UPDATE: Oklahoma State’s Zane Flores is poised to make his highly anticipated first career start against the No. 6 Oregon Ducks this Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. (CBS) at Autzen Stadium. Following an injury to starting quarterback Hauss Hejny, Flores stepped in last week, completing 13 of 20 passes for 136 yards in his college debut against UT Martin.
With Flores’ limited game experience, Oregon’s head coach Dan Lanning indicated that the Ducks will focus more on understanding Oklahoma State’s offensive strategies rather than Flores’ individual skills. “You got to prepare for what you see on film,” Lanning stated, acknowledging the challenge of facing a quarterback with minimal starting experience.
Flores, the 2022 MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year, showcased remarkable high school credentials, accumulating over 9,000 passing yards, 82 passing touchdowns, and 29 rushing touchdowns over three seasons. However, he sat out last season due to injury and missed the chance to play while redshirting in 2023. Now, he faces a significant test on the road against a tough Oregon squad.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy expressed confidence in Flores despite the challenging environment. “I would expect him to function just fine,” Gundy said, emphasizing the importance of a supportive coaching strategy to ensure success. He noted that the offense must avoid overwhelming Flores with complex concepts, advocating for a focus on execution and confidence-building.
The Cowboys’ offensive line, featuring a mix of seasoned transfers and two less experienced starters, will need to protect Flores against an aggressive Oregon defense that excelled last week, notching seven tackles for loss and three sacks against Montana State. Defensive tackle Tionne Gray underscored the Ducks’ strategy: “We got to do what we always want to do: affect the quarterback no matter what.”
As both teams enter the matchup at 1-0, the stakes are high. The Ducks aim to capitalize on Flores’ inexperience while the Cowboys hope to leverage their offensive schemes against a formidable Oregon defense.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as this developing story unfolds. Expect immediate updates leading up to kickoff as the excitement builds for this critical early-season showdown.
