It’s the 121st all-time meeting between Oregon and Oregon State, and at the half, the Ducks lead the Beavers 52-7.

Halftime rapid reaction. Oregon leads Oregon State 52-7. pic.twitter.com/mRCG2MAndy

— Shawn Medow (@ShawnMedow) November 26, 2017

Key Plays

— Aidan Schneider converts a 31-yard field goal to put the Ducks ahead early, 3-0. Eight play, 64 yard opening drive for Oregon.

— Royce Freeman rushes two yards for a touchdown to put Oregon up 10-0 with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.

— Ugo Amadi forces a Beavers fumble, which is scooped up by Thomas Graham Jr at the Oregon 33-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Justin Herbert connects with Dillon Mitchell in the back of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown to put the Ducks up 17-0.

— Oregon State responds on the following drive. Beavers quarterback Darell Gatterson went deep and found Timmy Hernandez for a 43-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17-7.

— The offensive fireworks continued. Following a 49-yard completion to Jaylon Redd, Herbert finds Jacob Breeland for a 12-yard touchdown to put Oregon up 24-7.

— Tony Brooks-James exits with an apparent right-leg injury with 11:38 remaining in the second quarter.

— An eight-play, 68 yard drive ends with a 13-yard rushing touchdown from Freeman, his second of the night and 60th of his career, to put the Ducks up 31-7. With the touchdown, Freeman now holds the Pac-12’s career rushing touchdown record.

— After a failed trick play on fourth down from the Beavers, Redd rushes for a 19-yard touchdown on the next play to put the Ducks up 38-7. It’s the first touchdown of Redd’s career.

— Following the Ducks’ score, they get the ball right back after an interception from Thomas Graham Jr, returned to the Oregon 38. The resulting Ducks offensive drive ends with a 6-yard touchdown run from Herbert to put the Ducks up 45-7.

— A 53-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell puts the Ducks up 52-7 in the final minutes of the first half.

Oregon passing

— Justin Herbert: 11-of-17 for 227 yards, three touchdowns

Oregon rushing

— Royce Freeman: 16 carries for 115 yards, two touchdowns

— Kani Benoit: two carries for 47 yards

— Jaylon Redd: two carries for 31 yards, one touchdown

— Justin Herbert: one carry for six yards, one touchdown

Oregon receiving

— Dillon Mitchell: five catches for 113 yards, two touchdowns

— Jaylon Redd: one catch for 49 yards

— Jacob Breeland: two catches for 17 yards, one touchdown

Oregon State passing

— Darell Garretson: 9-of-16 for 65 yards, one touchdown and one interception

Oregon State rushing 

— Ryan Nall: nine carries for 33 yards

Oregon State receiving

— Timmy Hernandez: three catches for 56 yards, one touchdown

Total offense

Oregon: 431 yards (227 passing, 204 rushing)

Oregon State: 121 yards (66 passing, 55 rushing)

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Following the Ducks’ 30-28 victory over No.11 Utah last year, there were many who believed that the win would allow Mark Helfrich to keep his job as head coach.

The following week, Oregon dropped a 34-24 contest to Oregon State to conclude the season.

Gut-wrenching. Heartbreaking. Rock bottom.

It was a fitting way to end a disappointing 4-8 campaign. Helfrich was fired days after the loss, and soon after, Willie Taggart was brought on as head coach. In the one year since, Taggart and the Ducks have experienced many highs and lows. While Taggart is the program’s first outside hire as head coach since 1976, he is more than aware of the significance attached to the Civil War.

“It’s two teams that don’t like each other,” Taggart said. “We got that bitter taste in our mouth that we’ve had for an entire year.

“You can throw the records out in a ball game like this. You got to come ready to play.”

When Oregon takes the field on Saturday against the Beavers, much will be different than when the two teams faced off 364 days prior. The restructuring of the Ducks, which includes “swag surfin” and messages to “do something,” has added even more flair to a program already known for its style on the field.  

Off the field, Taggart and his staff seem to be hitting their shots. 247 Sports has the Ducks with the No. 6 ranked recruiting class in the country. It’s an impressive feat in the year since the Civil War loss, and it speaks to the culture established in a short time frame. But while eyes are on the future, the present – specifically Saturday’s contest versus the Beavers – isn’t forgotten.  

“Even though we enjoyed Saturday (48-28 win vs Arizona), as guys were leaving the locker room, I think their focus quickly shifted to the game and the importance behind it,” offensive line coach Mario Cristobal said.

Entering Saturday’s contest versus Oregon State, the Ducks have already clinched a bowl game appearance with a 6-5 record. That includes a 5-1 record when Justin Herbert — who will be back next season — is in action. It’s impossible to be certain, but the season might have had a different outlook had Herbert not broken his collarbone versus Cal.

While all signs point to Oregon being on the path to turning it around after hitting the reset button, the same can’t be said for Oregon State.

Following last season’s victory in Corvallis, Oregon State students rushed the field. Head coach Gary Andersen ran to midfield pumping his fists in celebration. It looked like the Beavers were celebrating a Rose Bowl win, much less the end to a 4-8 season of their own.

After years of misery, could it possibly be that the 2016 victory over the Ducks would end up being a turning point in the program’s history and lift them to bigger and better things down the line?  

Nope.

Oregon State enters Saturday’s game winless in Pac-12 play with a 1-10 overall record. Anderson resigned as head coach in October, trashing assistant coaches in texts.

Oregon State won on the field last season. But in the year since, the Ducks have blown away the Beavers in how they have operated off the field.

There were no championship-level expectations for the Ducks in the first year of the Taggart era. There have been signs of encouragement for the Ducks.

No matter the situation, though, one expectation always remains the same for them: Beat the Beavers.

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It doesn’t take much motivation to get ready to lace it up against a ranked opponent or conference rival. Beating teams that you know you’re supposed to beat; however, can have its challenges. It’s easier said than done.

That was showcased on Tuesday. While the Ducks were a bit disoriented at times, they were able to take care of business on the scoreboard as expected, defeating Eastern Washington 81-40.

“It was nice to get home, get back up on the horse again,” head coach Kelly Graves said. “We shared the ball well, we shot the ball well. It was not an easy ordeal.”

The Ducks just returned on Monday from a seven-day road trip at the Preseason WNIT, going up against two tough teams in No. 19 Texas A&M and No. 5 Louisville. It wasn’t pretty at times – Oregon turned the ball over 23 times – but were able come away with a comfortable win.

“I know it looked a little rusty in terms of turnovers…It was a long grind. Seven days, kids missed five days of class.” Graves said.

It wasn’t ideal conditions for Oregon on Tuesday, but they were able to separate themselves early to take any Eastern Washington upset in doubt. Leading 23-8 after one quarter, the Ducks did just that, going on a 15-2 run to start the second quarter.

“The good teams come out and bury teams,” Graves said.

They did that on Tuesday, and it starts with ball movement. After only recording 12 assists in Sunday’s loss to Louisville, Oregon matched that total with 3:38 left in the second quarter. Ruthy Hebard was the main beneficiary on the offensive end, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field, with senior Lexi Bando adding another 14 points. In addition to feeding the hot hands, the Ducks were able to spread the wealth as well, with 11 players scoring.

“We’re not the most athletic team, we’re not that quick,” Graves said. “We don’t have a lot of players that can make plays on their own or by themselves. We have to rely on good ball movement and passing.”

Tuesday doesn’t get an A grade. What the Ducks performance does show, is a level of maturity for a team that is still loaded with underclassman. The third quarter wasn’t pretty, in which the Ducks came out of the half and only outscored Eastern Washington 17-13. There were multiple passes throughout the night that flew over heads and out of bounds. Yet, Oregon did what the elite programs do: tough it out and come away with a big win on the scoreboard.

It won’t be long before conference opponents are giving Oregon its best punch. Maximizing these early season “blowouts” is crucial for the Ducks, who don’t want any blemishes on their resume. More importantly, these types of games allow Graves to get a look at his full roster and get to work on areas that need to be tightened up before the margin of error decreases.

Up next for the Ducks is the PK80 tournament on Saturday when the Ducks take on No. 21 Oklahoma at Matthew Knight Arena at 2:30 p.m.

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It’s no secret that the bar is set high for No. 11 Oregon entering the 2017-18 season. On Sunday, the Ducks began their quest to meet those expectations, defeating Westmont 71-32 in an exhibition.

Even with the familiar faces from the 2017 Elite 8 leading the Ducks to an eventual blowout victory, there are still areas to improve. Overall, though, head coach Kelly Graves is happy with where the team stands early in the season.

“Got out of this what we wanted to,” Graves said. “We got a chance to get some of the rust off which is always a positive.”

The Ducks play was a bit choppy throughout, but the outcome of the game was never in doubt. Going up against Westmont — an NAIA school out of Santa Barbara — Oregon jumped out to an early lead and never trailed.

The Ducks’ defense was stifling, holding Westmont scoreless for over the first five minutes of the game. Oregon kept the pressure on throughout, forcing the Warriors to go deep into the shot clock consistently. In order to compete against some of the tougher competition coming its way this season, it’s the work on defense that may push Oregon into the elite status in the country.

“I was impressed defensively, how well we played, how hard we played and how we created a lot of disruption and turnovers,” said Graves.

Oregon’s work on the defensive end allowed the offense ample opportunities to find its rhythm throughout the game. An 11 point lead at the end of the first quarter worked its way up to a 39 point, no-doubt win for the Ducks.

Sabrina Ionescu, Ruthy Hebard, Mallory McGwire, Lexi Bando and Justine Hall were the starters for the Ducks. However, Graves made sure to get all 11 active players on the floor.

“I think early on, I like to play a deep bench. I think it saves their legs for the spring, and we hope to have an extended spring,” Graves said. “Right now, we have a lot of players who can contribute in different ways.”

Albeit just an exhibition, the Ducks recognize the importance in getting the comfort level and chemistry back throughout the roster before the games start to count.

“Chemistry just comes with time,” Bando said. “The more games we play together, the more comfortable we’re going to feel.”

Ionescu, Hebard and McGwire will be relied upon to carry a big load throughout the season. On Sunday, though, the trio of sophomores combined for just 14 points.

It was the two seniors in the starting lineup, Bando and Hall, that led the way on the scoring end, combining for 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting.

“They’ve both given us great leadership on a day-to-day basis,” Graves said. “They’re doing the things that seniors are supposed to do.”

Hall averaged just 11.7 minutes for the Ducks last season after transferring from Purdue during the 2015-16 season. But if Sunday is any indication, a larger role is awaiting the Denver, Colorado, native who finished with 11 points.

“Just being able to contribute as much as possible, knowing my role, and just being a solid, consistent player,” Hall said. “Especially being a defensive stopper.”

Just as important as having the seniors ready to lead the way is getting the international freshmen feeling comfortable in a Ducks uniform. Satou Sabally looked the part on Sunday, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

It was a small crowd on hand at Matthew Knight Arena, but Sbally and the rest of her teammates shouldn’t get used to that. The spotlight will be shining bright on the Ducks, who enter the season ranked No. 11 in the AP preseason poll.

“I love it. I think we should embrace it. That means we’re obviously doing something well and people think we have a good basketball team,” Graves said. “The reality is you got to go out and prove it.”

The Ducks sneaked up on the college basketball world last season. Now they have a target on their back. Their season continues on Friday against Cal State Northridge in the Preseason Women’s NIT.

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In the first game of his freshman year at La Jolla Country Day High School, Braxton Burmeister, who was starting on the varsity team, didn’t get off to a good start. He fumbled his first snap and threw an interception, resulting in a 42-0 loss.

Four years later at Oregon, he started the season as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. Because of an injury to starting quarterback Justin Herbert, it wouldn’t take long before the true freshman was thrust back into action.

Burmeister is now the starting quarterback for one of the most recognized programs in the nation. And while the Ducks have yet to win any of his three starts, those who have worked and currently work alongside Burmeister are confident that his best is yet to come.

“We need for him to continue to try to improve,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “Considering he didn’t have a lot of reps and where he’s going right now, he’s getting better each week.”

In football, injuries happen. The Ducks’ Sept. 30 matchup versus Cal was no exception. The injury bug bit Oregon hard, knocking out Herbert and then-backup Taylor Alie. This suddenly forced Burmeister — who, at one point, appeared to be on the path toward redshirting this season – into action.

The Ducks held on to beat Cal 45-24, but the outcomes haven’t been the same since. In Burmeister’s three starts, the Ducks have averaged just 10.3 points per game.

Quarterback Braxton Burmeister celebrates a touchdown run against UCLA on Oct. 21. 2017 (Photo courtesy of The Daily Bruin/Aubrey Yeo)

It’s a difficult position for any player to be in, let alone a true freshman. Burmeister, however, has a strong support system with ties to the football community. His father, Danny, played college football at North Carolina and one season at safety for the Washington Redskins. Additionally, former Oregon quarterback Akili Smith has trained Burmeister since Burmeister was in seventh grade.

“It takes time,” Smith said. “People don’t understand; it doesn’t happen overnight. You got to understand where he came from, what he’s trying to do and where he’s going to be.”

So far, Burmeister’s passing has been sporadic. After attempting 27 passes in his first start versus Washington State, he has attempted a combined 23 passes in the two games since. Instead, his legs have been his strongest asset. He’s rushed for three touchdowns over the past two weeks.

Although Burmeister has experienced success on the ground, he’s far from being a pure running quarterback. In four varsity seasons at La Jolla Country Day High School, Burmeister set CIF  San Diego Section career records in total yards, passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions. His ability as a dual-threat quarterback is why Oregon recruited Burmeister hard and got him to decommit from Pac-12 rival Arizona. While the Ducks maximize his ability to run the ball, they aren’t losing hope of what he can do throwing the ball.

“You got to keep building him up,” co-offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “He has been great in far as understanding how we can improve on getting guys the ball in places where they need to be caught.”

Given his inexperience at the collegiate level and the stiff competition faced in conference play, it’s hard to place the blame for the Ducks’ three game skid squarely on Burmeister’s shoulders. No matter how responsible he may be, though, Burmeister has always taken losing hard — very hard.  

“He hates losing,” said Tyler Hales, Burmeister’s coach at La Jolla Country Day High School. “We had a tough loss to our rival last year. After the game, he said, ‘That was my bad. I tried to do too much. … The way he goes about his business has always set him apart.”

Burmeister’s start to his career with the Ducks mirrors his playing days under Hales. Just like at Oregon, Burmeister started at quarterback on the varsity team during his freshman season.

Oregon quarterback Braxton Burmeister (11) fights to pull through the Washington State grip. The Oregon Ducks host the No. 11 Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (Amanda Shigeoka/Emerald)

The 6-foot-1 quarterback completed an impressive high school career and became the 27th overall prospect in the state of California as a senior. Hales saw Burmeister improve throughout his four years starting at quarterback, and he believes Burmeister has the tools to do the same in Eugene for the Ducks.

“One thing he got so much better with was the easy throw, throwing that quick out, that quick slant, right away getting the ball out,” Hales said. “For him, it’s having his brain catch up to his ability.

“He’s got the head on his shoulders to really push through it, and we’re just waiting for that kind of breakout performance.”

As a freshman, Burmeister is unavailable to the media, but his Duck teammates have expressed their confidence in watching the first-year quarterback evolve his game at the next level.

“He has definitely done a better job of seeing things and knowing where to go with the ball,” senior wide receiver Charles Nelson said.

Having played quarterback for the Ducks in the 1997-98 seasons, Smith understands the sky-high expectations that come from playing the quarterback position. It’s what makes the former Oregon great all the more impressed with how Burmeister is shouldering the losses and looking ahead at such as a young age.

“The leadership qualities are there,” Smith said. “Braxton is not happy with the way that he’s playing right now. I guarantee he’s watching extra film, meeting with the coaches and trying all that he can to get the situation right.”

Now that he’s received this opportunity, those closest to him know that there’s a lot yet to be seen from the La Jolla native. Burmeister’s journey continues on Saturday versus Utah.

“Trust me, you guys have seen nothing yet,” Smith said. “There’s going to be a lot of people eating their words here concerning Braxton Burmeister at the University of Oregon.”

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Thomas Laurent and Cormac Clissold have put together quite the resume in doubles action over the past two seasons.

It appears that they haven’t skipped a beat going into year three. On Monday, the duo won the doubles title in the ITA Northwest Regional Championships.

Over the weekend, Laurent and Clissold won three matches to advance to the championship match on Monday morning against Cal’s J.T. Nishimura and Billy Griffith, the No. 1-ranked team in the field of 64.

The Ducks’ top pair started strong, storming to an early lead with a 6-2 advantage in the first set. Fittingly, it would not be that easy the rest of the match. Nishimura and Griffith forced a tiebreaker in the second set, yet it was Laurent and Clissold edging them out for 6-2, 7-6(7) victory.

With the win, Laurent and Clissold earn a bid to the ITA Fall Nationals, beginning Nov. 1. Laurent’s impressive start to the season continues, as the junior now has automatic bids in both the singles and doubles bracket in the tournament.

The pair’s performance in the ITA Northwest Regionals appears to be just the beginning of what can be a very special season, the last in which Laurent and Clissold will play alongside one another. Laurent and Clissold sport a 49-8 career record in doubles, and look poised to shatter Robin Cambier and Jeff Mullen’s program record of 57 doubles wins.

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Jalen Jelks has seen it all during his time as a Duck.

After spending the 2014 season as a redshirt and watching the Ducks advance to the National Championship game, three defensive coordinators in the following three seasons have forced Jelks and the Ducks to learn different schemes and undergo many adjustments.

Jelks saw plenty of action during the 2015 and 2016 campaigns, but had yet to make a start. Even so, when Willie Taggart was brought in to be the head coach of the Ducks, he had high expectations for the 6-foot-6 defensive lineman.

“Our defense definitely needs a vocal leader,” Taggart said prior to the start of fall camp. “I think Jalen Jelks [can be one of those guys].”

Seven games in, it’s clear that Taggart wasn’t kidding. Jelks has started all seven games in a defining 2017 season. Not only has he been one of the top performers for the Ducks’ defense, his play has put him in the ranks with some of the best defensive linemen in the country.

“Using what you use at practice, it kind of translates into the game,” Jelks said. “I’m just trying to take it one series at a time to help my teammates.”

In the Ducks’ first game of the season versus Southern Utah — also Jelks’ first career start — his impact was felt right away; he recorded five tackles and blocked a field goal attempt.

It was at Arizona State on Sept. 23, though, in which Jelks had his breakout game. A graduate  of Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Jelks’ homecoming game was one to remember: nine tackles (seven solo), five tackles for loss, and three sacks — the most by a Duck since 2008.

“[His] energy, just the love for the game,” defensive line coach Joe Salave’a said of Jelks. “It’s just making the most of the opportunities.”

In his first full season at Oregon as a starter, Jelks is taking advantage of those opportunities and those outside the program are taking note. Pro Football Focus has Jelks ranked as the No. 2 defensive end nationally in pass rush, No. 4 in run defense nationally and the No. 2 overall defensive lineman in the Pac-12, even as a player who is a bit undersized for his position.

“I just have to do everything different than everybody else,” Jelks said. “I’m about 20 pounds lighter than everybody else. You have to compensate and do things better.”

Even with the increased attention surrounding Jelks and his NFL prospects, elevating the Ducks is still priority number one. Following his breakout performance at Arizona State, Salave’a said that Jelks “would’ve traded it for a win.” With Oregon shorthanded without quarterback Justin Herbert, the Ducks’ defense has a much taller task. Yet, Jelks is still holding them accountable.

Jelks’ impact on the defense goes further than the stat sheet might show, too. In addition to his 4.5 sacks on the season, absorbing double teams has allowed others on the line to put pressure on the backfield.

From a redshirt to spotted playing time to a full-time impactful player, Jelks’ rise has mirrored that of the Ducks’ defensive turnaround. For a unit that is looking for increased consistency moving forward, Jelks is setting the tone and leading the way.

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Thomas Laurent has every reason to view himself on a higher level when compared to his Oregon teammates.

Just two seasons into his collegiate career, Laurent is firmly established as the Ducks’ top singles players and led  Oregon during a historic 2016-2017 season for the program.

Not many would blame Laurent if he strutted with a little bit more swagger, if he acted like “the man” of the team.

But that’s not who the French native is. He just wants to fit in.

“He’s better than all of us, but he doesn’t act like he’s better than all of us,” said Cormac Clissold. “He’s still one of our mates.”

Laurent may just be one of the guys off the court, but on it, his play is far from ordinary. After playing four matches in the No. 1 spot during his freshman year, Laurent was a fixture there for his entire sophomore campaign, in which he put together arguably the greatest individual season in program history.

Cormac Clissold and Thomas Laurent shake hands after scoring a point during their doubles match. The No. 23 Oregon Ducks play the No. 12 Cal Golden Bears at the Oregon Student Tennis Center in Eugene, Ore. on Friday, April 14, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)

Laurent compiled a 30-7 record in singles, the most wins for a sophomore in Oregon history, and he won 18 consecutive singles matches, another program record.

Playing in the No. 1 spot, Laurent got each opponent’s best punch. He delivered, though, winning six matches against ranked opponents. His incredible season earned him a spot in the NCAA Singles Tournament, the first Duck since 2005 to qualify.

The scary part? Laurent is beginning his junior season, with his best tennis expected to still be ahead of him.

“I expect him to have a chance to beat anyone he plays,” head coach Nils Schyllander said.

And yet, for a player that is on pace to finish his career as the winningest player in both singles and doubles history at Oregon, Laurent doesn’t like to think of himself as more of a leader than anyone else on the team.

“I think leadership is more outside of the court,” Laurent said. “It’s not just because [I’m in the No. 1 spot] that you’re just deciding whatever the team is doing.”

Laurent may not be the “rah-rah” type of leader, but that doesn’t mean that his teammates don’t follow his direction. Not only does his play speak for itself, but his work outside of it does too. On top of his record-shattering season, Laurent earned first-team all-academic honors in the Pac-12.

“He’s just very relaxed, very chill, doesn’t really speak highly of himself,” Clissold said. “He just goes out on the tennis court, does what he does, comes off and hangs out with us.”

Laurent has picked up where he left off to kick off tournament season. The junior advanced to the semifinals of the ITA All-American championships two weeks ago, qualifying for the ITA Fall Nationals.

“I’m just trying to get good results, and if I get good results, the rankings are going to follow,” Laurent said.

Oregon put together one of its best seasons in 2016-17, posting a 19-7 dual record, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and was consistently ranked in the ITA Top 25.

That ascension begins with the play of Laurent, whose levelheadedness and humble attitude have paved the way into what hopes to be a successful season for the Ducks.

“His play shows where we’re heading as a program, and I’m very proud of everything he’s accomplished out there,” Schyllander said.

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One play can change the outlook on the entire season.

When starting quarterback Justin Herbert barreled into the end zone for a touchdown versus Cal on Sept. 30, the sophomore ended up breaking his collarbone, an injury that is forecasted to have him out of action for 4-6 weeks.

It was a steep price to pay for seven points, and it shifted the leadership that Herbert had shouldered onto the rest of the team. It’s now up to the defensive side of the ball to step up even further for the Ducks — who sit at 4-2 halfway through the season — to stay competitive and add to the win column.

“We’re good at times, but we got to keep doing it,” safety Tyree Robinson said. “That’s what great defenses do. We’re surely getting there.”

It wasn’t all there in last Saturday’s 33-10 loss to then-No. 11 Washington State. Granted, it was true freshman Braxton Burmeister’s first start at quarterback, so the Cougars loaded the box against the run game and limited the Ducks’ offensive attack, putting additional stress on Oregon’s defense.

“Our quarterback situation is kind of shifty because of everything that happened with Herbert,” defensive lineman Jalen Jelks said. “[The defense] just has to push the offense to keep them going.”

Although last Saturday didn’t go their way, there’s reason to believe that the defense can do what Jelks conveyed. Under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, the defensive unit has drastically improved from last season, in which the Ducks ranked among the worst in the nation in multiple statistical categories.

“We were really awful,” cornerback Arrion Springs said. “I figured it was all there and we were really hungry for it. We want to prove that we’re really good players.”

Oregon’s defense still has room for improvement but has already compiled a couple statement games under its belt. Second half interceptions sealed a 42-35 win versus Nebraska, and Wyoming’s NFL-touted quarterback Josh Allen was helpless in a 49-13 loss on Sept. 16.

The numbers back up the defensive turnaround, too. The Ducks rank 10th in rushing yards allowed per game, fifth in third down conversions, and are first in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total sacks.

Oregon has shown signs of life on the defensive end over the first six games of the season, however, all they’re able to do now is look ahead to the rest of the season. And that starts on Saturday at No. 23 Stanford in what is expected to be a physical contest between the Pac-12 north rivals.

“[Stanford] loves to run the ball, and that’s how they’re going to impose their will: just run it down your throat until you give up or quit,” linebacker Troy Dye said. “It’s going to test our strength and our toughness.”

For many years, it’s been the Oregon offense aiming to outscore the opponent. But with Herbert out and the offense in flux, it’s up to the defense to set the tone for both sides of the ball.

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Competing in a pair of tournaments, Oregon had a chance to make Sunday one to remember. Instead, the Ducks’ will head back to Eugene without any hardware.

Playing in the singles main draw at the ITA All-American championships, junior Thomas Laurent put himself in position to make history. After defeating No. 26 Yuya Ito of Texas (6-4, 6-4), Georgia Tech’s Carlos Divar (6-1, 6-4), and No. 13 Constantin Schmitz of Tulane (2-6, 6-1, 6-1), Laurent was one win away from becoming the first player in program history to appear in the All-American championship match.

However, Laurent fell just short, losing 6-4, 6-3 to No. 24 Martin Redlicki of UCLA. While the loss may sting at the moment, Laurent will more than likely get his chance at redemption against Redlicki in Pac-12 play.

“I am so proud of what Tom accomplished this week,” said head coach Nils Schyllander. “His focus, confidence, and professionalism embodies everything we strive for as a program. It’s been a great week.”

Oregon’s top singles player didn’t come away completely empty-handed, however. Laurent received an automatic bid to the ITA Fall Nationals in California.

While Laurent was at work at the ITA All-American’s, the rest of his teammates were competing in the Boise State Fall Classic.

Singles play didn’t go the Ducks’ way over the weekend, with Ty Gentry, Ethan Young-Smith, Simon Stevens, and Cormac Clissold all dropping their quarterfinals matches.

Doubles was a different story, however, with the pairs of Clissold/Soemarno and Stevens/Gentry each advancing to the final four. On opposite sides of the bracket, the duos had a chance to make an all Ducks’ championship. That wouldn’t come to fruition, however, with Clissold and Soemarno losing to Idaho’s Mark Kovacs and Carlos Longhi Neto 9-8(7).

The Ducks’ other pair, Stevens and Gentry, pulled out an 8-3 win in the semifinals. The pair didn’t fare any better against Kovacs and Longhi Neto, though, losing 8-6 in the championship match.

Up next for the Ducks: The USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships in California, beginning Oct. 19.

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