The Oregon Ducks are getting set to kick off their 2025 campaign on Saturday afternoon with a game against the Montana State Bobcats in Autzen Stadium at 1 p.m. PT. While the Ducks are preparing for what could likely be a run towards the College Football Playoff, the Bobcats are in their own playoff hunt, looking to head back to the FCS playoffs, where they made it to the FCS national championship game a year ago.
On paper, these are two teams in different leagues, with the Ducks possessing far more talent and size than Montana State. However, the Bobcats are a well-coached team that can test Oregon if they push the right buttons. If you don’t believe me, look at what the Idaho Vandals did to the Ducks a year ago in an eventual 21-14 win for Oregon in Week 1 of the 2024 season.
So what can the Ducks expect from Montana State? Let’s start by examining the defense and trying to find out what Oregon is in for on Saturday.
Related: What should the Oregon Ducks expect from Montana State Bobcats’ offense?
What do the Montana State Bobcats do well on defense?
Much like the offense, Montana State’s defense is built on physicality, particularly in the front seven. They have a handful of returning starters on the defensive line, and several players who received preseason All-American or All-Conference honors. The linebacking group is young but talented, having gained some playing time a year ago, and is now set to step into a bigger role.
The secondary is a different story. Montana State lost all four starters at the cornerback and safety positions, and will be relatively green going into Saturday.
Who are the top players to know about?
DL Paul Brott
Paul Brott is one of the leaders of Montana State’s defense, coming into the year as a 2nd Team All-American and All-Big Sky player in the preseason. Last season, he earned All-Big Sky honors and was fourth on the team with 49 tackles and six tackles for loss.
DE Kenneth Eiden IV
Kenneth Eiden IV is another Preseason All-American and All-Big Sky player for Montana State after emerging as one of the best defensive players on the roster a year ago, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
Are the Oregon Ducks built to score on Montana State?
Quite simply, the answer is yes. While Montana State is strong in the trenches and can excel against the rushing attack at the FCS level, I’m not sure how well they will be able to hold up against the size and skill that Oregon has on its offensive line. Meanwhile, the Ducks should be able to air it out on the Bobcats’ secondary and find some real success in the passing game. I don’t expect Oregon to have trouble at any level when possessing the ball.
What should we expect on Saturday?
If Oregon wants to open up the playbook, then there’s no reason to believe that they won’t find success offensively and put up some points on Saturday. However, both Will Stein and Dan Lanning have stated that one of their problems a year ago against the Idaho Vandals was that they carried too many plays into Week 1, which caused them to get bogged down by the options. This time around, they were refining their approach and focusing more on the fundamentals.
Because of this, I think we see a conservative approach from Oregon, built on a strong rushing attack with a few shot plays over the top.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What the Oregon Ducks should expect from Montana State’s defense
