Photo by: Eric Evans / Chris Poulsen
5 Storylines To Watch: Pac-12 Championship
12/06/19 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks will face Utah in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday evening (5 p.m., ABC).
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A chance to "Take the Pac" is at hand for the Oregon football team.
The Ducks will meet Utah on Friday evening in the Pac-12 Championship game, played at Levi's Stadium. Oregon, as champions of the Pac-12 North, will take on the Utes, champs of the Pac-12 South, with the conference's automatic berth into the New Year's Six bowl games at stake. The game is scheduled to kick off just after 5 p.m.
The Pac-12 Championship game will be televised by ABC, with Chris Fowler on play by play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis in the booth and Molly McGrath reporting from the sidelines.
Some storylines to follow leading up to the game …
1. The Ducks (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) and Utes (11-1, 8-1) each will make the New Year's Six with a win, though the stakes aren't exactly the same for both teams.
Utah entered college football's championship weekend ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Should No. 2 LSU beat No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship game, on Saturday afternoon, the Utes could be in position to grab a playoff semifinal berth — but only if they can beat the Ducks on Friday.
Oregon, with two losses, is no longer in playoff contention, but is playing Friday to make its first Rose Bowl appearance since 2014. Should the Utes win and make the playoff, the Ducks could be selected to replace them as the Pac-12's Rose Bowl representative; if Utah wins and isn't a semifinal participant, Oregon could be headed to the Alamo Bowl
2. After two games in which timing in the passing game seemed a little off, the Ducks will look to establish their rhythm through the air Friday.
UO senior quarterback Justin Herbert had seven games with a completion percentage above 70 percent until the last two weeks. In the loss at Arizona State and Oregon's Civil War win, the Ducks' completion percentage was under 60 percent, a rate they've been working in practice to improve for Friday's game.
The issues haven't been easily generalized — a dropped pass here, missed protection there, and some throws that weren't quite on the mark. Fixing all that Friday will be complicated by the presence of Utah's conference-leading pass defense, which allows an efficiency rating of just 107.52. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson leads the Utes with 10 pass breakups, tied for third in the Pac-12.
3. Two of the nation's premier units will square off when the Ducks have the ball Friday evening.
Oregon's elite offensive line will be tasked with fending off a Utah defensive line stacked with stout, athletic players. End Bradlee Anae and tackle Leki Fotu are returning all-conference team members; Fotu, fellow tackle John Penisini and their two backups tip the scales at a combined 1,270 pounds.
Of course, the Ducks feature some serious talent up front as well, including sophomore left tackle Penei Sewell, named this week as the Pac-12 player of the year — regardless of position — by Pro Football Focus. Seniors Shane Lemieux, Calvin Throckmorton, Dallas Warmack and Brady Aiello rounded out the line in the Civil War, but UO coach Mario Cristobal said earlier this week he expects senior center Jake Hanson to return to the lineup against the Utes. Hanson is a four-year starter at center, and his return is most welcome.
4. Dealing with a big, physical group of linemen on both sides of the ball is standard when facing Utah, but these Utes feature another dimension, too.
Running back Zack Moss has gone over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, and quarterback Tyler Huntley is the Pac-12's most efficient passer this season, while also being a threat to run the ball. Each missed last season's regular-season matchup between the Ducks and Utes, which Utah won on its home field.
Oregon's defense is much improved from last season, too, however. The Ducks are allowing just 15.8 points per game, the program's fewest in a 12-game season since 1988, and fewest in a season regardless of length since 1966.
5. The forecast Friday in Santa Clara earlier in the week was for evening showers, and winds as high as 20 mph.
The Ducks played in bitter cold against Oregon State last week, but rain and wind would be a different challenge. Both Oregon and Utah mix physical play at the line with dynamic skill players, so on paper the conditions don't appear to favor one team or the other.
Early Friday, the chance of rain later in the day had dropped slightly, so things were trending in the right direction as kickoff approached.
The Ducks will meet Utah on Friday evening in the Pac-12 Championship game, played at Levi's Stadium. Oregon, as champions of the Pac-12 North, will take on the Utes, champs of the Pac-12 South, with the conference's automatic berth into the New Year's Six bowl games at stake. The game is scheduled to kick off just after 5 p.m.
The Pac-12 Championship game will be televised by ABC, with Chris Fowler on play by play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis in the booth and Molly McGrath reporting from the sidelines.
Some storylines to follow leading up to the game …
1. The Ducks (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) and Utes (11-1, 8-1) each will make the New Year's Six with a win, though the stakes aren't exactly the same for both teams.
Utah entered college football's championship weekend ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Should No. 2 LSU beat No. 4 Georgia in the SEC Championship game, on Saturday afternoon, the Utes could be in position to grab a playoff semifinal berth — but only if they can beat the Ducks on Friday.
Oregon, with two losses, is no longer in playoff contention, but is playing Friday to make its first Rose Bowl appearance since 2014. Should the Utes win and make the playoff, the Ducks could be selected to replace them as the Pac-12's Rose Bowl representative; if Utah wins and isn't a semifinal participant, Oregon could be headed to the Alamo Bowl
2. After two games in which timing in the passing game seemed a little off, the Ducks will look to establish their rhythm through the air Friday.
UO senior quarterback Justin Herbert had seven games with a completion percentage above 70 percent until the last two weeks. In the loss at Arizona State and Oregon's Civil War win, the Ducks' completion percentage was under 60 percent, a rate they've been working in practice to improve for Friday's game.
The issues haven't been easily generalized — a dropped pass here, missed protection there, and some throws that weren't quite on the mark. Fixing all that Friday will be complicated by the presence of Utah's conference-leading pass defense, which allows an efficiency rating of just 107.52. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson leads the Utes with 10 pass breakups, tied for third in the Pac-12.
3. Two of the nation's premier units will square off when the Ducks have the ball Friday evening.
Oregon's elite offensive line will be tasked with fending off a Utah defensive line stacked with stout, athletic players. End Bradlee Anae and tackle Leki Fotu are returning all-conference team members; Fotu, fellow tackle John Penisini and their two backups tip the scales at a combined 1,270 pounds.
Of course, the Ducks feature some serious talent up front as well, including sophomore left tackle Penei Sewell, named this week as the Pac-12 player of the year — regardless of position — by Pro Football Focus. Seniors Shane Lemieux, Calvin Throckmorton, Dallas Warmack and Brady Aiello rounded out the line in the Civil War, but UO coach Mario Cristobal said earlier this week he expects senior center Jake Hanson to return to the lineup against the Utes. Hanson is a four-year starter at center, and his return is most welcome.
4. Dealing with a big, physical group of linemen on both sides of the ball is standard when facing Utah, but these Utes feature another dimension, too.
Running back Zack Moss has gone over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons, and quarterback Tyler Huntley is the Pac-12's most efficient passer this season, while also being a threat to run the ball. Each missed last season's regular-season matchup between the Ducks and Utes, which Utah won on its home field.
Oregon's defense is much improved from last season, too, however. The Ducks are allowing just 15.8 points per game, the program's fewest in a 12-game season since 1988, and fewest in a season regardless of length since 1966.
5. The forecast Friday in Santa Clara earlier in the week was for evening showers, and winds as high as 20 mph.
The Ducks played in bitter cold against Oregon State last week, but rain and wind would be a different challenge. Both Oregon and Utah mix physical play at the line with dynamic skill players, so on paper the conditions don't appear to favor one team or the other.
Early Friday, the chance of rain later in the day had dropped slightly, so things were trending in the right direction as kickoff approached.
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