Ducks And Utes Clash In Pac-12 Championship Game

#10 Oregon Ducks (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12)
CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 10/10/10
Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (Miami, 1993)
Record at Oregon: 35-12 (4th Season)
Career Record: 62-59 (10th Season)

#17 Utah Utes (9-3, 8-1 Pac-12)
CFP/AP/Coaches Rank: 17/14/17
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (BYU, 1984)
Record at Utah: 143-69 (17th Season)
Career Record: Same

TV - ABC
Play-by-Play: Chris Fowler
Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit
Sideline: Holly Rowe

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

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Numbers to Know
5 - A Jim Thorpe Award finalist, Verone McKinley III is tied for the national lead with five interceptions this season.
6 - Noah Sewell is six tackles away from becoming the first Duck since Troy Dye in 2018 to reach 100 in a season.
16 - Travis Dye is tied for No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 16 total touchdowns, including 13 in the last seven games. Dye has 14 rushing TDs.
52.9 - Oregon is No. 4 in the FBS with a 52.9 third-down conversion percentage after going 10-of-13 on third down vs. OSU.
3,178 - Anthony Brown led the Pac-12 during the regular season with 3,178 total yards of offense (264.8 per game).

Did You Know?
Oregon is the only Power 5 team and one of three FBS programs to reach its conference title game each of the last three seasons.

Oregon Pac-12 Championship Game History
Record: 4-0
Current Streak: W4
Most Points Scored: 51 (2014)
Most Points Allowed: 31 (2011)
Largest Margin of Victory: 38 (2014)

Series History - Oregon vs. Utah
All-Time: Oregon leads, 23-11
Current Streak: Utah W1
Last Meeting: Utah won, 38-7 (11/20/21, Salt Lake City)
Most points scored by Oregon: 51 (2014)
Most points scored by Utah: 62 (2015)
Largest margin of victory by Oregon: 27 (1962)
Largest margin of victory by Utah: 42 (2015)

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TEAM NOTES

Elite Company
Oregon is the only Power 5 team - and one of just three nationally - to have made its conference championship game in each of the last three seasons. The Ducks join Cincinnati and Louisiana as the only three teams in the FBS to reach a league title game in each season since 2019. With a win against Utah, Oregon could become the only team in the nation to win its conference championship in each of the last three seasons.

Leaders Of The Pac
Since the inception of the Pac-12 Championship Game following the expansion of the league in 2011, Oregon owns the most conference titles with four. The Ducks are 4-0 in their Pac-12 title game appearances, winning the last two league title games after beating Utah, 37-15, in 2019 and USC, 31-24 in 2020. This year marks Oregon's fifth appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game, the most among all teams in the conference.

Oregon holds a number of significant Pac-12 Championship Game team records...
» Most Points - 51 vs. Arizona (2014)
» Margin of Victory - 38 vs. Arizona (2014)
» Total Offense - 627 vs. Arizona (2014)
» Rushing Offense - 352 vs. UCLA (2011)
» Passing Offense - 326 vs. Arizona (2014)

Ducks In The College Football Playoff Rankings
» One of two Pac-12 teams in the CFP top 25 (No. 17 Utah).
» Fifth straight CFP top-25 ranking and 25th in program history.
» Fourth top-10 ranking this season and 15th all-time.
» Ranked as high as No. 3 this season (Weeks 11 & 12).

Winning The Turnover Battle
Oregon has been one of the best teams in the FBS when it comes to winning the turnover battle, sitting in a tie for the Pac-12 lead, and 13th nationally, with a plus-10 turnover margin. The Ducks are 23rd nationally and second in the Pac-12 with 21 takeaways while the 11 turnovers lost are tied for 17th in the FBS and third in the conference. Oregon has won each of the six games in which it has won the turnover battle.

Next Man Up
All season, Oregon's depth has been put to the test as the Ducks dealt with injuries to a number of starters and key contributors. Oregon has had 43 different players start games, including 14 who have made their first career starts this year (5 offense, 9 defense). Just six Ducks have started all 12 games this season, while UO has used a different starting unit in all 12 games on offense and 11 different groups on defense.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

What Can Brown Do For You
Anthony Brown has made big plays with his arm and his legs in leading the Ducks to a 10-2 record and a trip to the Pac-12 Championship Game. Brown has thrown 15 touchdowns while rushing for nine more, and leads the Pac-12 with 3,178 yards of total offense. Brown was especially effective in seven games at Autzen Stadium, completing 123-of-171 passes for 1,489 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 386 yards and five touchdowns.

Efficient AB
Anthony Brown has put together a pair of incredibly efficient passing performances this season. He enjoyed arguably the best statistical game of his career on Oct. 30 vs. Colorado, completing 25-of-31 passes for a career-high 307 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing 300 passing yards for the first time as a Duck and second time in his career. Brown's 80.6 completion percentage vs. the Buffaloes was the best of his career until last weekend's game vs. Oregon State, when he went 23-of-28 for 275 yards and two TDs for a career-best 82.1 completion percentage. Brown's performance vs. the Beavers earned him Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

» 82.1 is highest completion percentage by a UO QB since Marcus Mariota (84.0%) on Sept. 20, 2014.
» First Duck QB to complete at least 80 percent of his passes in multiple games since Mariota in 2014.
» No. 4 in Pac-12 with 64.4 completion percentage.

A Threat To Run
Anthony Brown has been a major part of Oregon's rushing attack this season, racking up a career-high 642 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns on 132 carries. Brown has ran for more than 50 yards six times this season, including a career-high 123 rushing yards on Nov. 13 vs. Washington State while surpassing 1,000 career yards on the ground. Brown's 123 yards vs. WSU are the eighth-most in a game by a UO QB, and the first 100-yard game since Marcus Mariota in 2014.

» No. 1 among Pac-12 quarterbacks with nine rushing TDs and No. 2 with 642 rushing yards.
» T-9th nationally among QBs with nine rushing TDs.
» T-3rd among FBS QBs for games with a rushing TD (8).

Feature Back
Travis Dye is arguably the biggest key to Oregon's offense this season, especially after fellow back CJ Verdell went down with a season-ending injury on Oct. 2. Dye is third in the Pac-12 with 1,036 rushing yards, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career last weekend vs. Oregon State. The junior is averaging 93.56 rushing yards per game in conference play with 842 yards and 11 touchdowns. Dye's ascension as Oregon's primary ball carrier has accelerated his rise up Oregon's all-time rushing charts - he moved into seventh in program history last weekend with 2,876 career rushing yards.

» 93.4 rushing yards per game (654 total) in seven games since Verdell's injury.
» Needs 16 rushing yards to pass Jonathan Stewart (2,891, 2005-07) for No. 6 all-time.
» Second among active Pac-12 players and eighth in the Power 5 in career rushing yards.

TDs For TD
Travis Dye has shown a knack for finding the end zone, tying for second in the Pac-12 during the regular season with 16 total touchdowns while ranking third with 14 rushing TDs. Dye has scored at least one TD in nine of the Ducks' 12 games, with four multi-TD performances and 13 total scores in the last seven games. The Norco, Calif., native set an NCAA record in Oregon's win at UCLA, becoming the first FBS player in history to score a touchdown on four consecutive carries.

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26 Can Do It All
A dynamic runner, Travis Dye has also been a huge weapon for the Ducks as a receiver out of the backfield. Dye leads the Ducks with 37 catches for 347 yards, making him one of only four players in the FBS to lead his team in both rushing yards and receptions. Dye has surpassed 200 all-purpose yards twice this season, against Cal (218) and Washington (224). With 145 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards on a career-high seven catches vs. Cal, Dye became the first FBS running back this season and first Pac-12 player since Christian McCaffrey in 2016 to have at least 140 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in a game.

» No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 1,383 total yards from scrimmage this season.
» 33 receptions for 306 yards and two TDs in the last eight games.
» 37 total receptions ranks second among Pac-12 running backs.
» Sixth RB in UO single-season history with 1,000 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards.
» One of nine FBS players in 2021 with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 300 receiving.
» One of three active FBS running backs with 2,800 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards.

Go-To Guy
Devon Williams has emerged as one of the go-to targets in the passing game during the second half of the season, catching 30 passes for 492 yards and four touchdowns over the last seven games. Williams leads the Ducks with 540 receiving yards and four TDs on 34 catches, pacing the team in receiving yards in four of the last six contests. He has finished with at least 60 receiving yards in five of the last seven games while catching touchdowns in four of the last five.

» 25 of his 34 receptions have gone for first downs.
» Turned in third career 100-yard receiving game with 110 yards on a career-high tying six catches vs. Oregon State.
» First 100-yard game by a UO receiver this year and the first since he did it at Oregon State last year (Nov. 27, 2020).
» Hauled in five catches for 95 yards, highlighted by a 25-yard TD in the Colorado game.

Hutson Heating Up
With reps available at wide receiver following the injuries to Jaylon Redd and Johnny Johnson III, freshman Kris Hutson has provided big-time production in the last two weeks. Hutson has caught 11 passes for 178 yards and a TD in the last two games and is now second on the team with 358 receiving yards on the season. The second-year freshman has set career-highs in receptions in each of the last two games (4 at Utah, 7 vs. Oregon State) while his 178 receiving yards over that stretch makes up nearly half of his 395 career receiving yards.

» Caught a career-high seven passes for82 yards while hauling in first career TD in the win over Oregon State.
» First UO wide receiver to catch at least seven passes in a game since Johnson at Arizona State on Nov. 23, 2019 (10 rec.).
» Career-high 96 receiving yards on four receptions at Utah, highlighted by a career-long 50-yard reception.

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Big Play Byron
Freshman running back Byron Cardwell has seen an increase in his workload over the last few weeks and has delivered some big plays in the running game. Cardwell ranks second among Pac-12 freshmen in rushing with 398 yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries this season, including 358 yards and three TDs over the last five games with 8.0 yards per carry during that stretch. He has broken loose for eight runs of 20 yards or more in the last five games, and is averaging 7.4 yards per carry on the season.

» Tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with eight runs of 20-plus yards
» Has run for 304 yards on 27 carries, averaging 11.3 yards per rush in the five home games in which he has gotten a carry.
» Named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after rushing for 98 yards and two TDs on nine carries against Washington State.

Bass Has Your Back
One of just two Oregon offensive players to start all 12 games, junior T.J. Bass has anchored the Ducks' offensive line all season. Bass has six starts each at left tackle and left guard, getting the nod at left guard in the first six games before starting at left tackle in the last six. He owns a run-blocking grade of 90.8 according to Pro Football Focus, a mark that leads all Pac-12 offensive linemen and is tied for 13th best nationally. Bass is also the highest graded player overall on the team at 85.6 and is the fifth-highest graded lineman in the Pac-12 overall.

» Earned Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after earning a grade of 89.7 from PFF in the Stony Brook game.
» Has graded out at 75.0 or higher in run blocking in a game four times, including two games over 90.0.
» Played 431 snaps at left guard and 369 at left tackle.
» Has played every offensive snap in nine of the 12 games.

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Ground And Pound
Oregon's offense has been paced by a consistent ground attack throughout the season. The Ducks are 18th nationally and third in the Pac-12 with 214.0 rushing yards per game and have gone over the 200-yard mark seven times, with six of those performances coming in the last eight games. Travis Dye is sixth in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (85.18) while Anthony Brown is second among QBs in the league in yards per game on the ground (53.5). Dye, Brown, CJ Verdell and Byron Cardwell have each run for 100 yards in a game this year, making Oregon one of seven Power 5 teams to have four different players reach the century mark in a game.

» Leading the conference and tied for fifth nationally with 34 rushing TDs.
» 18-1 under head coach Mario Cristobal when rushing for at least 200 yards and 11-0 when reaching 250 yards.
» First in the Pac-12 in both second half (114.5 per game) and fourth-quarter rushing yards (64.0 per game).

Thriving On Third Down
Oregon has excelled on third downs throughout the second half of the season, combining to go 47-of-74 in third-down situations since the UCLA game. The Ducks are fourth nationally, succeeding on 52.9 percent of third-down attempts, and have made first downs on at least half of their third down attempts in seven games. The last time out, Oregon went 10-of-13 on third-down conversions against Oregon State and have now been successful on at least 55 percent of third downs in five of the last six games.

» One of seven teams nationally with a third-down conversion rate of at least 50 percent.
» No. 4 in the FBS with three-and-outs on just 11.57 percent of drives.
» Went 10-for-13 vs. Oregon State, marking the only time since at least 1996 that a UO team has converted at least 10 third downs at a rate of 70 percent or higher in a game.
» Converted on 12 consecutive third-down attempts between the UCLA and Colorado games.
» Of the 47 third-down conversions in the last five games, 18 have been through the air and 29 have been via run.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Game Wrecker
A finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, both given to the national defensive player of the year, Kayvon Thibodeaux has wreaked havoc in opposing backfields throughout his career as a Duck. An FWAA second-team All-American in 2020, Thibodeaux has recorded 18.0 sacks and 34.5 TFLs in 31 career games at Oregon. He is fifth among Power 5 players in TFLs since the start of 2019 with 34.5, headlined by a career-high 4.5 at UCLA on Oct. 23 and two on Nov. 13 vs. Washington State. Thibodeaux leads Oregon with six sacks and 11.0 TFLs despite missing two-and-a-half games due to injury, seeing limited action vs. Arizona, and missing the first half vs. Cal due to a targeting penalty.

» The first Bednarik Award finalist in program history, and the second-ever Nagurski Trophy finalist (Haloti Ngata).
» Tied for No. 3 in the Pac-12 with 6.0 sacks and fifth with 11.0 tackles for loss.
» No. 6 in pass-rush grade nationally among FBS edge defenders according to PFF (91.7).
» 45 total quarterback pressures and 26 hurries, according to PFF.

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KT Takeover
Playing a full game for the first time this season, Kayvon Thibodeaux was simply unstoppable in Oregon's 34-31 win at UCLA on Oct. 23. The Los Angeles native set career-highs with nine tackles (eight solo) and 4.5 TFLs while recording two sacks and a forced fumble, earning four national player of the week honors and two weekly conference awards. Thibodeaux showed the same level of dominance on Nov. 13 vs. Washington State, once again sweeping Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after posting two sacks and six solo tackles.

» One of two FBS players this season with at least 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in a game.
» First Oregon player since 2007 (Nick Reed) to record at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game.
» First Duck since Jalen Jelks in 2017 to record at least four tackles for loss.
» Two multi-sack performances this season, and five in his career.
» Had nine total QB pressures at UCLA according to PFF, a week after having 10 in just one half of action vs. Cal.

Superb Sewell
Linebacker Noah Sewell has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the conference. Sewell is fourth in the Pac-12, and fifth nationally among freshmen, with a team-high 94 tackles - 27 more than any other Duck. He has made 82 tackles over the last 10 games, notching his fifth double-digit tackle game during that stretch with 10 stops on Nov. 20 at Utah. He owns the highest grade among Pac-12 linebackers and is No. 9 in the FBS at the position in pass-rushing situations according to PFF (90.1).

» Second among Ducks in both tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (4.0).
» One of two Pac-12 players with at least 90 tackles and four sacks.
» Has led or tied for the team lead in tackles seven times, all in the last 10 games.
» Made at least four stops in 18 of 19 career games.
» Set a career-high with 14 stops against Arizona.
» Five double-digit tackle performances this season, and six in his career.

Back-End Playmaker
A third-year starter in the UO secondary, Verone McKinley III has proven to be one of the best playmakers in the FBS in 2021. He's tied for the FBS lead with five interceptions, picking off four passes in a span of three games in September and getting his fifth of the season on Nov. 13 vs. WSU. McKinley is second on the team with 67 total tackles this season, 21 more than his previous career-high from 2019. The 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American is tied for fourth among active FBS players with 10 career interceptions, and is one of just two third-year players with at least 10 picks.

» First Duck with an interception in three straight games since Erick Dargan in 2012.
» Two INTs vs. Stony Brook, the second multi-interception game of his career.
» Game-sealing interception in Oregon's historic win at then-No. 3 Ohio State.
» Five of his 10 career interceptions have come in the red zone.
» Two interceptions away from cracking the UO all-time top 10.
» 67 tackles this season ranks third among Pac-12 defensive backs.
» One of three FBS players with at least 60 tackles and five interceptions this season.

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Thorpe Award Finalist
Verone McKinley III's impressive season has earned him much-deserved recognition. The safety has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2021 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the top defensive back in college football. After becoming the eighth Duck ever to be named a Thorpe Award semifinalist, McKinley joins Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (2015) as the only Oregon players to be selected as a finalist for the nation's top defensive back award.

» Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following the Ohio State game.
» Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week following the Stony Brook win.
» The only Pac-12 player this season to be a Thorpe Award finalist or semifinalist.

The Wright Stuff
Mykael Wright has continued to put up strong numbers in his third collegiate season. Wright is third on the team with 62 tackles (44 solo) and also has an interception, three TFLs, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. Wright has recorded five or more tackles in eight of the 12 games, highlighted by a career-high 10 stops in the win at Ohio State. He's also made an impact in the return game, averaging 27.7 yards over 12 kickoff returns, a number that's second in the Pac-12 among players with at least 10 kick return attempts.

» First among Pac-12 cornerbacks with 62 tackles.
» Returned three kickoffs for 117 yards vs. Washington State, including a 56-yard return to open the second half.
» Came away with second career INT during the Arizona win.

Turning Up The Pressure
Oregon has gotten significant contributions from a number of players along its defensive front to compliment Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist Kayvon Thibodeaux. Sophomore Brandon Dorlus is third on the team with 7.0 TFLs, while freshman Bradyn Swinson is third on the team with three sacks. Additionally, freshman Treven Ma'ae has added a pair of TFLs and 1.5 sacks while freshman Keyon Ware-Hudson has three tackles for loss and half a sack to go along with four QB hurries. Dorlus and nose tackle Popo Aumavae have been especially disruptive up front and are among the top interior defensive linemen in the conference this season.

» Aumavae is the highest-graded Pac-12 interior defensive lineman overall by PFF at 79.7; Dorlus is second at 77.8.
» Dorlus owns the highest pass-rush grade among Pac-12 interior defensive lineman by PFF at 84.6; Aumavae is second at 80.4.
» Dorlus is first on the team with 34 QB hurries per PFF, and is 15th among FBS interior defensive linemen in pass-rush grade.

Bassa Stepping Up
True freshman Jeffrey Bassa has delivered some strong play since taking over the starting role at inside linebacker. Bassa made his seventh consecutive start at inside linebacker against Oregon State and has made 33 stops since he has entered the starting lineup. His seven tackles against Utah marked the fourth time in five games that Bassa made six or more tackles, setting or matching a season high in each of those games. He also recorded his first career sack and had 1.5 TFLs in the win over the Washington to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.

» Moved from safety to inside linebacker prior to the Ohio State game.
» Has 30 tackles, four TFLs, a sack and a QB hurry over the last six games.
» Tied for the team-lead with six tackles to go along with 1.5 TFLs in the win over Colorado.
» Made six tackles and recorded 0.5 TFLs in the win at UCLA.

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DJ Crank It Up
Since taking over the starting role at one of the cornerback spots, sophomore DJ James has shown the ability to make plays defending both the pass and the run. He has 37 tackles over the last nine games while coming away with a pair of interceptions and breaking up two passes. James picked off two passes in the win at UCLA, including one to seal the game with under a minute to play in addition to recording a career-high eight stops. James is fifth on the team with 43 stops on the year despite playing in one fewer game than the three of the four players ahead of him.

» One of 10 FBS players to have multiple interceptions and at least eight tackles in a game.
» First on the team among those with at least 200 snaps with a tackling grade of 75.1 and has missed just four tackles all season according to PFF.

Run Stuffers
Oregon has been stout against the run, leading the Pac-12 allowing just 3.56 yards per carry. The Ducks are second in the league against the run allowing 124.3 yards per game on the ground while Oregon has held 10 of its 12 opponents under their current season average in rushing yards, doing so in each of the last seven games.

» Allowing 3.42 yards per attempt on the ground in the last six games.
» Tied for second nationally with just four runs of at least 20 yards given up.
» Oregon has not allowed a run of 20 yards or more in the last seven games.
» One of two Pac-12 teams to not allow a 100-yard rusher (Arizona State).

Make Them Earn It
Throughout the regular season, Oregon has minimized big plays by its opponents and is fourth in the Pac-12 allowing 5.22 yards per play. The Ducks are tied for second in the country with only 11 plays of 30 yards or more given up, matching Georgia and trailing only Washington. Additionally, Oregon is one of eight teams to have allowed five or fewer plays of 40-plus yards and one of six to have given up one or fewer 50-yard plays.

We'll Take That
Takeaways have been one of the keys to Oregon's success defensively this season. The Ducks are tied for sixth nationally and tied for first in the Pac-12 with 15 interceptions, and tied for 23rd in the FBS and second in the conference with 21 total turnovers forced. Oregon has come away with at least three turnovers five times this year while 16 of the 21 takeaways have come in home games.

» One of two FBS teams (Iowa) to have three players come away with multiple INTs in a game this year.
» The 13 turnovers forced over the first four games were the most by an Oregon team in a four-game stretch since Sept. 28-Oct. 19, 2013 (14 turnovers).
» Verone McKinley III and Bennett Williams are first and tied for second, respectively, in the Pac-12 in interceptions.