The No. 3 Oregon Ducks take on the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., Thursday evening at 6 p.m. The Ducks will be looking for revenge against the Cardinal after Oregon’s 17-14 loss in Eugene, Ore., last year that dashed the hopes of an Oregon berth in a national championship. The winner of today’s game is expected to have a shot at the BCS National Championship in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6. ESPN hosted a mini-GameDay at Stanford due to the hype surrounding this matchup.
The Oregon Ducks warmup on the field prior to kickoff. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band plays the national anthem while the nation’s colors are displayed. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Members of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band goof off along the sidelines prior to the national anthem. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
ESPN’s College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit responds to commentary during the mini-GameDay broadcast in White Plaza on the Stanford University campus. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
A Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band member pounds on a drum during the pep rally in White Plaza on the Stanford University campus. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
The iconic Hoover Tower stands tall above the Stanford University campus. The building is named after 31st president Herbert Hoover, a graduate of the first class at Stanford University. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
A Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band member responds to a student on campus about his unique band attire. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
The Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University stands out in the landscape of Stanford, Calif. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band featured a wide variety of costumes, as this saxophonist in a gimp outfit demonstrated. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Oregon junior running back De’Anthony Thomas (6) walks into Stanford Stadium with his teammates some two hours before kickoff. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Six year season ticket holder Charles Hammonds strolls down the path toward the tailgate scene. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
A Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band member plays his trombone while serving the official Stanford University tailgate area. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
Oregon junior wide receiver Blake Stanton (41), Oregon freshman wide receiver Chance Allen (20) , and Oregon sophomore wide receiver B.J. Kelley (23) pose for a photo on the field prior to the start of the game. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
Stanford fan Terry Scott shows off his helmet signed by the 2009 Stanford University football team. The signature of Indianapolis Colts quarterback and former Stanford University quarterback Andrew Luck is also visible on the bottom of the Stanford logo. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Taylor Wilder/Emerald)
Three year old “Baby” Andrew Hodge eagerly awaits an incoming spiral pass in the tailgating lot. Hodge is named after former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, and Hodge’s mother, Andrea Jones, noted that “Andrew Luck cured my morning sickness.” Jones has been a season ticket holder since her graduation from Stanford in 1987. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Lincoln, Calif. resident Jack Nilsson, 10, eagerly awaits the arrival of the Oregon team buses in his balloon Duck hat. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
ESPN GameDay broadcasts from the corner of the field at Stanford Stadium some three hours before kickoff. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Season ticket holders Brad Bowery, left, and Lauren Wolfe prepare to string up their Duck piñata under a tree outside of Stanford Stadium. Bowery, a 2008 graduate of the Stanford business school, made a similar piñata with a Wisconsin Badger during last year’s Rose Bowl. Said Bowery, “At some point we’re gonna let it down, blindfold some people, and let them have at it.” The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Trevor Cleary, left, and Nico Govea play a round of beer pong outside of Stanford Stadium two hours before kickoff. The pair are co-workers in San Francisco, and set aside their respective school allegiances to partner up for the drinking game. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
A mix of Oregon fans grew tired waiting for the Oregon team buses to arrive before kickoff. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich, left, arrives at Stanford Stadium two hours prior to kickoff. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
The Oregon and Stanford helmets sit in front of the ESPN logo during their mini-GameDay television cast from Stanford. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band drum line makes their way to White Plaza for a performance. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
Stanford Stadium rests empty in the distance before the start of the football game Thursday night. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band makes their way to White Plaza for a performance. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band performs for students and guests at White Plaza. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit takes photos with fans after the mini-GameDay broadcast. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band members perform for a crowd in White Plaza on Stanford’s campus. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band performs for a crowd in White Plaza on Stanford’s campus. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Members of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band prepare their costumes for a long day of performances. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Members of the 80-strong Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band make their way to the White Plaza to entertain a crowd of Stanford fans. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
Four-month-old Braden Wiesen is decked out in his Stanford gear, courtesy of his father, Trent, a 2004 Stanford alum. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
ESPN analyst Mark May acknowledges the crowd in White Plaza as the mini-GameDay broadcast concludes. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
ESPN analysts Scott Van Pelt, from left, Brian Griese, Mark May and Kirk Herbstreit host a mini-GameDay broadcast on Stanford’s campus. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Nov. 7, 2013. (Michael Arellano/Emerald)
A couple of stadium ushers at Stanford Stadium have a chat before security lets in the thousands of spectators. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The press box sits empty before the start of the Oregon vs. Stanford football game. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The Stanford “S” stays freshly painted before the start of the football game. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
All of the PAC-12 school’s flags are posted above Stanford Stadium. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
The sun sets over Stanford, Calif. before the start of the football game at Stanford Stadium. The No. 3 Oregon Ducks play the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2013. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)
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