The season opener: Montana State (15-1, FCS runner-up, ranked No. 2 in the FCS, picked to win the Big Sky) at Oregon (13-1, Big Ten Champions, finished No. 3 in the AP Poll, No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll.)
Date, time, network:
Saturday 1 p.m. PT, Autzen Stadium, televised on the Big Ten Network.
(The Big Ten Network is available on most cable systems as an add-on in the sports and entertainment packages, also streamed through Fubo, Hulu, YouTube TV or Sling.) Fox and YouTube TV reached a new agreement Thursday morning, resolving a carriage dispute.
Line, odds:
Oregon is a 27.5 favorite at FanDuel. The over/under is 56.5, making the probable score something around 42-14.
Likely starting quarterbacks:
Montana State, 8 Justin Lamson, junior, a transfer from Stanford.
Appeared in 24 games over two seasons with The Cardinal, 6-2, 210 from El Dorado Hills, California.
24-62 passing, 46 percent completions, 804 yds, 4 TDs, 4 INTs; rushing 188 attempts for 428 yards, 2.3 yards a carry, 13 TDs, sacked 25 times in two seasons.
I have entered the portal as a graduate transfer with 2 years of eligibility. Coaches reach out to me for the rest of the film. Very thankful for my time at Stanford❤️ pic.twitter.com/lvuoU1uMa2
— Justin (@justin_lamson10) December 13, 2024
Oregon, 5 Dante Moore, redshirt sophomore from Detroit, Michigan, transfer from UCLA in 2023, 6-3, 210.
At UCLA, 2023: appeared in 9 games, 114-223 passing, 54 percent completions, 1610 yards, 11 TDs, 9 INTs, rushing 45 attempts -84 yards, -9.3 yards per carry 0 TDs, sacked 25 times.
At Oregon, 2024: appeared in five games, redshirted, 7-8 passing 45 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks, rushing 1 carry for 6 yards.
Notable players:
Montana State:
23 Adam Jones RB, 6-1 200 from Missoula, Montana, sophomore
2024 184 carries, 1,152 yards, 6.3 yards a carry, 14 TDs long run of 88 yards; receiving 21 catches 234 yards, 11.1 YPC, 1 TD
14 Taco Dowler WR 5-9 170 from Billings, Montana, junior
2024: 38 catches 597 YDS 11 TDs 15.7 YPC also averaged 12.5 yds per punt return, 2nd in the Big Sky.
66 RT Titan Fleishmann 6-4 300 from Pocatello, Idaho, junior
Team captain, Preseason FCS All-American, 16-game starter and Third Team All-American in 2024, devastating run blocker.
11 DE Kenneth Eiden IV 6-1, 250 senior from Bozeman, Montana
32 tackles and 9 sacks in 2024, tops on team, team captain and preseason All-American.
41 DT Paul Brott 6-3, 300 senior from Billings, Montana
Team captain, Preseason FCS 2nd Team All-American, 49 tackles in 2024, 6 TFL
--Like the Ducks, the Bobcats feature five new starters in the secondary including 6-0, 205 strong safety Caden Dowler (Taco's brother) and 5-9, 157 cornerback Jhase McMillan, a speedster from Texas with 21.3 speed in the 200 meters.