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Koi Perich has up-and-down debut with Oregon after leaving Gophers
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- Koi Perich has up-and-down debut with Oregon after leaving Gophers
Koi Perich 's decision to transfer to Oregon in the offseason after two seasons playing for the Gophers was highly contentious. The Esko, Minnesota product made his debut with the Ducks on Saturday afternoon against Boise State , and it was a roller coaster.
Perich did not have the same versatile role in Week 1 that he did last season at Minnesota. He started at safety for the Ducks, and he logged 20 snaps at free safety, eight at slot cornerback, 15 at strong safety, and even one more along the defensive line. He did not play special teams or offense.
Perich received a 60.8 defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), which was 11th-best on their defense. He was credited with a team-high 11 tackles, and he didn't have a missed tackle, according to PFF. His 52.5 coverage grade was where his struggles came.
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Boise State gave Oregon all it could handle, and they went right at Perich on the goal line. He struggled in coverage against a tight end in the slot, which resulted in the Broncos tying the game at 24 in the third quarter.
The way Perich left his hometown Gophers was objectively a little messy. He wanted to compete on a championship-contending team, and No. 2-ranked Oregon is expected to do just that after surviving an upset scare against Boise State at home with a 34-27 win.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
