Pac-12 Play Begins Saturday In Pullman

The Matchup
No.15 Oregon at Washington State
Saturday, September 24, 2022
FOX | 1:05 PM PT
Martin Stadium | Pullman, Wash.

#25 Oregon Ducks (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
AP/Coaches Rank: 15/18
Head Coach: Dan Lanning (William Jewell College, 2008)
Record at Oregon: 2-1 (1st Season)
Career Record: Same

Washington State Cougars (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
AP/Coaches Rank: RV/RV
Head Coach: Jake Dickert (Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 2007)
Record at WSU: 6-3 (1st Season; Acting HC for end of 2021)
Career Record: Same

TV: FOX
Play-By-Play: Tim Brando
Analyst: Spencer Tillman

Radio - Oregon Sports Network
Local: KUJZ-FM 95.3 (Eugene) | KFXX-AM 1080 (Portland)
Sirius: 133 | XM: 197
Play-by-Play: Jerry Allen
Analyst: Mike Jorgensen
Sideline: Joey McMurry
Pre-Game Show: Terry Jonz

Series History
All-Time Series Record: Oregon leads, 52-40-7
In Eugene: Oregon leads, 23-17-4
In Pullman: Oregon leads, 26-21-2
Neutral Site: Oregon leads, 3-2-1
Last Meeting: Oregon won, 38-24 (11/13/21 in Eugene)

Numbers To Know
0 - Oregon is one of four teams to allow zero sacks so far this season. The O-line leads the nation with a 91.3 pass-blocking grade from PFF.
4 - The Ducks held BYU to 0-for-4 on 4th down and forced four turnovers on downs, including the first and last drives of the game.
28.3 - UO is tied for second in the FBS with 28.3 first downs per game; Oregon set a program record with 40 first downs vs. EWU.
40 - Oregon has won 21 straight games when scoring 40-plus points, putting up 41 vs. BYU after scoring 70 vs. Eastern Washington.
168 - WR Troy Franklin has caught 13 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown in Oregon's last two games, averaging 12.9 yards per catch.

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Eric Evans Photography)

Did you Know?
Terrance Ferguson leads all FBS tight ends with four touchdown receptions this season, all coming in the last two games.

TEAM NOTES

Pac-12 Play Begins In Pullman
The No. 15 Ducks will kick off their Pac-12 Conference schedule on Saturday with their first true road game of the season, traveling to Pullman to face a 3-0 Washington State team. Oregon has won its Pac-12 opener each of the last three seasons. The Ducks own a 52-40-7 lead over WSU in the all-time series, winning the last three meetings after the Cougars won the previous four.

Ducks Dominate BYU In Autzen
Oregon notched the first signature win of the Dan Lanning era last Saturday in Autzen Stadium, leading from start to finish in a 41-20 victory over No. 12 BYU. It was Oregon's first win over a ranked team in Autzen since Oct, 13, 2018, and the program's largest margin of victory over a ranked team since beating No. 5 Utah, 37-15, in the 2019 Pac-12 Championship Game. The 21-point win was Oregon's largest margin of victory over a ranked team in Autzen Stadium since a 28-point win over No. 12 UCLA on Oct. 12, 2013. The Ducks extended their home winning streak to 21 games while also winning their 30th straight nonconference home game.

Flying Up The Polls
Oregon was the biggest riser in this week's Associated Press top-25 poll, moving up 10 spots to No. 15 after a dominant showing against then-No. 12 BYU, which fell seven spots to No. 19. The Ducks also moved up six spots to No. 18 in the AFCA coaches poll. Oregon improved to 29-23 against ranked teams since 2010, and 97-26 as a ranked team in that stretch.

Youth Movement
The Ducks entered 2022 as one of the youngest teams in the country, tying for the fourth-most underclassmen of any FBS team with 96 on its roster. That number is comprised of 53 freshmen and 43 sophomores, and makes up 76.2 percent of Oregon's 126-player roster. The only teams with more underclassmen are Navy (117), Army (108) and Nebraska (110), with Wymoing tied with the Ducks at 96. Colorado ranks second in the Pac-12 with 91 total underclassmen.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Explosive Offense
Oregon's offense was firing on all cylinders the last two times out, averaging 55.5 points per game in dominant wins over Eastern Washington and No. 12 BYU. The Ducks' 111 points are tied for third-most in the FBS over the last two weeks, and they rank 16th during that span with 1,043 total yards. Oregon's offense has been especially hot early in games, scoring on all 10 of its first-half possessions in the last two games with nine touchdowns.

» Tied for second in the nation with 28.3 first downs per game, and fifth with 94 total first downs.
» Third in the Pac-12 and 36th in the FBS this season with 206.33 rushing yards per game.
» Moved the chains at a historic pace vs. Eastern Washington, picking up 40 first downs (21 rushing, 16 passing, 3 penalty) to break the program record of 39 that stood since Oct. 20, 2007.

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Isaac Wasserman/ Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Isaac Wasserman/ Eric Evans Photography)

Nix Does It All In Win
Quarterback Bo Nix put together another terrific performance in Oregon's win over BYU, accounting for five total touchdowns for the second consecutive game. Nix completed 13-of-18 passes for 222 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also rushing for a career-high three scores. The senior became the first Oregon quarterback to throw two touchdowns and rush for three in a game since Marcus Mariota on Dec. 5, 2014, and he is the first Duck QB to rush for three touchdowns since Justin Herbert in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2020. It was Nix's first career game with multiple passing TDs and multiple rushing TDs. In his last two games, Nix has completed 41-of-51 passes (80.4 pct.) for 499 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing 12 times for 53 yards and three touchdowns.

Starting Fast
Nix has gotten off to fast starts this season, completing passes early and often. He owns an 83.3 completion percentage in the first quarter (20-of-24), ranking fifth among FBS quarterbacks and first in the Pac-12. Nix's 76.7 completion percentage in the first half (46-of-60) ranks sixth in the nation, and his five touchdown passes are tied for 13th.

Clean Pocket
Bo Nix's hot start to the season has surely been helped by three strong performances from his offensive line. Oregon is one of just four teams in the nation yet to allow a sack, and the Ducks are the highest-graded pass-blocking team in the nation by Pro Football Focus at 91.3. The Ducks have used a different starting line combination in each of the first three games, with seven linemen playing at least 50 snaps. T.J. Bass (LT), Alex Forsyth (C) and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (RT) have started all three games, with Forsyth and Aumavae-Laulu tying for the team lead with 201 total snaps played. Marcus Harper II made his first two career starts the last two times out at left guard, and Ryan Walk started the opener at left guard before returning from a minor injury to start at right guard vs. BYU. Steven Jones started the first two games at right guard, but missed the BYU game due to injury.

» Allowed just eight pressures, six hurries and two QB hits through three games, according to PFF.
» Aumavae-Laulu's 80.8 overall grade from PFF is No. 4 among Pac-12 offensive linemen and 24th in the FBS; Forsyth ranks fifth in the Pac-12 and tied for 26th in the nation at 79.3.
» Harper II leads all Pac-12 offensive linemen and is tied for fourth in the FBS with a 90.5 pass-blocking grade; Forsyth is tied for 24th nationally at 87.3 and Aumavae-Laulu is 27th at 86.8.
» Forsyth ranks second among Pac-12 O-linemen and tied for 19th in the FBS with a 79.2 run-blocking grade.

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Isaac Wasserman/ Eric Evans Photography)

Franklin Becoming Go-To Target
Sophomore Troy Franklin enters Pac-12 play as one of the hottest receivers in the game. He caught a career-high 10 passes for a career-best 84 yards and a touchdown vs. Eastern Washington, and matched that production with three catches for 84 yards last week vs. BYU. Franklin provided arguably the play of the game last week, making a terrific leaping catch near the goal line for a career-long 50-yard reception. Franklin enters Saturday needing just four catches, seven yards and two touchdowns to surpass the career-highs he set as a freshman in 2021.

» 13 catches in the last two weeks are tied for the most among Pac-12 players in that span, while his 168 yards rank sixth.
» Eighth in the Pac-12 with 202 receiving yards on the season, and tied for 10th with 15 catches.
» Tied for second in the Pac-12 with 10 catches for 10 or more yards.
» First Oregon player with double-digit receptions in a game since Johnny Johnson III on Nov. 23, 2019.

Ferguson Racking Up Touchdowns
Tight end Terrance Ferguson has established himself as a major red zone threat early in the season. The sophomore leads all FBS tight ends with four touchdown receptions after catching two in back-to-back games vs. Eastern Washington and BYU. Ferguson has touchdowns catches of 13, 19, 15 and 9 yards, and he is one of just six FBS tight ends with three or more TD receptions. The Colorado native has nine catches for 96 yards on the season, with five for 79 yards in the last two games. Ferguson was one of five true freshmen tight ends in the FBS with multiple receiving touchdowns in 2021, finishing the season with 17 catches for 141 yards and two scores.

» Four touchdown receptions are tied for ninth among all FBS players, and tied for second in the Pac-12.
» First Oregon tight end since Jacob Breeland in 2019 to catch multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games.
» First two multiple-touchdown games of his career.
» Tied for fourth among Pac-12 tight ends with nine catches; fifth with 96 receiving yards.

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Chris Poulsen / Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Chris Poulsen / Eric Evans Photography)

Loaded Running Back Room
Oregon has used a steady rotation of running backs through the first three games, with six different players getting time at the position so far. Transfers Bucky Irving (14 carries, 97 yards) and Noah Whittington (13 carries, 66 yards) combined for 163 of Oregon's 212 rushing yards last week vs. BYU, becoming Oregon's season leaders entering Saturday at 184 and 109 yards, respectively. Sean Dollars was the leading running back in the season opener with 33 yards on four carries after missing all of 2021 due to injury, and Irving led the way vs. Eastern Washington with 74 yards. Returner Byron Cardwell found the end zone twice vs. the Eagles, once through the air and once on the ground, and both Irving and Whittington have scored once. Freshman Jordan James has 13 carries for 48 yards in his first two career games, while redshirt freshman Kilohana Haasenritter scored his first career touchdown in his first extended action after transferring from Hawai'i.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Buckling Down On Fourth
The Ducks may not have registered an official takeaway on Saturday vs. BYU, but Oregon's defense stopped the Cougars four times on fourth down to get the ball back to the offense. UO stopped BYU on a 4th-and-7 from the Oregon 37 on the Cougars' first drive of the game, setting up a four-play, 64-yard touchdown drive to give the Ducks the early advantage. Oregon also stopped BYU on a 4th-and-1 from the BYU 36, a 4th-and-10 from the Oregon 40, and a 4th-and-5 from the Oregon 14 on the final play of the game. It was the first time Oregon stopped an opponent on four or more fourth downs in a game since No. 5 Utah went 0-for-4 in the 2019 Pac-12 Championship Game on Dec. 6, 2019.

Run Stuffers
Oregon was terrific against the run vs. BYU, holding the Cougars to just 61 yards on 24 carries for a lowly 2.5 yards per rush. The 61 rushing yards are the fewest the Ducks have allowed since holding Washington to just 55 yards last season on Nov. 6, 2021. Through three games, Oregon ranks fifth in the Pac-12 and tied for 32nd in the nation in rush defense at 97.67 yards allowed per game.

Dorlus Named Pac-12 Co-Defensive Lineman Of THe Week
Defensive end Brandon Dorlus enjoyed a breakout performance last weekend vs. No. 12 BYU, earning the honor of Pac-12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week. The junior set a career-high with seven total tackles, and added 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. It was Dorlus' 13th career game with multiple tackles for loss, and he is Oregon's leader in TFLs through three games with 2.5. Dorlus was on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy along with teammate Noah Sewell after putting together an impressive 2021 season, when he set career-highs with 25 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while earning first-team all-conference honors.

The Oregon Ducks take on the BYU Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on September 17, 2022 (Eric Evans Photography)

Superb Sewell
Linebacker Noah Sewell established himself as one of the best defensive players in the nation during his first two-plus seasons with the Ducks. He enters Saturday with 166 career total tackles and seven double-digit tackle performances, as well as 15.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. Sewell has made at least five tackles in 18 of 24 games played, including 13 of 14 games in 2021

Pick Party
No team has been better at coming away with interceptions than Oregon over the last decade-plus. Oregon leads all FBS teams with 192 total interceptions since 2010, four more than second-place Alabama and seven more than third-place Iowa. That impressive run of picking off passes goes back even further, as the Ducks rank second with 354 total interceptions since 2000, trailing only Virginia Tech (355). Since 2018, Oregon is fifth in the nation with 61 interceptions.