EUGENE, Ore. — Talk about the pot calling the kettle green. Or yellow. Or chartreuse. Or whatever shade Oregon happens to be wearing in a given week.

The Ducks on Saturday sported cleats that change color, we kid thee nay, according to your body temperature. For more than two decades, Oregon’s performed in more wardrobe combinations than Elton John.

So, yeah, the idea of Ducks football coach Dan Lanning pointing fingers at Deion Sanders and CU for choosing sizzle over steak is pretty rich.

But you do you, young man.

“(We’re) rooted in substance, not flash … the Cinderella story is over,” Lanning told his guys, with the cameras rolling before the game in — ironically — the most click-worthy story of a painful 42-6 Buffs flop.

“They’re fighting for clicks, we’re fighting for wins. There’s a difference. This game ain’t gonna be played in Hollywood. It’s gonna be played on the grass.”

Yes, the Buffs got their collective grasses kicked.

CU was also the only program at Autzen Stadium on Saturday to have won a national title at least once over the last four decades. Although, hey — why let details get in the way of a viral sound bite, Danny Boy?

“I don’t say stuff just to say it for a click,” Sanders said after the game, sensing a chance to twist the knife. “Contrary to what somebody said. I keep receipts.”

And the Buffs, no matter what anybody says, are still playing with house money. After four games, CU is halfway to bowl eligibility. A year after 1-11. Vegas is already preparing to take a bath after setting the preseason over-under on victories at 3.5.

Lanning’s first college head coaching job is at Oregon, which is the Pac-12 equivalent being born on third base and telling everybody you just hit a triple.

Or the Big Ten equivalent. Or the chartreuse equivalent. Whatever.

If Lanning wins six games in Eugene, they’ll run him out of town on a rail with a Nike swoosh etched into the side.

If Sanders wins six games with CU this year — and he should and could — he’ll be Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

Lordy, that drives Lanning nuts.

It drives them all nuts.

Grass kicking?

Completely.

Fraudorado?

Come on.

Only if you drank so much gold-and-black Kool-Aid that you bet the mortgage on Coach Prime reaching the College Football Playoffs in Year 1.

Oregon-CU reminded us that no overnight sensation, even a Deion Sanders one, is without growing pains.

The Buffs have elite Pac-12 speed on the edges on both sides of the ball and one of the 10 most talented players in college football in Travis Hunter. They’re also toting a MAC-level offensive line. And a defensive line more in on par with the cream of the AAC.

Lanning inherited a team that’s Pac-12 everywhere, especially up front, and went a combined 32-9 in its previous three non-pandemic seasons. The Buffs were 10-26.

Coach Prime won everything Saturday but the game. The Oregon Duck led the team onto the field in a giant white cowboy hat and cartoonishly huge shades, a telling nod to you-know-who. That quacked me up, won’t lie.

Lanning kept it up with his pregame “they’re fighting for clicks” speech. Then he doubled down at halftime on ABC, when, with a 35-0 lead in his back pocket, declared that, “we’re not done yet. We’re not satisfied. I hope all those people watching (the Buffs) every week are watching this week.”

Yo, Dan?

Fraudorado wasn’t the team shooting for two in the first quarter, just because.

Fraudorado wasn’t the one going for it on fourth-and-5 in the third quarter while up 42.

“One thing that I could say, honestly and candidly is, you better get me right now,” Sanders said after the game. “This is the worst we’re gonna be.”

With that, Coach Prime smiled. Knowingly. Some receipts you keep a little closer to the heart.

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.