Of all the crazy numbers Oregon has put up in the past few years, perhaps the most unbelievable one is this: four. That’s the number of fourth quarters starting quarterback Marcus Mariota has appeared in during his career.

This season, Mariota hasn’t played in any fourth quarters, and he’s not alone. Due to the enormous leads Oregon has built in each game this season, almost every starter has forgone the final 15 minutes. As a result, Oregon’s backup players have enjoyed a lot of playing time.

That is all expected to change this Saturday. The Ducks are playing the No. 16 Washington Huskies, who lost by three points to No. 5 Stanford last week. If Saturday’s game in Seattle is as close as people expect it might be, Oregon’s backups might not see the field at all. The Ducks’ schedule doesn’t get much easier after Washington, either, so the backups might never leave the sideline the rest of the season.

While these players would prefer to be playing, several of them said they’re comfortable riding the bench if the team is still succeeding.

“Of course everybody wants to play,” backup center Karrington Armstrong said. “You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t going to try to play. But when it comes down to it, if they need the starters in, we’re going to support them. Whatever gets us to win.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jeff Lockie had another take. Sure, it appears the backups will lose playing time, but Lockie said that trying to determine how much playing time he’ll get is useless, considering how unpredictable football can be.

“If injuries happen, you’ve got to go in right away,” Lockie said, “so predicting how much playing time you’re going to get is impossible. You’ve got to prepare like you’re going to be playing the whole time.”

Other backup players agreed with Lockie. They stressed the importance of roles, saying it doesn’t matter if a player is first team or scout team.

“If my role is chilling on the sidelines and looking at the game helping (offensive line coach Steve Greatwood) when I can,” Armstrong said, “then that’s what it’s going to be.”

While the backups preached the importance of roles and preparation, they also said it’s fun to watch the starters of the second-ranked team in the nation put on a show, especially because they’re around those players every day.

“I love watching the guys in front of me play,” senior Ben Butterfield said.

“You live through your teammates, in a way,” running back Lane Roseberry said. “I go to meetings with them every day, I see them every day, we talk, we’re friends, so it’s cool to see them succeed.”

Roseberry said he focuses on being patient, knowing his time will come if he puts in the work. He’s also a redshirt freshman, so time is more on his side than seniors like Armstrong and Butterfield or fellow running back Kenny Bassett, a junior.

But patience doesn’t just include playing time. Like Armstrong said, everyone can serve a role that helps the Ducks achieve their ultimate goal: to win a national championship. If they get to the title game, the backups said, the journey would’ve totally been worth it. It doesn’t matter to them if they never play another down.

“Everybody has the same destination,” Bassett said. “As long as we get there, I’m good.”