Countdown to Kickoff: Ducks, Beavers, Vikings 2024 football season

The grass is damn green in Eugene and the hype is on another level, but I'll tell you here at Oregon, we chased and attack those challenges from Heisman trophy favorite to championship expectations. Talking does nothing for you and you're gonna have to strap up your chin strap and let it go. You know, fly. That team out west is kicking off a new era of football and the Oregon Ducks are ready to make a splash in the big 10 conference. The Oregon football has been smashed by football so it's kind of just it goes hand in hand and in Corvallis, it's just excited to, to get out there and go and finally play and, and watch the guys fly around. It was an off season like no other for the Oregon State Beavers from conference realignment to an entire roster overhaul. I'm most looking forward for a win man. So I start off the season hot. So be ready to roll. First year, head coach Trent Bray is guiding the team through unprecedented times. The dam is built and Beaver Nation is ready to roll the Trent Bray era begins. We got, we got a job to do on the park blocks the Portland State Vikings enter year 10 under head coach Bruce Barnum. There are surprises out here which is going to help us on game day. This squad is loaded with experience and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the nation to take on eight nationally ranked opponents. I see an opportunity to get, you know, I like my football team dubbed the season of opportunity. The Vikes have a shot to shake up the big sky countdown to kick off starts. Now. Now that is an intro. Let's go. What is good? Everyone from downtown Portland inside the KGW studios. This is countdown to kick off. My name is Orlando alongside the one and only Art Edwards. How you doing, man? Uh doing great. I think I know why. Oh, yeah, we've made it. College football is back and we are here to get you ready for the 2024 season. We start in Eugene where the Oregon Ducks are preparing for one of the most anticipated seasons in years. Adding fuel to that fire. The program's highest preseason ranking in a decade. The Ducks opened the year number three in the associated press preseason poll, matching the highest A P preseason ranking in program history. Head coach Dan Lanning on dealing with those expectations. It's really about eliminating distractions and things that don't matter. You know, our focus is how do we become the best team we can be on the field right now. And that's about the work that we do. You know, it's the work in the weight room, it's the work and a walk through. It's the work on the practice field. So our guys are doing a great job of attacking that. All right, art. Were you surprised to see the ducks in that third spot? No, not at all. Given what they did last year. So you're a believer. I am a believer. We're gonna dive into predictions and why later in the show? So let's start at the top. There's continuity head coach Dan Lanning is heading into his third season with the Ducks. Almost the entire coaching staff is back including offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh La POY fresh off a 12 and two record and a Fiesta bowl victory. Oregon was one of just three teams in the nation to have a top 10 scoring offense and defense. The top passing offense in the country led the nation in fewest sacks allowed top five in turnover margin. The numbers go on and on. That's in the past though. So let's talk about the 2024 roster. There are 126 players, more than 60% of the roster is filled with returning players. There are 47 newcomers that includes a top five recruiting class and a number of key additions out of the transfer portal headlining that group starting quarterback Dylan Gabriel, one of the most coveted players in the portal. The transfer out of Oklahoma brings experience to the table when it's all said and done. The sixth year senior could break many of college football's all time passing records. He's approaching 15,000 career passing yards as a unanimous all big 12 1st team selection. Gabriel is coming off the best statistical season of his career. A dual threat. The Ducks have dubbed him a touchdown machine if you ask Vegas, Dylan Gabriel is the betting favorite to win the Heisman trophy, but none of it matters, you know. And, um, I think just like people, it's like, what, what do you, have you done for me lately? What kind of person have you been to me lately? You know, you're only as good as your, your last, you know, game or, or practice or, um, performance. So, um, that's what I'm focused on. I'm so, you know, obsessed with just, just winning. Like that's the main focus and goal and the rest will take care of yourself. All right. All right. I gotta know what stands out to you about. Dylan Gabriel. Well, just how mature he is, it's clear that he's been around college football for quite a while, knows his way around, knows what he can do and I tell you what he is some quarterback and he dove right into being QB one, buying a van and taking all of his teammates around town in Eugene. I mean, how quickly. Do you build bonding that way? I mean, they're already talking about playlist in the van and giving him a hard time about changing songs all the time. Got him beats headphones too. Yeah, that always helps. When are you getting the stations to beats headphones, by the way, he just waited on that income. Well, there are lots of names to keep in mind on this roster. Here's a few receiver Tes Johnson and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa were preseason all big 10 selections by USA. Today, cornerback Jabar Mohammad was a high profile transfer out of Washington. Uh Johnny Cornelius is one of the anchors on the offensive line that gave up just five sacks last season and the Ducks counting on Jordan Burch to take the next step on the edge and bolster a defensive line that lost some key players from last season. Now, the Ducks are also expected to have a 12 punch at running back with Jordan James and Noah Whittington following a season ending knee injury against Colorado Winnington has worked himself back into the mix in 2022. He had more than 700 yards. Now, earlier this spring head coach Dan Lanning said that the senior was ahead of schedule in his rehab. Well, now he's ready to go for the start of the season. I'm very excited honestly because for me, this is my last ride. So I'm just giving everything I got, you know, and just taking it in one day at a time. Enjoying the little things like meetings, lifts, you know, the dinners, like just taking it all in and enjoying it. I think they call that perspective. Right. So you, you can't wait to start playing the Ducks kick off the season 430 Saturday at Adson Stadium against Idaho. Well, the Vandals had a great year in F CS playoff team. No one is expecting a close game here. Vegas favors the Ducks by more than six touchdowns. We know how week one plays out. But art, what stands out to you about that, that schedule? Yeah. Well, what stands out is, you know, they're going to the big 10 and they're gonna have Ohio State, they get that at home and then Michigan at the big house, I've been to the big house. Not an easy place to play on the road and then any game in the winter time in the big 10 is gonna be interesting. We know about those two big ones. Are there any other games in there that grab your attention? Yeah. You know, look at Wisconsin, um, you know, we're not sure what they're gonna be this year, but playing at camp, Randall could be tough, uh, you know, late in the season. I agree with you. Historically, Oregon has been bit specifically in November and there are two tough road games in there that are, they're gonna be put to the test right there. So, that makes this thing really exciting even if the early season we're expecting some blowouts early. All right. Are you ready to call time out here? I am coming up a new era for Beaver Nation. Trent Bray is the new man in charge of the beeves deal with the looming uncertainty about realignment and welcome back to countdown to kick off Beaver Nation was rocked this off season from conference realignment to the transfer portal. Oregon State continues to fight in a new world of college football and maintain that winning tradition. We all know in Corvallis have gone to three consecutive bowl games winning eight games in 2023. Rising as high as 10 in the associated press poll. Head coach Trent Bray is tasked with leading the Beavers through unprecedented times. Just don't expect him to be that guy to make an epic pregame speech. I'm not, I, I don't think that has any impact on the game, you know, say something quick and, and let him go. All right, coach, you're off the hook, Bray, 41 years old. He's been a college coach since 2008 and is in his 10th year at OS U, but Saturday marks his head coaching debut. So art, what do you think about Bray deci deciding to stay? Well, I think that's fantastic for the program because you still have some continuity. You know what, as tough as it was to move. Jonathan Smith, you still have a guy that everyone knows what type of message does that send to everybody else. I think it sends a message that says this is a really good program and one that it's worth being in and there's no doubt the fan base has already latched on to that season tickets at about 95% of where they were last year. More than 15,000 already sold that lets you know research stadium is going to be rocking. It is. So there are lots of fresh faces. The majority of coaching staff is new offensive coordinator, Ryan Gunderson and defensive coordinator Keith Hayward were not on the Os U staff a season ago. It's the same theme on the field. A totally different roster than a year ago. Listen to this stat. According to pro football focus, there were 26 players that played 300 snaps last season. Only four of those 26 players are still on the team. So let's get to know the Beavers. There was a quarterback competition and when the dust settled, Giovanni mccoy emerged as the week one starter. Coach Bray says mccoy separated himself a little bit last week, mentioning his comfort with the offense and his play making ability with his legs. The fourth year junior was a first team all big sky selection playing 26 games at Idaho. All that experience was a major factor in winning the job. This isn't the first time that I've been in a QB competition. So, um, I've been here before, you know, and, uh, that just helps a whole lot played in schools like Cal Nevada, Washington State schools like that. So, um, I just feel like it helps a lot just to, um, just to know that game speed and, um, just to be able to just go out and play fast. So I don't know if you can notice it there in mccoy, he was, he was wearing a chain and the pendant there he's been wearing for years. Well, they were asked about the significance of it. It was a lion and he said, King of the jungle. Ok. Art. What are your first impressions? You know what he, he seems like he has some confidence. I mean, we know that he played well at, at the F CS level. Uh but it's a different animal moving up to uh the teams that Oregon State is gonna be playing for an entire season. You were at the scrimmage, you got a chance to see them during the off season. Was there anything that stood out to you or made you think he could be the guy? Not at the, uh at the spring game when I was there, you know, all the quarterbacks really seemed to struggle in the spring game. Uh So I wasn't sure who was gonna come out and end up being QB one. All right. Well, the one thing he has going for him for sure is experience and we're all gonna see what he can do in week. Number one. And there are a lot of players are that are expected to do big things this season. Here's a few names to watch. The secondary expected to be a strength led by corner Jaden Robinson and Liberty transfer, Kobe Singleton. Well, the offensive line is led by Captain Joshua Gray Colorado transfer. Van Wells is on the Rimington trophy watch list. If you're wondering that's an award given to the top center. But as the same goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same like Oregon State running the ball coach Ray says everything is built off the ground game. He wants to roll with three running backs, possibly even four in some games led by Jam Griffin and Colorado transfer Anthony Hankerson. The excitement is real when it comes to the rushing attack is gonna be very good. Honestly, I think we could be the, the, the strength of the team. Well, we are the strength of the team. I love that we're playing the old school style football, you know, and so we're just building off the run. That's gonna be a huge emphasis for us, not only this week, but as the season moves forward. So here we go, the 2024 season begins at 330 Saturday at Research Stadium. The Beavers massive favorites in their opener against Idaho State. Odds makers have Os U as a 27.5 point favorite. The BES play a Mountain West schedule and four of their first five games are in Corvallis. So, art, what stands out to you about this list of opponents, which games are most intriguing to you? Well, you know what, I like the schedule for Oregon State because, uh, you know, I think that the Mountain West for right now is a good place, uh, you know, for them to be playing teams from that conference. So I think that works out well for them. I looked at it and said, I see a lot of wild game. Is there one game in particular that you see, that could be a key game in there? Yeah. You know what, I, I think probably Boise State, you know, is, is one that's gonna be really important because Boise State is likely to be a really good team and we'll see what Oregon State is when they get to that one. I would throw in Washington State obviously as a rival, maybe a gauge when it comes to a team like Purdue even. Yes. Yeah, maybe so. You know what? Nice to see him play a team out of the big 10 since they didn't get to go there and show what they got. Yeah, send a message to everybody and that's what Beaver Nation is hoping, no doubt about the gate. All right. Art, we got one more team to talk about. Season of opportunity. Portland State faces a tough schedule with something to prove. Coach Barnum sets the table for the upcoming season that's coming up next on countdown to kick off the Portland State football team is looking to make a statement this season picked in the lower third of the big sky in both preseason coaches and media polls. It's the 10th season as head coach for Bruce Barnum, they have more than 100 players suiting up this year. That's one of the largest rosters they've had in a long time and there are 40 returners, 14 returning starters. There's experience on offense and some uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball. I like the effort art, I like the competition in each position like we talked about before. But right now there's, you know, I'm starting to see on offense, the guys, we're gonna have to get the ball to, some guys are shining some surprises which is nice. Um, and on defense, the how they're getting to the ball and who's gonna be this? Who's gonna be because we have a lot up front and a linebacker is playing well on that side. I love my back end up. Well, you know, on the offensive side, this is going to be the last go around for Portland state quarterback Dante Sachi, the California native who for over 1500 yards and 16 touchdowns a season ago, he's also a running threat, he ran for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns last season with Sashi leading the way Portland State was second in the big sky in total offense. He's been thinking about the final year of his Portland State career and what's ahead for this season, been here for a while and then for it to be the last one you kinda take it with, uh, try to live in the moment, but then also at the same time, try to give it your all and think about the, the whole team and the whole season as a, as a, as a unit. You don't know some of the guys really well. But are you excited about it? Yeah, absolutely. You know, it starts back from last season. You know, we got a good group coming, came, that came back and we built, built something special here and then we added on with these new guys and I feel like they're fitting in already pretty good. All right, the senior is a team captain. He started 22 straight games for the Vikings and he is a problem for the one question I have for coach Barnum is when are they gonna make you a captain soon? Maybe? Well, the Vikings, they've got a brutal schedule this year between F BS teams and ranked F CS teams. There's no real break for the bikes. It all starts with Washington State on the road Saturday. They gotta go to the P, they have another F BS team in Boise State and eight ranked F CS teams coach. What do you think of the schedule opportunity? You know what, eight after we do the two F BS teams take them out. You know, we've got 10 games, eight are ranked in the top 15. I see an opportunity to get ranked. They win these games. He's right. He's right. They will be going into the playoffs, no doubt. And we've got much more to come on kickoff to wait a minute. We're about to make some people mad. Here we are happy. One of the two. It's time for some predictions on the other side of countdown to kick off. It's time to close out the show talking Vegas odds. We start with the Ducks arc. Vegas expects 10.5 wins. You're going over or under. I'm going over on that. Why is that? Well, I just think they're a super team. I'm feeling feisty. I'm gonna take the under. We're gonna know a whole lot about this team when they face Ohio State. Yes, we will. Hey, and for the Beavers it's 7.5 wins. Oh, what you got? What I tell you, I'm feisty today. I'm taking the under on this as well. A lot of unknowns with the Bes. They have a chance to prove it. I think they're gonna play a lot of close game, man. I'm going with you over. They got a lot of wins on that schedule. I think they're gonna be just fine. Oh, man. Nice work. My man that does it for us here on countdown to kick off. We'll have all the highlights and reaction from week one of college football. We're here. Yes. This Sunday night on Sports Sunday right here at 1135. Good night, everyone.