When recounting Oregon’s thrilling 61-55 triple overtime win over Arizona State this week, Vernon Adams Jr. said the game was the most fun he’s ever had while playing college football. A win aside, the performance appeared to create rejuvenated energy for Adams and the rest of the Ducks heading into November.

That energy was on display Saturday night, as not just Adams, but the entire team looked to be having plenty of fun during Oregon’s 44-28 win over Cal, which made the Ducks bowl eligible for the 11th consecutive year.

Autzen Stadium — the same place that was synonymous with convincing wins for the home team, but became the site of back-to-back conference losses for the Ducks — finally had fans with reasons to cheer, and reached the deafening levels that it is well known for.

“It was huge for us,” Adams, who finished with 343 of offense and four touchdowns, said. “We got that mojo going and we’re just going to keep it rolling.”

The noise was a product of the excitement Adams and the rest of the Oregon offense was bringing. The Ducks, despite a slow start which translated to an early 10-0 deficit, totaled 777 yards of total offense (a new school record) and used a rapid tempo to wear out a reeling Cal defense. 

“We’re feeling good,” Adams said.  “We’re on a roll.”

The win is Oregon’s third straight and also served as the Ducks’ most complete performance of the year. Three running backs rushed for over 90 yards, with Royce Freeman leading the group with 180 yards. In addition, Adams’17 completions were distributed to seven different receivers.

“Guys are getting open again, guys are getting confident again, guys are getting more experience, and I think we’re starting to put it together at the right time,” said Bralon Addison, who finished his night with five receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns. 

The confidence and experience Addison spoke of can be applied to the defense as well. Cal quarterback Jared Goff, who is projected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2016, finished with 329 yards through the air, but completed just 43 percent of his passes. A lot of it was due to the plays made by cornerbacks Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson, and as a result, Goff only beat the secondary once on a deep pass, which came on a 80-yard touchdown after the ball fell through the hands of safety Reggie Daniels and into a Cal receiver’s.

“We made plays on the ball in the secondary better,” head coach Mark Helfrich said. 

Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal, who moved to the coaches box for the first time this season Saturday, echoed that remark.

“They’re making some critical plays,” Neal said. “It’s relieving. We can’t just hope that they drop ball, someone’s got to knock the ball down, someone’s got to make a tackle.”

The dominating performance came with a laundry list of mistakes, however. After Oregon went three-and-out on its first drive, Cal blocked the ensuing punt and marched 38 yards to score the first touchdown of the game with relative ease. On the subsequent drive, Adams was picked off in the red zone. Both of those instances, a blocked punt and an interception thrown in the red zone, occurred in the second half.

But, the switch didn’t flip because of it, and by game’s end it was clear that the Bears couldn’t keep up with the pace Oregon was running at. For example, after trailing 10-0 in the game’s opening stages, the Ducks scored 31 unanswered points to take a 31-10 lead into halftime.

“Despite all the things we did to kick ourselves in the gut, they didn’t flinch,” Helfrich said.

It’s convenient timing for the Ducks to inch even closer to becoming the team that was picked by the media to win the Pac-12 North in August. Next week Oregon heads to Palo Alto, California to face No. 11 Stanford with a Pac-12 title berth still a possibility.

“To be where we are, I’m grateful, ” Neal said.

In his first start since his return at home, Adams said that he felt “very comfortable.” It was easy to see too, as Adams led the Ducks on eight scoring drives.

The performance created what is a familiar, yet what became a distant scene at Autzen Stadium Saturday night. The atmosphere was back to being what Addison said is one of the best in college football and the offense was back to physically draining its opposition.

Now, for Oregon, it seems to be just a matter of fixing the small mistakes. And if that happens, “watch out,” offensive lineman Tyler Johnstone said.

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The brand of football Oregon fans waited to witness in person all year was on full display Saturday night. The Ducks offense totaled 777 yards and methodically marched down the field with ease in its 44-28 win over Cal.

The 777 yards of total offense was a school record for the Ducks.

Oregon’s offense overcame a slow start and scored 31 unanswered points to close the first half, a half they totaled 441 yards of offense in. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. finished 17-for-29 for 300 yards and four touchdowns while Royce Freeman added 180 yards on the ground.

Darren Carrington had four catches for 112 yards while Bralon Addison added five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

The Ducks’ defense played up to par as well. Cal’s Jared Goff finished with 329 yards passing and two touchdowns. He completed 18-of-41 passes and threw an interception late in the game to seal Cal’s fate.

With the win, the Ducks keep their slim chances alive to win the Pac-12 North division. The Ducks must win out, including a victory over No. 11 Stanford next week, while the Cardinal must lose to the Ducks and then Cal to end the Pac-12 season.

Key Plays: 

– After getting the ball at Oregon’s 38 thanks to a blocked punt, Cal’s offense wastes no time. Jared Goff finds Stephen Anderson for a seven-yard touchdown pass to make score 7-0.

– On third and goal at Cal’s six yard line, Adams is picked off by Cal safety Griffin Piatt.

– Oregon’s drive stalls at the Cal 22, but Aiden Schneider kicks in a 39-yard field goal to make cut lead to seven. 10-3 Cal.

– Adams takes off at the Cal 10 and flips his way into the end zone to tie the score at 10.

– Adams buys time and scrambles out of the pocket before finding Bralon Addison for a 28-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-10. Oregon takes the lead for first time.

– Adams finds Dwayne Stanford for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-10 Oregon.

– To open the fourth quarter, Adams connects with Charles Nelson for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 41-21 in favor of the Ducks.

– Aidan Schneider kicked his third field goal of the game with he hit a 19-yarder with 3:28 to play and give the Ducks a 44-28 lead.

– Redshirt freshman Khalil Oliver sealed the game with an interception at the 2:23 mark to give the Ducks the ball.

Stats: 

Oregon passing: 

Vernon Adams Jr. — 17-for-29, 300 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions

Cal passing: 

Jared Goff — 18-for 41, 329 yards, two touchdowns and one interception

Oregon rushing:

Royce Freeman — 29 carries for 180 yards

Cal rushing: 

Vic Enwere — Nine carries for 68 yards, one touchdown

Oregon receiving: 

Darren Carrington — Four catches for 112 yards

Bralon Addison — Five catches for 79 yards, two touchdowns

Cal receiving: 

Bryce Treggs — Two catches for 112 yards, one touchdown

Oregon total offense — 777 yards

Cal total offense — 432 yards

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It didn’t start pretty. Oregon began the game on offense, ran three plays and then went to the sidelines. Ian Wheeler’s punt was subsequently blocked and Cal scored seven plays later, after Bears quarterback Jared Goff found Stephen Anderson wide open in the end zone. Vernon Adams Jr. was intercepted in the end zone on the Ducks’ next drive and Cal tacked on a field goal to make it 10-0.

But, Oregon responded. Trailing by 10, the Ducks scored on their next five possessions to take a  31-10 lead heading into halftime. Adams overcame his early interception and methodically marched the Ducks offense down the field on each drive thereafter. He finished the half 13 of 19 for 210 yards and three touchdowns.

Royce Freeman added 116 yards on the ground, helping the Ducks total 441 yards of offense. In addition, Oregon’s defense forced three three-and-outs and applied constant pressure to Goff. Cal was held to just 196 yards and went four consecutive drives without scoring.

Key Plays: 

– After getting the ball at Oregon’s 38 thanks to a blocked punt, Cal’s offense wastes no time. Jared Goff finds Stephen Anderson for a seven-yard touchdown pass to make score 7-0.

– On third and goal at Cal’s six yard line, Adams is picked off by Cal safety Griffin Piatt.

– Oregon’s drive stalls at the Cal 22, but Aiden Schneider kicks in a 39-yard field goal to make cut lead to seven. 10-3 Cal.

– Adams takes off at the Cal 10 and flips his way into the end zone to tie the score at 10.

– Adams buys time and scrambles out of the pocket before finding Bralon Addison for a 28-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-10. Oregon takes the lead for first time.

– Adams finds Dwayne Stanford for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-10 Oregon.

Three things to watch: 

Can Oregon’s defense continue its rhythm? After the California Golden Bears scored 10 points to open the game, the Ducks secondary forced four consecutive punts, all of which led to Oregon touchdowns.

Can Oregon continue to dominate Cal’s rush defense? Royce Freeman and company tallied over 231 yards in the first half, Freeman responsible for 116 yards alone. All of which has led the passing game to come alive.

Can Jared Goff connect with his receivers? Goff, who averaged 317.13 passing yards per game entering Saturday, has been the victim of his receivers dropping multiple passes so far tonight, and as a result Goff has thrown for 129 yards in the first half.

Stats: 

Oregon passing:

Vernon Adams Jr. — 13/19, 210 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Cal passing:

Jared Goff — 11/26, 129 yards, 1 TD

Oregon rushing:

Royce Freeman — 17 carries, 116 yards

Kani Benoit — 2 carries, 37 yards

Vernon Adams Jr. — 7 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD

Cal rushing:

Daniel Lasco — 7 carries, 39 yards

Vic Enwere — 3 carries, 28 yards

Oregon receiving:

Darren Carrington — 3 receptions, 69 yards

Bralon Addison — 3 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD

Dwayne Stanford — 2 receptions, 19 yards, 1 TD

Cal receiving:

Darius Powe — 3 receptions, 36 yards

Stephen Anderson — 3 receptions, 23 yards, 1 TD

Oregon total offense — 441 yards

Cal total offense — 148 yards

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**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Alaina Getzenberg, an assistant sports editor at The Daily Californian.**

Despite Cal football currently being on a three-game losing streak, the defense producing one turnover in the last two games and Jared Goff currently playing nowhere near NFL quarterback caliber (whatever that is these days), there is still some way that the Bears can walk into Eugene on Saturday and come away with a win.

At least, that is what I am supposed to be writing about.

But in reality, my trust that the Bears are going to come away with a victory is slim to nonexistent. They aren’t doing so hot at running the ball this year. All that bodes just amazingly for a road game on a Saturday night, where there will most likely be rain.

This team has gone from being an a Pac-12 surprise to an average competitor. The offensive line has struggled all year long, and while the Ducks’ defense isn’t what it used to be, Cal will continue to struggle in this game.

Most people would probably think that Mr. Perfect (Jared Goff) would be the sole reason why Cal has a chance of pulling off a shocker and coming out of this road trip on top. But it just isn’t the case anymore. He doesn’t look good. He has thrown seven interceptions in their three consecutive losses and only that many touchdowns.

Goff hasn’t been able to lead the offense down the field unless he is in a high pressure situation. Someone who is projected to be the top quarterback in the draft should really be able to lead a drive down the field throughout the game, not just during the last five minutes of the game.

While Goff was… well Goff-like in October, the defense really showed up against USC last weekend. But they also allowed Josh Rosen to put up 40 points against them coming off Cal’s bye week two weeks ago.

Somehow this unit is still tied for the most turnovers gained this season at 22, despite its recent failures. If the Bears are able to change this trend, then they could have a chance of making it more of a game against Oregon.

But this is how the game will actually go.

Royce Freeman will run for an absurd amount of yards against a weak Bears’ defense and score at least a pair of touchdowns. Vernon Adams Jr. will throw some himself.

And Goff will throw a pair too. But in the rain, a new concept for a team who plays in a state currently in the midst of a drought, if Oregonians weren’t aware, he is going to throw some interceptions. And running back Daniel Lasco will slip and stumble his way through the game, never being able to fully recover from his injury in the second game of the season.

Cal has found its seat back at the kiddie table away from its Pac-12 powerhouse friends. It will eat the chicken nuggets, while Oregon continues snacking on the fancy food that no one can pronounce.

So rest easy, people of Oregon. Jared Goff isn’t Aaron Rodgers. He never will be.

If an upset is brewing, it’s very hard to see. And the rain won’t help.

Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost was quick to point out on Monday that Oregon has now played in four games that have come down to the final play. Before last Thursday, they had just won one of them. But after a thrilling comeback 61-55 win over Arizona State, the Ducks added to that total, while also keeping their slim Pac-12 title hopes alive.

Vernon Adams Jr. can be thanked for that. Adams led the Ducks to consecutive wins last Thursday after passing for 312 yards and four touchdowns. He also further displayed why he’s been referred to as “Big Play VA” since he was at Eastern Washington, eluding defenders before throwing a touchdown to Dwayne Stanford to force overtime.

On the other sideline this Saturday, a similar threat at quarterback will challenge a Ducks defense that ranks last in the Pac-12 in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. Cal’s Jared Goff is projected to be picked early in the 2016 NFL Draft by many media outlets, and has averaged 317 yards passing per game this season to go along with 22 touchdowns. But while Adams has taken steps forward in his two appearances since returning from injury, it seems as if Goff has gone backwards in the Bears’ last three games — all of which were losses.

Regardless, both defenses will face a stiff test against these quarterbacks Saturday in a game with bowl eligibility implications.

Here’s how Oregon and Cal stack up:

Oregon offense vs. Cal defense

Adams said Monday that the offense is getting closer to where the unit needs to be. It looked that way too, as the Ducks amounted 501 yards of offense last Thursday. Facing a blitz-heavy Arizona State team, the Ducks were able to generate 186 yards on the ground as well. Through the air, Darren Carrington showed once again how important he can be for Oregon’s offense. The redshirt sophomore recorded his second consecutive 100-yard receiving performance this season in as many games.

Oregon won’t be facing the Cal defense of the past few seasons, though. While the unit gives up an average of 418 yards of offense per game, the Bears have forced the most turnovers in the Pac-12 with 22. In addition, the Bears defense has kept Cal in striking distance to win in every game this season aside from its contest with UCLA, in which Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen scorched its secondary.

Cal offense vs. Oregon defense

Cal head coach Sonny Dykes’ “Bear Raid” offense isn’t creating the results he likely envisioned. The Mercury News noted that Cal is averaging just 26.6 points per game in Pac-12 play, which ranks ninth. In addition, Goff appeared frustrated and uncomfortable at times in the Bears’ 27-21 loss to USC last week. He also threw two interceptions in the game, bringing his total to eight in the Bears’ last four games.

But Oregon’s defense hasn’t proven to be a stiff challenge to the majority of its opponents this season. With Goff’s ability, as well as some of the playmakers he’ll have spread out wide, it could be another long night for the Ducks’ secondary.

Cal averages 490 yards of offense per game. Wide receiver Kenny Lawler has 42 receptions for 527 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He’ll certainly be Goff’s favorite target come Saturday.

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When Oregon’s offense is on the field, the Ducks’ sideline normally functions as a well-orchestrated unit, with a myriad of coaches and players making hand signals or holding up signs with plain random imagery.

But there was an addition to the sideline that stood out last Thursday during Oregon’s 61-55 win over Arizona State: large white sheets utilized as a way to protect a signal caller from being seen.

Oregon hiding playcalls behind white sheets, so ASU won’t steal signals (via @NickPKrueger) https://t.co/RyIVQKWlnB pic.twitter.com/fw9jdtVw66

— Pacific Takes (@PacificTakes) October 30, 2015

Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost said Monday that this was due to intel the team received in the week leading up to the matchup in regards to Arizona State stealing its opponents’ signals. It is intel that has also been publicized before this season. After Arizona State’s matchup with Utah, Utes players and coaches told The Salt Lake Tribune that the Sun Devils were stealing their offensive signals.

“I’ve never heard of a team going to the lengths they go to to try to get the signals,” Frost said. “But hopefully we combatted it well.”

I think we tried to create a little confusion with them with our signals as to who was signaling, tried to hide the signals.”

As for whether the white sheets will be present in the weeks to come, Frost said it is to be determined.

“I don’t think every team is like the team we just played,” Frost added. 

It was a small side note in what occurred during the back-and-forth shootout between the Ducks and Sun Devils — a game Frost said was “wild” and quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. described as “fun.”

The offense appeared to take an even bigger step in the right direction. The Ducks rushed for 186 yards and Adams added over 300 yards of passing offense.

“I think we were really starting to feel this rhythm and starting to get where we need to be offensively,” Adams said. “We’re excited to keep it going and get back to playing fast this week.” 

This week, the Ducks face a Cal team (5-3, 2-3 Pac-12) that Frost said “has made a world of improvement” this year. After a 5-0 start, the Bears have struggled as of late, though, and are losers of their last three contests.

Regardless, the passing attack is averaging 337 yards per game and Jared Goff is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks not just in the conference, but the nation. It poses a challenge for an Oregon defense that has struggled mightily this season.

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According to preseason expectations, Thursday night’s contest between Oregon and Arizona State on ESPN was intended to feature two of the top programs in the Pac-12 – possibly the nation. The teams were ranked inside the top 15 of the AP poll and both had marquee non-conference match-ups to open the season.

However, when the Ducks and Sun Devils meet in Tempe, Arizona, it will feature two teams still in pursuit of becoming bowl eligible. Arizona State and Oregon are coming off bye weeks with 4-3 records and two Pac-12 losses.

Arizona State has mirrored many of Oregon’s struggles. The offense, guided by quarterback Mike Bercovici, hasn’t transitioned as well from 2014 to 2015 as it was initially expected to. The unit is averaging just 28 points per game and Bercovici’s quarterback rating is listed at 52.6. The numbers contributed to Arizona State being dominated in games versus USC and Texas A&M in September.

A win at UCLA a few weeks ago displayed the group’s potential, though. As for Oregon, the team is trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season. With a healthy Vernon Adams, Jr. and Darren Carrington providing another dynamic threat, the prospects look much brighter than what they were a couple weeks ago.

Here’s how Oregon and Arizona State stack up:

Oregon offense vs. Arizona State defense 

Oregon’s offense looks like a completely different animal with Adams behind center. The graduate-transfer returned after missing back-to-back games to lead Oregon to 442 yards of offense and a 26-20 win over Washington. In addition, wide receiver Darren Carrington returned from his six-game suspension and became Adams’ main target, finishing with five grabs for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

With that said, coach Mark Helfrich said there are still a number of “simple mistakes that we can correct.”  But the speed and excitement Oregon’s offense is normally associated with was certainly there at Washington. Royce Freeman took advantage of the added passing threat and ran for 138 yards on 27 carries.

All of it together resulted in Oregon’s most complete performance on offense all season, and a reason for optimism heading into the latter half of the schedule. But Arizona State’s front seven poses a stiff challenge for Oregon.

The group is ranked second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards allowed, giving up just 129.3 yards per game. It also ranks first in the conference in sacks with 24.

Arizona State offense vs. Oregon defense 

Bercovici has thrown for 14 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and running back Demario Richard is averaging 5.2 yards per rush. But those numbers have been outdone by a myriad of other problems Arizona State’s offense has faced. The offensive line is giving up an average three sacks and 7.7 tackles for loss, according to The Oregonian. 

It opens the door for an Oregon defensive line that has had its share of struggles this season too. However, the unit appears to be coming into its own as of late. The Ducks rank fifth in the conference in rush defense and second in sacks with 21.

And based on Oregon’s pass defense this season, getting to the quarterback could be crucial for the defensive line this week. Bercovici is averaging 39 passes per game, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if his attempts total is higher on Thursday.

Elsewhere on defense, Tyree Robinson’s move from safety to cornerback for the Washington game appears to be permanent.

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Following its 42-24 loss at USC Saturday night, Utah fell 10 spots in the most recent AP Top 25 Poll. The Utes struggled to get anything going offensively, and combined with four turnovers, the team lost its first game of the season. They now sit at No. 13.

The Pac-12 still has one team in the top 10, though. After it sixth consecutive win, Stanford moved to No. 8 in the poll.

Elsewhere, UCLA is back in the top 25. The Bruins are ranked No. 24 after they dominated California on Thursday night, winning 40-24.

Washington State won three consecutive Pac-12 games for the first time since 2003, and received two votes. California received five votes and USC received 33.

Here’s a look at the entire poll:

1. Ohio State
2. Baylor
3. Clemson
4. LSU
5. TCU
6. Michigan State
7. Alabama
8. Stanford
9. Notre Dame
10. Iowa
11. Florida
12. Oklahoma State
13. Utah
14. Oklahoma
15. Michigan
16. Memphis
17. Florida State
18. Houston
19. Memphis
20. Toledo
21. Temple
22. Duke
23. Pittsburgh
24. UCLA
25. Mississippi State

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The words “learning” and “confidence” were used often by Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich while he talked with reporters Tuesday. They are terms that have seemed to define a young group that is still trying to learn and find confidence eight weeks into the season.

The team is coming off a 26-20 win at Washington last Saturday thanks in part to the returns of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (injury) and wide receiver Darren Carrington (suspension). But midway through the season one thing is clear: The Ducks aren’t what they used to be.

“It’s a different bye week than previous years,” Helfrich said, referring to Oregon’s strategy behind how they practice and teach this week.

But, the statement also can relate to the obvious: Oregon sits at 4-3 and 2-2 in the Pac-12 with five games remaining on its schedule — a far cry from where the team was positioned at this time in both of Helfrich’s previous years as head coach.

The lack of success can be attributed to multiple areas. An injury to Adams’s right index finger has held him out of three games and the quarterback position became a huge weakness in his absence. In addition, the youth in the secondary is a persisting problem. The two-deep depth chart has featured various individuals as starting defensive backs. However, the results haven’t changed.

Opposing quarterbacks are averaging over 300 yards passing and guiding their teams to an average of 36 points per game. The Ducks rank last in the conference in both of those categories.

Because of it, criticism has come from every direction. The latest scrutiny came from College Gameday’s Lee Corso, who said Helfrich needs to think about overhauling his coaching staff.

But Helfrich isn’t altering anything.

“You can’t drastically change at this point,” he said.

And as for Corso’s comments, Helfrich said, “It’s the nature of the business.”

“When you lose, everything is blown out of proportion, and when you win at a program like this, you didn’t do it right. And that’s fine.”

For now, Helfrich and his staff will continue to teach. He hopes that with each passing week, more confidence can be instilled in his players. He’s also trying to help the team overcome all the hyperbole and talk of the world coming to an end.

The road doesn’t get any easier for Oregon either. The Ducks will go to Arizona State next Thursday and then face Cal, Stanford and USC in November.

Here’s how each unit breaks down so far and going forward: 

Offense: 

Adams needs to be healthy if Oregon is going to salvage the rest of the season and turn things around. With Adams in the backfield, Oregon has a consistent threat to throw the ball as well as someone to keep defenses honest. Backups Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie have proven that, when they’re under center, Oregon’s offense is one-dimensional — it becomes strictly a running offense with no real threat at moving the chains when going through the air.

Royce Freeman is enjoying a breakout season, averaging 142.4 rushing yards per game with 11 total touchdowns, including a career-high 246 yards against Washington State. He leads the nation with the most rushes over 10 yards. Freshman Taj Griffin has been an added bonus to the backfield as he brings speed and elusiveness to complement Freeman’s bruising style of running.

The wide receivers got a huge boost when Carrington returned to the offense with five catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns last week. He adds needed depth with the season-ending injury to Byron Marshall and Charles Nelson’s move to safety. Bralon Addison is Oregon’s leading receiver with 31 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns.

The offensive line has done a good job when Oregon chooses to run the ball as the Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 297.4 rushing yards per game. Pass protection is where the Ducks have struggled as they’ve surrendered 21 sacks on the year. According to profootballfocus.com, tackle Tyrell Cosby is the best run-blocking tackle in college football.

Defense: 

The Ducks rank last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense.

Youth is one reason why the secondary has struggled. After trying to mix and match, Oregon seems to have found some consistency with Nelson taking over the starting safety spot from Tyree Robinson. Robinson now starts at corner over freshman Ugo Amadi, now the nickel corner, while sophomore Arrion Springs mans the other corner spot. Juwaan Williams is the other starting safety, taking that spot from Reggie Daniels. Robinson and Springs have been the most consistent players for the Ducks while Nelson, at 5-foot-8, brings energy that was missing early in the year.

Starting linebackers Joe Walker, Rodney Hardrick and Tyson Coleman have been consistent on the year. Walker leads the team with 49 tackles and Hardrick ranks second with 42 tackles. Coleman is second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss. Depth at the position comes from Danny Mattingly, Jimmie Swain and Johnny Ragin, all players who have seen consistent action since the beginning of the year.

The defensive line is led by DeForest Buckner, arguably the best defensive lineman in the nation. Buckner leads the Ducks with nine tackles for loss and five sacks while adding 36 total tackles. This unit is the deepest and best on Oregon’s roster as Alex Balducci is the starting nose tackle with Christian French and Henry Mondeaux splitting time at the other defensive end spot. Torrodney Prevot, Tua Talia and Austin Maloata have all seen significant playing time and help make the Ducks a team that’s three-deep at each spot on the line.

Special Teams: 

For many years, Oregon’s kicking unit has been one of the worst in the conference. With Aidan Schneider handling the field goal and placekicking duties and Matt Wogan on kickoff, Oregon has arguably the strongest unit in the Pac-12 now. Schneider is 11-for-12 on the season, including being 3-for-3 from 40 yards and a perfect 32-for-32 on PATs. Wogan has attempted 50 kickoffs on the year and 33 of them haven’t been returned.

If the Ducks struggle anywhere on this unit, it’s with punter Ian Wheeler. Although he has improved in recent weeks, Wheeler doesn’t have the booming leg that allows the team to switch fields when stopped on offense.

Addison is the team’s primary punt returner and is averaging 14.2 yards per return on his 10 attempts. He took a punt back 81 yards against Michigan State earlier in the year and presents a threat to do so again every time he touches it. Nelson and Addison do the kickoff returns and both players average over 21 yards per return. Addison had a season-long 87 yard return last week against Washington.