ARLINGTON, Texas -- Season-opening results should be wrapped in caution tape, as overreaction can cause embarrassment. But Auburn-Oregon was the type of opener that, no matter how it went, carried potentially long-term consequences for both teams.
Oregon arrived at AT&T Stadium on Saturday carrying the burden of an entire conference, trying to give the beleaguered Pac-12 some good news after several mostly miserable seasons. Behind quarterback Justin Herbert and a gifted offensive line, the Ducks sensed a return to national relevancy.
Auburn's Gus Malzahn arrived carrying the burden of his coaching future, which seemed secure at the end of 2017 but began to loosen last fall.