Back to business for Oregon against Nevada

Darron Thomas.

AP Photo.

After a frustrating loss to Louisiana State a week ago, the Oregon Ducks are ready to re-open the college football season Saturday with a wini over Nevada Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

They just have to make it happen.

Oregon lost 40-27 to the Tigers in the Cowboys Classic in Arlington, Texas, and played less-than-impressively, especially on offense, where quarterback Darron Thomas attempted 54 pass. Running back LaMichael James, a preseason contender for the Heisman Trophy, gained just 54 yards on 12 carries, which most observers figure wiped him out of a place in the New York Athletic Club for the announcement of the winner.

Oregon coach Chip Kelly worked to keep the public focused on the length of the season following the game.

"It's one game and this is a long, long, long season," Kelly told reporters this week. "We talk about it all the time as being a 12-round fight. We're down. We didn't get knocked out in Round 1, but we lost Round 1. These kids will come back to work."

Nevada won't be a pushover. The Wolf Pack finished 13-1 last season and handed Boise State its lone regular season loss, a loss that kept the Broncos from any legitimate shot at a place in the national championship game - which Oregon played in.

Saturday's game is the season opener for Nevada.

Game time is 12:30 p.m.