Exclusive insight from Oregon Ducks’ Tez Johnson on Ohio State Prep: ‘Every detail counts’

EUGENE – History will be made at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, October 12th.

The No. 3 Oregon Ducks host the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in the first-ever top-three matchup at Autzen Stadium. ESPN’s “College GameDay” pregame show is in full swing on Oregon’s campus as Ducks fans dream of upsetting the Buckeyes. The nation will be watching, the weather is expected to be crisp and clear, and the fall leaves will be shining before the sun sets over Eugene.

This is what college football dreams are made of.

That feeling wasn’t lost on Oregon’s leading receiver Tez Johnson. With a knowing grin and a determined step, Johnson entered the state-of-the-art theater at the $68 million Hatfield-Dowlin complex in Oregon.

“The energy that we’re going to come out with will be unmatched,” Johnson told reporter Bri Amaranthus. “The confidence we have will be second to none. Getting back in front of our audience will be second to none. I feel like the audience is going to play a really, really big role.”

Johnson can’t wait to run out of the tunnel on Saturday after a tough week of practice and get ready to face the Buckeyes’ No. 1 defense.

“It was very intense,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “No music, all communication is ours. We can focus on details. Every detail counts, no matter what happens.”

Johnson noticed a different look in Oregon coach Dan Lanning’s eyes this week. Coach Lanning and the undefeated Ducks just earned their first Big Ten home win, a 31-10 victory over Michigan State.

“Every game day we are ready to go through the wall for this man,” Johnson said of Lanning. “Because he will give you everything he has. He will give you one hundred percent every day. He is the most mentally prepared and mentally toughest guy I have ever seen in my life.”

Oregon and Ohio State have a burgeoning rivalry in the new-look Big Ten, vying for the top spot in the conference and fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Saturday’s winner could catapult to No. 1 in the Top 25 poll.

There’s also a good chance Oregon and Ohio State will meet again on Dec. 7 in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.

“It’s a whole different mood change here,” Johnson said of Amaranthus. “We know they (Ohio State) are coming to town. I feel like everyone on this field Saturday has the potential to go to the NFL… There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the game. But we’re playing Oregon again… We’re not really worried about anyone – it’s Ducks vs. Ducks.”

Coach Lanning’s mantra is “Ducks vs. Ducks” – meaning that no matter who the opponent is, Oregon is really only playing against itself. Lanning is no stranger to top-three matchups as a former Georgia defensive coordinator, but Saturday will be his first time as a Duck. A win against Ohio State would be Oregon’s largest win ever at Autzen Stadium.

“Don’t worry about what they do,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “If we do what we do, we’ll come out on top, and that’s the goal.”

“…Now that we’re sitting here talking about it, it’s gotten a lot deeper into the matter. I’m ready to play today,” Johnson said Wednesday night. “That’s the kind of energy there is right now. When you see a player walk into this facility, you want to say hello to him, but you see him so locked in (you don’t want to steal his focus).”

Ohio State has achieved a 5-0 record in its five wins by a margin of nearly 40 points, thanks largely to a strong defense led by defensive back Caleb Downs and defensive end Jaylahn “JT” Tuimoloau.

“Caleb Downs is obviously a really good tackler in space,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “He does a phenomenal job of attacking the ball. I think he’s probably the best safety in the country right now.”

“They are really fast. We’re also very fast, that’s what we’re known for,” Johnson told Amaranthus.

Both Lanning and Johnson have stressed the importance of home-field advantage. Although Autzen Stadium “only” holds around 60,000 fans, when it rocks it reaches a record level of 127 decibels, one of the highest levels ever recorded in college football history.

Johnson has a message for Ducks fans on Saturday.

“Be loud as best you can,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “Every time Ohio State is on the field, be as loud as possible so they can’t hear. If you force the quarterback to do this (gestures to show covering ears/helmet with hands), it’s going to be a long night.”

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and the Buckeyes will travel 2,500 miles for their first conference game at Autzen Stadium. The Buckeyes are fresh off a 35-7 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Howard and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel know each other from their previous teams in the Big 12. In 2024, Howard transferred from Kansas State to Ohio State, while Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon.

Both Gabriel and Howard have electrical weapons. Ohio State is recruiting two of the best receivers in the country in freshman Jeremiah Smith and senior Emeka Egbuka, who have been catalysts for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s explosive offense.

“(Smith) has been doing this since high school,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “He plays with a confidence that is untouched at the moment. I think it’s dangerous for a receiver to have that much confidence for a DB.”

“…But I think the Oregon receivers are really good,” Johnson said with a smile.

The Ducks and Buckeyes have shared memorable showdowns the last two meetings. In 2021, the 12th-ranked Ducks defeated the 3rd-ranked Buckeyes 35-28 at Ohio Stadium. Previously, in 2015, Ohio State ended Oregon’s national title hopes with a 42-20 victory in the first College Football Playoff National Championship.

Johnson wants to set the record straight with a storyline about his team. What’s the craziest thing he’s heard about Oregon this season?

“That we’re not tough,” Johnson told Amaranthus. “Nobody is afraid of us because we are not physically active. Once again, this person doesn’t know exactly what he’s talking about. I’ve never been to a practice here. I just think he’s just saying that because he’s TV bros… That’s normal. “Training is like a Saturday game for us, so we play the game all week and on Saturday we just present it to the fans.

This Saturday, Johnson and the Ducks have a unique opportunity to show who they are in the biggest home game in program history.