With 17 new starters and an opponent Oregon final performed within the Nineteen Forties, Geese head coach Dan Lanning is embracing the novelty issue across the opening recreation of the 2025 season on Saturday in Eugene.
The final time he ready for a recreation, Lanning and the Geese had been undefeated and ranked No. 1 within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, headed to the Rose Bowl to face Huge Ten rival Ohio State.
After a 20-point blowout to the eventual champions and immense roster turnover, Lanning and the Geese are pining for one more shot on the playoff.
“I feel no matter consequence or whoever we’re on Saturday, I hope it is not remotely near who we turn out to be, proper?” Lanning stated Monday. “And also you all the time speak about turning into, you realize, the most effective model of yourselves. And I feel we’re a protracted methods away from what we might turn out to be, however I feel this might be an excellent start line to evaluate precisely the place we’re at.
It will not be a simple begin for No. 7 Oregon.
The Geese open the season Saturday towards Montana State — ranked No. 2 in the latest AFCA FCS coach’s ballot — whereas attempting to reset their very own id.
The Geese had been an offensive powerhouse in 2024 scoring at the very least 30 factors in all however three video games. They completed thirteenth within the FBS in passing offense, and twenty second complete offense with Heisman Trophy finalist Dillon Gabriel at quarterback.
Lanning nonetheless has but to formally title his beginning quarterback for Saturday, however all indicators are pointing towards Dante Moore.
A switch from UCLA, Moore hasn’t began a recreation since his true freshman season. In 14 profession video games Moore has 1,659 yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
Lanning and Moore will likely be eager to increase their nation-leading non-conference house profitable streak, however can have to take action towards a stout Montana State group.
“I feel there’s loads of respect for this group that we’re about to play,” Lanning stated. “There’s some unknowns concerning the opponent, as a result of it’s recreation one, and so they have some modifications similar to we now have. So are you able to just remember to have sound guidelines once more on your gamers and allow them to execute at a very excessive degree.”
Whereas Oregon was on a dominant run final season, the Bobcats had been on an equally explosive tear on the decrease tier of school soccer.
Montana State is coming off of a 15-1 season which led to a heartbreaking three-point loss within the FCS nationwide championship recreation. The Bobcats had simply three video games determined by fewer than 14 factors, and wish to proceed that dominance.
Fifth-year Montana State head coach Brent Vigen stays centered on a ground-and-pound offense. The Bobcats led the FCS in dashing offense in 2024, ending with practically 1,200 yards greater than the following closest group.
Vigen has a powerful working again room, headlined by 1,000-yard rusher Adam Jones and a smash-mouth beginning quarterback.
Vigen deploys Stanford switch Justin Lamson, a run-first quarterback with extra profession dashing makes an attempt than passing, because the Bobcats’ beginning QB on Saturday.
“From the time (Lamson) acquired right here late spring his work ethic has been his greatest precedence,” Vigen stated Monday. “When you’ve got that and you do not assume something in our tradition you are going to slot in simply advantageous.”
Lamson began a recreation towards Oregon in 2023, a 42-6 Geese win. He was 11-for-20 passing for 106 yards and had 22 rush makes an attempt for 32 yards.
Jones is one among 30 gamers on the Walter Payton Award watchlist, an honor given to the highest FCS offensive participant every season.
He was the 2024 Huge Sky Freshman of the Yr and 2025 Preseason Huge Sky MVP honors, and gained 1,172 yards on the bottom final season.
These groups final performed in 1947.
–Discipline Degree Media
