Week 1 of the college football season is in the books, and while the slate wasn't the most action-packed, there were a ton of shocking wins and losses that unfolded. The Oregon Ducks were nearly on the wrong side of the chaos, as Dan Lanning's team escaped Autzen Stadium with a 7-point lead over Boise State.
You never want to overreact to the first game of the season, but in college football, it is the first time we get to see most of these programs after offseasons filled with changes. After the debuts for each team, a trio of future Oregon opponents looks far more manageable than they did with the offseason hype.
Three Oregon opponents that didn't scare anyone in Week 1
Oklahoma State Cowboys
This offseason, few teams with new head coaches got quite as much hype as the Oklahoma State Cowboys with new head coach Eric Morris. The trio on offense of Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, and Wyatt Young was tabbed as explosive enough to keep the Cowboys in any game they played this season.
Instead, Oklahoma State fell to Tulsa in Week 1, showing that the Cowboys may not be ready to strike fear into opponents in Eric Morris' first season. The good news for the Ducks is that Oregon gets to face Oklahoma State immediately after the loss, giving the Cowboys little time to make significant adjustments before the matchup.
Michigan Wolverines
If not for a magical added second, the tone in Ann Arbor would be panicked, as Michigan nearly lost at home to Western Michigan. Bryce Underwood struggled mightily as a passer, and Kyle Whittingham is already telling the media that he has to show improvement to remain the Wolverines' starter. The Wolverines face a top 25 opponent in Oklahoma this week, and the offensive struggles won't get any better against a Brent Venables' led defense.
Washington Huskies
It's always hard to blame a team when a rivalry game is closer than expected, but the Washington Huskies didn't play great against a new-look Washington State team. Aside from Demond Williams Jr making plays with his legs, the Huskies struggled running the ball. If not for missed field goals by Washington State, the game would've been far more interesting, which is a concern heading into league play.
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