EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dillon Gabriel threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns in his Oregon debut, but the third-ranked Ducks struggled in their first game as Big Ten members before beating resilient Idaho 24-14 on Saturday night.

While the win wasn’t as decisive as expected, Oregon extended its non-conference home winning streak to a national record 33 games. Oregon has won 20 consecutive home openers.

“Different than we thought it would look,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Great teams can learn from close games. This was a close game and we didn’t create the explosive plays that I was hoping to create offensively. We gave up some key plays on defense. So there’s definitely things to attack.”

Oregon led 14-0 at halftime, but Idaho cut the deficit on Jack Layne’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Jake Cox. After Oregon’s field goal, Layne rushed for a 4-yard TD to make it 17-14.

Gabriel found Tez Johnson with a 12-yard scoring pass midway through the final quarter to salvage the win.

“You can never doubt an opponent,” defenseman Matayo Uiagalelei said. “I take my hat off to Idaho, they’re a great program. Shoot, it was a close game. I don’t think we expected that.”

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Johnson caught 12 passes for 81 yards and both touchdowns through the air from Gabriel.

Last season, Johnson caught 86 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns. His receptions were an Oregon single-season record.

Like Lanning, he saw room for improvement.

“We just have to finish. That’s what it is. We have to finish in the red zone,” Johnson. “And that’s something we’re going to fix.”

Honoring Khyree

The Ducks held a moment of silence before the game for Khyree Jackson, 24, a former Oregon cornerback who died along with two of his friends in a car crash in Maryland on July 6. Jackson was preparing for his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Oregon’s helmets this season feature decals for Jackson and former tight end Spencer Webb, who died in a climbing accident before the start of the 2023 season.

Pickard begins

Charlie Pickard, a former walk-on who followed his father to Oregon despite offers from other schools, was given the starting position at center in the game.

The Ducks had to replace Jackson Powers-Johnson, last season’s Rimington Trophy winner who was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round of the NFL draft.

Iapani Laloulu started for the Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl, competing with Pickard for the center spot. Laloulu instead started at right guard

The takeaway meal

Idaho was projected to finish third in the Big Sky in the preseason after a 9-4 season that included a run to the FCS playoff quarterfinals. The Vandals’ defense looks to be a strength once again. Last season, the Vandals ranked 14th among FCS teams nationally, allowing just 306.8 total offensive yards to opponents. All four of Idaho’s starting defensive linemen return for this season.

Oregon, with its highest preseason ranking since 2014, was a 44 1/2-point favorite according to BetMGM College Football Opportunities — but the Ducks looked rusty against the Vandals. Oregon finished 12-2 last season, and came close to making the playoffs before losing to rival Washington in the final Pac-12 championship gameOregon closed out the season with a 45-6 victory over Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl.

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Idaho: Saturday in Wyoming.

Oregon: Hosts Boise State on Saturday.

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