EUGENE, Ore. – Fresh off its bye week, the Oregon football team hosts one of the most anticipated matchups in all of college football Saturday afternoon.
The No. 10 Ducks (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) bring a five-game winning streak into their matchup at Autzen Stadium against No. 9 UCLA (6-0, 3-0). The two teams don’t yet have a common opponent, with the Ducks notching conference wins over Washington State, Stanford and Arizona, while UCLA has defeated Colorado, Washington and Utah.
UCLA leads the all-time series with Oregon, 40-31, but the Ducks have won nine of the last 10. The Ducks have a 14-13 edge in games played in Eugene, including the last seven straight.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 12:35 p.m. with television coverage by FOX, including play by play from Jason Benetti, analysis from Brock Huard and sideline reporting from Allison Williams. ESPN’s “College GameDay” pregame show will go live from the university’s Memorial Quad earlier in the day, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Some storylines to watch on Saturday evening …
1. “College GameDay” doesn’t only choose which site to visit each week based on the quality of the matchup, it’s looking for quality atmosphere as well. And Oregon fans seem poised to create an elite atmosphere Saturday, both for the show and once the game kicks off.
Tickets for the game sold out days ago, and record books will be on hand Saturday to see where the crowd ranks among the biggest in Autzen Stadium history. Giveaways and other promotions Saturday morning will only enhance the excitement for “GameDay,” which will feature appearances by UO coach Dan Lanning and women’s basketball legend Sabrina Ionescu.
It should be the kind of atmosphere that provides an edge for the home team – if the Ducks can harness it effectively. “These are games that don’t take a lot of pep talks,” Lanning said. “Guys are excited. We all realize the moment here. Guys want to play at a high level. But it’s also about keeping that energy directed. That’s what it’s about — a one-play focus.”
2. The two defenses Saturday will have to contain the two most prolific backfields in the Pac-12 so far this season. Oregon is the only team with three players in the top 10 of the conference in rushing yards per game, while UCLA’s tandem of running back Zach Charbonnet and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the most prolific tandem in the Pac-12.
Charbonnet is averaging 123 yards per game, nearly 30 more than anyone else in the conference….
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