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Oregon football needs to come out swinging against Michigan in Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 26, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning visits with players before a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning visits with players before a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
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Four games stand between Oregon football and a perfect regular season in year one of its life in the Big Ten. Running the table in the first year in a new conference would not only be impressive but it would lead to a guaranteed playoff berth regardless of what happens in the Big Ten title game.

But in order for that to happen, the Ducks need to stay focused on the task at hand.

Oregon just had its way with No. 20 Oregon following a 35-0 drubbing of Purdue on the road and it might be easy to overlook a 5-3 middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team on the road in Week 10 to start November, but the Ducks have to remember that Michigan is the reigning national champion. They can't be coming out slow against an offensively challanged Michigan team.

What Michigan is going to try and do on Saturday in Ann Arbor is lengthen drives and keep Oregon's offense off the field, but the Ducks can't let the Wolverines dictate the flow of the game.

What's going to get Michigan out of its comfort zone and into Oregon's style of play? A quick start by the Ducks. If Oregon can get on the board first and take a healthy lead into halftime, Michigan is going to be forced to throw the ball more and that's where it'll get in trouble. The quarterback room in Ann Arbor is a nightmare and the games in which they've lost prove that. Heck, their wins have even been ugly.

If Oregon can continue to do what it has done over the past month or so, it'll be just fine.

Looking at the healthy wins the Ducks have this year, there's one common theme: they've come out swinging and made the other team adjust to their pace.

Against Oregon State, the Ducks went up 22-7 early and then cruised. Against UCLA, Oregon was up 28-3 right before halftime. In that Michigan State game, the Ducks build a 31-0 lead. The Ohio State game was back and forth like a heavyweight fight but then the Ducks were up 14-0 after the first quarter and 21-0 at halftime at Purdue. And then Oregon build a 35-3 lead over Illinois at halftime.

Come out swinging early and force Michigan to play comeback and this game will be over quickly. Michigan simply doesn't have the firepower for a shootout.

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