3 Keys For Oregon's Week 2 Battle Against Oklahoma State

3 Keys For Oregon's Week 2 Battle Against Oklahoma State

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3 Keys For Oregon's Week 2 Battle Against Oklahoma State

Week Two of the 2026 college football season is here, which means the Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning will look to redeem themselves after a brutal season opener.

Lanning and his squad were able to sneak away with a Week One victory over the Boise State Broncos, 34-27. This week, however, will be another tough challenge for the program as they are set to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on the road. The Cowboys are coming off a horrific loss against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes last week, so the tension in Stillwater this weekend will be through the roof.

Here are the three keys to victory for Oregon in their Week Two battle against Oklahoma State.

Get Dante Moore Hot Early

Sep 5, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the first half against the Boise State Broncos at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) throws a pass during the first half against the Boise State Broncos at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Last week, the offense failed to get going early in the contest, which caused the Ducks to play from behind for a majority of the matchup.

The key to unlocking the offense early will be quarterback Dante Moore. The veteran playmaker struggled to consistently move the ball downfield in the first half against the Broncos, but this dramatically changed in the second half once he settled in. Still, if Oregon wants to avoid a tight game, Moore must catch fire early.

It's clear that the star quarterback can propel his team to a massive Week Two victory, but giving him easy looks at the start of the game should help kickstart the offense.

Shut Down Oklahoma State's Run Game

Sep 5, 2026; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Caleb Hawkins (24) breaks a tackle by Tulsa Golden Hurricane cornerback Elijah Green (7) during the first half at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
Sep 5, 2026; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Caleb Hawkins (24) breaks a tackle by Tulsa Golden Hurricane cornerback Elijah Green (7) during the first half at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

One of the main reasons why Tulsa was able to defeat Oklahoma State in Week One was due to their strong efforts at defending Oklahoma State's run game.

Running back Caleb Hawkins was held to 79 rushing yards on 18 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. This forced Oklahoma State to rely on quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who struggled in his first-career start with the Cowboys. Head coach Eric Morris will likely use Hawkins early in the battle to take pressure off his young quarterback.

Luckily for Lanning and his squad, Oregon limited Boise State to 93 rushing yards on 36 carries, which is a positive sign for the program heading into their Week Two contest.

Take Away Wyatt Young

Oklahoma State wide receiver Wyatt Young (10) catches a pass during the second half of a college football game between Oklahoma State (OSU) and Tulsa at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 (NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Wyatt Young (10) catches a pass during the second half of a college football game between Oklahoma State (OSU) and Tulsa at H. A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 (NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)

If Oregon can force Oklahoma State to put the ball in Mestemaker's hands on Saturday, the secondary unit must key in on wide receiver Wyatt Young.

The former Mean Green standout was nothing short of impressive last year, racking up 1,264 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 70 receptions. Young carried that momentum into Week One against the Golden Hurricanes, catching eight passes for 84 yards. Standing at 6-foot, 199 lbs., Young may not seem like a daunting threat, but the Katy, TX, native can change the course of the game if the defense is unable to limit him in the passing game.

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