5 Things To Know: UO-Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Beating UCLA last week made Oregon bowl eligible for the 2018 season. Now, the Ducks have three games left in the regular season to secure the best possible postseason destination, a finishing stretch that begins on Saturday against Utah at 2:30 p.m. PT.

After bouncing back from a tough road trip with last week's win over the Bruins, Oregon enters the game at 6-3 overall, and 3-3 in Pac-12 play. The Utes also are 6-3 overall, and are 4-3 in the Pac-12; Utah saw a four-game win streak come to an end with a loss last week at Arizona State.

The game will be televised by Pac-12 Networks, with Ted Robinson handling play by play, Yogi Roth as the analyst and Jill Savage providing reports from the sidelines.

Here are five storylines to watch entering the game:

1. The Ducks will be facing a wounded animal when they take on the Utes. Utah lost starting quarterback Tyler Huntley to a broken collarbone suffered in the loss at ASU; then, this week in practice, running back Zach Moss reportedly suffered a significant knee injury.

With Huntley out, the Utes would have been expected to lean heavily on Moss. In his absence, the starter is projected to be junior Armand Shyne, who has 37 carries for 166 yards. Utah's starting quarterback will be redshirt freshman Jason Shelley; he had a prolific high school career in Texas but didn't see his first meaningful collegiate action until last week, going 4-of-11 at ASU.

The Utes find themselves in a quarterback quandary not unlike that faced by Oregon a year ago. Shelley's backup is a former walk-on, Drew Lisk. After that, the Utes would have to turn to guys at other positions who played quarterback in high school.

2. With Oregon's middle linebacker position in flux yet again, take a moment to appreciate the toughness of junior "Jack" linebacker Troy Dye.

Senior Kaulana Apelu suffered a fracture in his leg against UCLA, and so sophomore Sampson Niu is projected to make his second start in three weeks next to Dye at inside linebacker Saturday. Isaac Slade-Matautia also is unavailable, after being injured at Washington State.

All of that comes after injuries forced Oregon to cycle through middle linebackers Apelu, A.J. Hotchkins, Blake Rugraff and Jimmie Swain a year ago. Fortunately, Dye has been able to fight through his own bumps and bruises to stay on the field; in 33 career appearances, he's been Oregon's leading tackler in more than half, 17.

3. Offer some thanks, as well, to junior offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton. After spending most of his career at right guard and right tackle, then moving to left tackle earlier this season when Penei Sewell was injured, Throckmorton is in line to start at center Saturday. Three-year starter Jake Hanson will be serving his one-half suspension following his targeting ejection last week.

Throckmorton isn't just versatile; he's also one of the best linemen in the country in pass protection. Over his last 2,017 snaps spanning 27 consecutive games, Throckmorton hasn't allowed a single sack.

With Throckmorton at center, true freshman Steven Jones figures to get the start at left tackle. But don't be surprised if he stays on the field after Hanson returns for the second half Saturday; that would give the Ducks a chance to ease the workload of right guard Dallas Warmack — who has been playing through injury in recent weeks — by moving Throckmorton from center to guard.

4. The Ducks need to take the show on the road. It was nearly two years ago that Justin Herbert led a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Utah, and in the intervening period, Oregon's only Pac-12 victory on the road was earlier this year at California.

Utah is a tough opponent, and the Utes' home crowd is a rowdy one. But Oregon wants to be a championship program, and winning championships requires winning on the road. There may not be a championship in the cards this season, but it's never the wrong time to establish credibility as a team that can play as well on the road as at home.

5. Finally, as always when the Ducks and Utes square off, expect the unexpected.

In 2014, Oregon played at Utah and nearly fell behind 14-0, but saw Erick Dargan alertly jump on a ball fumbled as a Utah receiver was crossing the goal line. Joe Walker returned it 100 yards to instead tie the game, and the Ducks' path to the College Football Playoff remained open. That game also featured the unforgettable and unfortunate knee injury that derailed the career of tight end Pharaoh Brown.

A year later, the Utes shocked Oregon by coming into Autzen Stadium and winning, 62-20. But the Ducks turned the tables in 2016 on Herbert's game-winning touchdown pass to Darren Carrington II, and then Braxton Burmeister recorded his first win as the UO starting quarterback over Utah last season.