lanning and his squad, the Ducks' defense allowed an average of 115.7 rushing yards per game in 2025, which ranked seventh amongst all teams in the Big 10 Conference.
The addition of Perich to the defense this offseason should also help Oregon's run defense against the Broncos. Perich finished with a PFF run-defense grade of 82.3 in 2025, and his frequent usage in the box should aid the Ducks' front four on defense.
