WATCH: Dan Lanning Previews Season-Opening Matchup vs. Portland State

Dan Lanning isn't taking the Portland State matchup lightly as he looks for his team to take things to a new level in 2023.

On Monday evening, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning met with reporters in Eugene to preview his team's season-opener against the Portland State Vikings.

The two teams last played in 2018, a matchup the Ducks won 62-14 at home in Auzten Stadium. 

Find the full press conference below, as well as some of the top quotes from Lanning.

Opening statement: "It's finally here. Certainly excited about having game week. It's fun for us to be able to have a home game first. I'm excited to see our fans out there. I know we'll have a great crowd. It'll be a great environment for our players to get to go to experience. Like I've said several times our guys are ready to go hit somebody else and it'll be fun to play a team that's right up from this region as well in Portland State. Certainly a coach I certainly have a lot of respect for. It should be a fun game for us."

Question: Will Nishad (Strother) and JPJ (Jackson Powers-Johnson) be able to go this week?

Lanning: "Yeah I think so. Nishad will be a question. JPJ was practicing with us today and is doing great."

Question: How do you feel you guys approached these last 48 hours now that it's game week? I'm curious from an energy, kind of effort level what you've seen this week so far.

Lanning: "I think our guys have had great effort and great energy. They know it's game week. There's been a buzz around the building that we finally get to go play somebody else. They've had good juice and energy this entire week."

Question: What are the things beyond a win that you hope to see play out?

Lanning: "Ultimately college football is still about explosive plays and takeaways. Those are things we want to create defensively as far as takeaways and offensively we want to create explosives."

READ MORE: Dan Lanning provides injury updates ahead of facing Portland State