Oregon Football: 3 takeaways from loss to Boise State in Las Vegas Bowl

Boise State came out determined to finally beat a Power Five opponent this season. They left no question in their first game against Oregon since 2009.

They seem like such natural rivals as rising powerhouse programs from the northwestern part of the national map. But Oregon and Boise State had met just twice before on the football field. The last game, of course, was the 19-8 Broncos victory in 2009 against Chip Kelly in his first game as a head coach.

LeGarrette Blount had his infamous blow-up with Byron Hout in that game, but both teams recovered to have solid seasons. Oregon went on to win the Pac-10 that year, while the Broncos put up a perfect 14-0 record en route to a Fiesta Bowl win over TCU back when the Horned Frogs were in the Mountain West and Boise State was in the WAC.

For Boise State, the showdown represented a third chance to take down a Power Five team in 2017. They lost to Washington State in overtime, then got manhandled by Virginia, all before the end of September. But Bryan Harsin’s team recovered to win the Mountain West this season and enter the bowl game with a 10-3 record.

With all the questions about the coaching staff in Eugene, it was a disheveled day for the Ducks. Boise State rolled up a 24-0 lead in the first half. Two defensive touchdowns brought Oregon to within 10 points by halftime, but they would never get back within single digits. Here are three takeaways from the 38-28 victory by the Broncos in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl.