5 Things To Watch: Oregon-Maryland
11/08/24 | Football
The Ducks are preparing to host Maryland on Saturday (4 p.m., Big Ten Network).
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon football team has the chance to improve to 10-0 for just the third time in program history Saturday night.
The No. 1-ranked Ducks host Maryland in Autzen Stadium at 4 p.m. Oregon has only been 9-0 twice before — in 2010 and 2012 — and the Ducks went on to win their 10th game in each of those two previous seasons.
Oregon is 6-0 in Big Ten Conference play, coming off a victory at defending national champion Michigan. Maryland is 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten; the two teams have only one common opponent, Michigan State, which won at Maryland on Sept. 7 before losing in Eugene a month later.
Remarkably, the Ducks and Terrapins have never met in football.
Saturday's game will be televised by Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering on play-by-play, Jake Butt providing analysis and Brooke Fletcher reporting from the sidelines.
Some storylines to watch when Saturday's game kicks off …
1. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has the chance to make some history Saturday.
Coming into the afternoon, Gabriel has 177 total touchdowns in his career, one shy of the NCAA record 178 compiled by Case Keenum at Houston from 2007-11. Gabriel has the chance to pass Keenum on Saturday, and then put the record seemingly out of reach over the remainder of this season.
Gabriel also is second to Keenum in career passing yards (19,217-17,530) and passing touchdowns (155-144).
2. The Ducks could be without a couple of starters on offense due to injuries suffered at Michigan.
Receiver Tez Johnson was injured in the first quarter last week, and offensive lineman Marcus Harper II was hurt later in the game. Neither returned, and UO coach Dan Lanning made it sound this week like it could be a while longer before they're back.
"As soon as they're ready to go, we'll have them out there," Lanning said. "We're gonna put player safety first. Tez will be down certainly right now in the near future, but I do anticipate us getting Tez back here soon. Same with Marcus. Neither one of those injuries is as bad as maybe they appeared on the field."
3. With Johnson out, the Ducks tried a couple of different options at punt returner last week, settling on Evan Stewart after freshman Ryan Pellum got the first chance after Johnson's injury and committed a turnover.
Going forward, Lanning said, Pellum continues to be in the mix to field punts for the Ducks as this season progresses.
"That's a tough situation to put a freshman in there," the UO coach said. "I think it's a growth moment for him, but we'll continue to see what we evaluate in practice."
4. Maryland boasts the most prolific passing attack in the Big Ten, averaging 314.5 yards per game through the air. That ranked ninth in the FBS entering this week.
Individually, Billy Edwards Jr. was 39-of-50 for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a win over USC on Oct. 19. Tai Felton is the Big Ten's leading receiver, with 73 receptions for 907 yards and six touchdowns.
"They've really opened up in the passing game," Lanning said. "Top-10 in the nation as a passing team — they create a lot of explosive plays."
5. Oregon counters that passing attack with the No. 8 pass defense in the country — the Ducks are allowing an efficiency rating of 107.80.
The UO secondary has 44 pass breakups this season, tied for third in the FBS. Jabbar Muhammad has eight of those, tied for 14th nationally among individuals.
"Those guys have done really good playing off each other, understanding situations," Lanning said. "We'll continue to get challenged as the year goes on, but they've done a good job of executing."
The No. 1-ranked Ducks host Maryland in Autzen Stadium at 4 p.m. Oregon has only been 9-0 twice before — in 2010 and 2012 — and the Ducks went on to win their 10th game in each of those two previous seasons.
Oregon is 6-0 in Big Ten Conference play, coming off a victory at defending national champion Michigan. Maryland is 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten; the two teams have only one common opponent, Michigan State, which won at Maryland on Sept. 7 before losing in Eugene a month later.
Remarkably, the Ducks and Terrapins have never met in football.
Saturday's game will be televised by Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering on play-by-play, Jake Butt providing analysis and Brooke Fletcher reporting from the sidelines.
Some storylines to watch when Saturday's game kicks off …
1. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel has the chance to make some history Saturday.
Coming into the afternoon, Gabriel has 177 total touchdowns in his career, one shy of the NCAA record 178 compiled by Case Keenum at Houston from 2007-11. Gabriel has the chance to pass Keenum on Saturday, and then put the record seemingly out of reach over the remainder of this season.
Gabriel also is second to Keenum in career passing yards (19,217-17,530) and passing touchdowns (155-144).
2. The Ducks could be without a couple of starters on offense due to injuries suffered at Michigan.
Receiver Tez Johnson was injured in the first quarter last week, and offensive lineman Marcus Harper II was hurt later in the game. Neither returned, and UO coach Dan Lanning made it sound this week like it could be a while longer before they're back.
"As soon as they're ready to go, we'll have them out there," Lanning said. "We're gonna put player safety first. Tez will be down certainly right now in the near future, but I do anticipate us getting Tez back here soon. Same with Marcus. Neither one of those injuries is as bad as maybe they appeared on the field."
3. With Johnson out, the Ducks tried a couple of different options at punt returner last week, settling on Evan Stewart after freshman Ryan Pellum got the first chance after Johnson's injury and committed a turnover.
Going forward, Lanning said, Pellum continues to be in the mix to field punts for the Ducks as this season progresses.
"That's a tough situation to put a freshman in there," the UO coach said. "I think it's a growth moment for him, but we'll continue to see what we evaluate in practice."
4. Maryland boasts the most prolific passing attack in the Big Ten, averaging 314.5 yards per game through the air. That ranked ninth in the FBS entering this week.
Individually, Billy Edwards Jr. was 39-of-50 for 373 yards and three touchdowns in a win over USC on Oct. 19. Tai Felton is the Big Ten's leading receiver, with 73 receptions for 907 yards and six touchdowns.
"They've really opened up in the passing game," Lanning said. "Top-10 in the nation as a passing team — they create a lot of explosive plays."
5. Oregon counters that passing attack with the No. 8 pass defense in the country — the Ducks are allowing an efficiency rating of 107.80.
The UO secondary has 44 pass breakups this season, tied for third in the FBS. Jabbar Muhammad has eight of those, tied for 14th nationally among individuals.
"Those guys have done really good playing off each other, understanding situations," Lanning said. "We'll continue to get challenged as the year goes on, but they've done a good job of executing."
Players Mentioned
QB
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WR
/ FootballTeitum Tuioti: "Whatever I can do to help this team."
Wednesday, October 22
Dierre Hill Jr.: "We lay it out on the line."
Wednesday, October 22
Dan Lanning: "Do the job the right way."
Wednesday, October 22
Dylan Williams: "Showcase my talent."
Tuesday, October 21
