Coming off a tough loss that deflated both BCS and Pac-12 championship aspirations, Oregon will look to rebound from its 26-20 loss to Stanford on Saturday when it plays host to Utah. The Utes upset the Cardinal barely over a month ago but have faltered since, dropping three straight conference matchups and needing wins in two of its final three games to become bowl eligible.
With both teams seeking better fortune, let’s take a look at some of the key players on each side.
Oregon:
Marcus Mariota (QB) – There has been plenty of speculation this week regarding Mariota’s health, as it was revealed prior to last Thursday’s game against Stanford that the Oregon play-caller has a partial sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Mariota downplayed concern about his knee after Monday’s practice, but his mobility has been noticeably limited since coming out after halftime against UCLA with a knee brace. Mariota didn’t have a single rushing attempt during the second half against UCLA and was sacked three times against Stanford, resulting in negative rushing yardage. The status of Mariota’s knee is certainly worth keeping an eye on in this game.
De’Anthony Thomas (RB) – Thomas will look to bounce back from a tough game against Stanford in which he had a costly fumble inside the Cardinal five-yard line early in the second quarter. After a strong start to the season, Thomas has averaged just 3.8 yards per carry in two games since returning from an ankle sprain that cost him four games. Thomas lined up in the slot a little more than usual against Stanford and told reporters earlier this week that he prefers wide receiver to running back. He went on to say that he believes wide receiver will be his best position at the professional level.
Cameron Hunt (OL) – Oregon mixed up its personnel on the offensive line prior to its game against Stanford, as Hunt got the start at right guard and Hamani Stevens shifted over to left guard, leaving senior Mana Greig as the odd man out. Hunt, a true freshman, is the lone underclassman starting on an offensive line that is faced with the task of protecting Mariota from a front seven that leads the FBS in sacks per game.
Utah:
Travis Wilson (QB) – Since injuring his right index finger against Arizona three weeks ago, Wilson has been sloppy and out of sync under center. He was removed late in the third quarter against USC after going just 5-for-14 with two interceptions. Last week against Arizona State he went 6-for-21 for 121 yards with two touchdowns and another pair of picks. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Wilson is a striking combination of size and speed and ranks second on the team with 386 rushing yards. The redshirt sophomore will need to limit turnovers (he’s thrown the second most interceptions in the FBS) and have a strong bounce-back performance for Utah to mount any type of sustainable offense against Oregon.
Trevor Reilly (DL/OLB) – While Utah’s secondary and offense has struggled at times during the season, the defensive front, led by Trevor Reilly, has consistently been a force. While Reilly is often overshadowed by elite Pac-12 defenders Anthony Barr (UCLA), Trent Murphy (Stanford) and Shane Skov (Stanford), the senior has been just as impressive from a statistical standpoint this season. Reilly is tied with Murphy for sixth in the nation in tackles for loss and also leads Utah in total tackles (77) and sacks (7). The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder is a major threat off the edge and will look to bring down an already hampered Marcus Mariota.
Dres Anderson (WR) – The son of NFL single-game receiving yardage record-holder Flipper Anderson, Dres has been the Utes’ leading pass catcher this season with 742 receiving yards. Anderson provides quarterback Travis Wilson with a deep threat option, as the 6-foot-1 receiver ranks 12th in the nation in yards per catch and first in the Pac-12. With five 100-yard receiving games, Anderson trails only Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks for the most games eclipsing the century mark this season.
Follow Chris Mosch on Twitter @chris_mosch