When No. 22 Oregon takes the field against Nebraska on Saturday, more will be at stake than a simple victory over a Big-10 team.

After the years of Chip Kelly, Marcus Mariota and top-five national rankings, the Ducks have dropped off significantly. While it’s difficult to pinpoint one single reason for the descension, something about Oregon football has changed.

Offensively speaking, the Ducks can keep pace with, or outscore, any team in the country. With the amount of offensive weapons Oregon has at its disposal, it’s no secret why the Ducks have ranked in the top-five of scoring every season of college football since 2010.

With Heisman candidate Royce Freeman running the ball and NFL prospects at wide receiver and tight end, the offense continues to execute at a high tempo and light up scoreboards.

If that’s the case, then why isn’t Oregon still among the nation’s elite? The reason is simple: defense.

Oregon has never been one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but they have excelled in two areas — forcing turnovers and red zone defense.

Consistently, the Ducks have found ways to force turnovers in big-time situations and take advantage of them. As for the red zone, Oregon’s bend-but-don’t-break philosophy has worked because too many times opponents have settled for field goals while the Ducks’ offense scored touchdowns.

That’s not the case anymore. The Ducks aren’t forcing the turnovers and aren’t getting the necessary stops. Combinations of blowing coverages, not being physical enough and missing tackles have plagued Oregon the last two seasons.

With those issues and the game against Nebraska pending, it begs the questions: Is Oregon going to change direction and head back to being a national power? Or are the Ducks going to continue their downward trend from the nation’s elite?

If Oregon can travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, march into Memorial Stadium and run roughshod over the Cornhuskers on Tom Osborne Field to the tune of a victory, the Ducks might just prove that they’re back.

Make no mistake, the Cornhuskers aren’t one of college football’s elite teams. This trip isn’t the same as traveling to Death Valley to play No. 3 Clemson or traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to play Nick Saban and the No. 1 Crimson Tide.

Still, this game has to mean just as much to the Ducks.

Nebraska is no walk in the park. The Cornhuskers have an elite quarterback and are consistently in the running to challenge for the Big-10 west division. They possess above average units in all three phases of the game and have a formidable coach in Mike Riley, the former coach of Oregon State.

Plus, they have the x-factor of playing in front of 87,000 screaming fans called the “Sea of Red.” Traveling into the Cornhusker’s home is no easy task, which is why they are 89-25 at home since 2000. Before last year, Nebraska had 46 consecutive years with a winning record at home.

Oregon won’t have to play perfect to win, but it will have to be better than what its shown the previous two games. An Oregon victory starts the path of its return to national prominence while a loss continues its current descent to national mediocrity.

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No matter whom it is you choose to talk about, the playmakers for Oregon’s football team can all be characterized by one word: selfless.

Individually, these Oregon athletes are some of the more well-known names in the Pac-12, but when combined, they make up arguably the most formidable group of playmakers in the nation.

Oregon’s offense is among the best in the nation, finishing fifth in scoring offense last year and averaging 48.5 points this year. This group makes up three-fourths of the Ducks’ offensive production.

“There’s no doubt how talented we are with our skill guys — but what sets them apart is how they have to earn every play that comes their way,” Oregon offensive coordinator Matt Lubick said. “They’re a very special group but it’s more than that with them.”

Wide receiver Devon Allen and running back Tony Brooks-James are the speedsters. Allen, the U.S. champion in the 110-meter hurdles who finished fifth at the Rio Olympics, has showcased that speed on the field throughout his career by averaging 17 yards per catch. Brooks-James, a member of Oregon’s 4×100-meter relay team, uses his elite speed to put continued pressure on defenses.

Running back Royce Freeman and wide receiver Darren Carrington are the NFL prospects. Freeman currently ranks third in Oregon history in career rushing yards and is averaging 9.2 yards per carry this season. Carrington is the go-to for Oregon quarterbacks, consistently coming up with catches in big-time situations and winning one-on-one scenarios with his size and speed.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Devon Allen (13) runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown. The No. 24 Oregon Ducks play the Virginia Cavaliers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 10, 2016. (Kaylee Domzalski/Emerald)

“To us, it doesn’t matter who’s getting the touches on offense — we don’t have to prove anything to anybody as long as we get the wins,” Freeman said. “We have so many guys who can do so many things that we all can’t get the ball. But it doesn’t bother us — all that matters is winning.”

Tight end Pharaoh Brown and wide receiver Dwayne Stanford are the veterans. Brown had a breakout year in 2014 when he was named first team All-Pac-12 after catching six touchdown passes and averaging 16.8 yards per catch. A devastating knee injury cost him the end of 2014 and all of 2015, but his return was solidified after scoring last week against Virginia. Stanford is a possession receiver who seems to make the most of his contributions when plays break down or in the blocking game, a very important staple of Oregon’s offense.

Finally, Charles Nelson is Mr. Everything. Listed at 5-foot-8 and weighing 170 pounds, Nelson is a dynamo who plays bigger than anybody. He’s so versatile that he played safety and receiver last year for the Ducks before converting full-time to offense this year as a running back and receiver.

“My thing with those guys is I don’t want to be able to tell who scored the touchdown by how excited you are, ” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said. “They take a great deal of pride in that.” 

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Charles Nelson (6) dodges a UC Davis defender. The No. 24 Oregon Ducks play the UC Davis Aggies for the season opener at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 3, 2016. (Kaylee Domzalski/Emerald)

Each one of these athletes were the stars of their respective high school teams. All of them passed up opportunities for bigger roles at other colleges to come to Oregon and be another piece of the puzzle.

“That’s just the culture we’ve built here and what we want to keep here — everybody will get theirs within this offense but all that matters is that we win,” Brown said. “We have so many guys who can do stuff with the ball that you don’t realize how guys are doing [stat-wise] because we just keep scoring.”

Quarterback Dakota Prukop joined the Ducks this year as a graduate transfer and says he’s never played with a group like this before.

“It’s a neat deal to line up at quarterback, look to your left and right and have 100 percent confidence in every player at every position — not a lot of guys can say that,” Prukop said. “Most guys are going out there looking for their one guy; we have four or five of those guys.”

Prukop first noticed how special this unit was during fall camp. According to him, each position group was to come up with three words that define them and then explain to the team why those words were chosen. One of the words the receivers chose was “respect.” What surprised Prukop even more was the explanation as to why that word was chosen.

“They talked about the respect they had for each of the individual’s own skill sets — how Charles is the speedy, quick guy, how Dwayne and Darren are the big possession receivers,” Prukop said. “It was cool to hear them talk like that and see how much respect they have for each other. They do put that ego aside and that’s what allows us to have a great team.”

Lubick knew how good the playmakers were early on when he was at Oregon.

“What makes these guys happy is winning football games. From day one they’ve understood that team goals are more important than individual goals and they live and play by that,” Lubick said. “We have a very selfless group — they get what we are about here as a culture and they’ve not just embraced it, they’ve thrived in it.”

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As Oregon lines up to take the field against Nebraska on Saturday, it will be the first time all season that the Ducks have had a formidable foe looking back at them.

No. 22 Oregon will enter its matchup against Nebraska 2-0 after securing wins against FCS opponent UC Davis and ACC foe Virginia. The Cornhuskers are also 2-0 with wins over Fresno State and Wyoming. This will be the first time both teams have a chance to make a statement in the early portion of the season.

Here is how the teams stack up:

OFFENSE

Oregon
The Ducks will enter Nebraska with transfer quarterback Dakota Prukop in full control of Oregon’s high-octane offense. Prukop has completed 69 percent of his passes on the year with six touchdowns and no interceptions. All six of his scoring passes have gone to different receivers. When Prukop isn’t slinging the ball to Darren Carrington, Devon Allen and tight end Pharaoh Brown, the ball is usually in the hands of Royce Freeman. Freeman ran for 207 yards and two scores last week, proving he’s more than ready to carry the load. More importantly for Oregon’s offense, the linemen controlled the trenches and the offense ran at a much quicker tempo.

Nebraska
Tommy Armstrong Jr. is a true dual-threat quarterback. He can beat defenses with his strong arm and fast feet. So far on the year, Armstrong has thrown four touchdowns and ran for three more. Devine Ozigbo is the top rusher for the Cornhuskers, amassing 147 yards and four scores on the year. Jordan Westerkamp and Alonzo Moore are the top receivers for Nebraska and each has two touchdown catches so far, but the depth drops off significantly after that. Nebraska’s offensive line is big and tough but not very agile, leaving them susceptible to more athletic down linemen.

Advantage: Oregon

DEFENSE

Oregon
If there was one side of the ball that’s been letting Oregon down, it’s been the defense. The defensive backs have been solid thus far and delivered two key interceptions last week that helped Oregon get the victory over Virginia. However, the defensive front seven is struggling mightily after losing five-of-seven starters from last year’s squad. Virginia, who ran for 38 yards against Richmond in the season opener, gashed the Ducks’ defense for 193 yards last week. Too many times did Oregon fill the wrong gap at the line of scrimmage or miss an open tackle. Simply put, defensive coordinator Brady Hoke’s new 4-3 scheme better start making massive improvements if Oregon wants a chance at the victory.

Nebraska
The Cornhuskers are athletic ballhawks who hit hard and force turnovers. Nebraska has surrendered 13.5 points per game while forcing eight turnovers in the two games. Seven of the turnovers have come from interceptions and the offense has turned those turnovers into 35 points. Kieron Williams is the core of the secondary, leading the team with 15 tackles and two interceptions. Ross Dzuris is a menace on the inside, leading the team with 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss. Fast and physical is what Nebraska preaches and that’s what it will rely on come gameday.

Advantage: Nebraska

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When Oregon and Nebraska collide on Saturday, it will be a battle of pride.

Whichever team wins will give its conference a big victory and signify that they are ready to compete for a conference championship. Likewise, the loser will further sink into college football’s graveyard of mediocrity.

Here are the players to watch:

OREGON
Charles Nelson, WR: Both Darren Carrington and Devon Allen have had big games to start the season and now it’s Nelson’s turn. Nelson can do it all for the Ducks but he’s struggled to get going this year, amassing only five catches for 37 yards. While not big in stature, Nelson is very strong and amazingly explosive so when he has the ball in his hands, he can make a difference. If this is Nelson’s breakout game to start the season, it could be a long day for Nebraska.

Lamar Winston Jr., LB: Johnny Ragin III didn’t play last week and A.J. Hotchkins was carted off with an injury, leaving the Ducks extremely thin at linebacker. That’s where Winston comes into play. Winston, a freshman, will be tasked with shadowing Nebraska quarterback Terry Armstrong Jr. and taking away the rushing aspect of his game. If Winston can plug the right gaps and contain Armstrong in the pocket, it might be enough to give Oregon the win.

Dakota Prukop, QB: Prukop has been nothing short of phenomenal this season with six touchdowns passes and no interceptions, as well as another touchdown rushing. He’s showing that he’s in control of the Oregon offense, moving it along at a high tempo and wearing down defenses. But he’s never faced a defense like Nebraska’s. He’s going to feel pressure and he’s going to get hit. How Prukop responds to the adversity will be telling if Oregon is going to get the “upset.”

NEBRASKA
Ross Dzuris, DE: Dzuris is Nebraska’s best interior defensive lineman and has been a terror in the trenches so far, amassing 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss on the season. A former walk-on who earned a scholarship last year, Dzuris has had to fight for every second of playing time so fighting in the trenches comes easy to him. He’ll be going against an inexperienced offensive line with the Ducks and if he can disrupt Prukop’s timing with receivers, it could mean celebration at the end of the game.

Devine Ozigbo, RB: Virginia ran around and through Oregon’s front seven last week. Ozigbo is better than Albert Reid of Virginia and he has a better offensive line so that should mean big things for him. If Ozigbo can run wild and make Oregon miss tackles like it did last week, he could keep the Oregon offense off the field. Ozigbo is big in size — 230 pounds — so getting into the second line of the defense will lead to big things for the Nebraska offense and take pressure off Armstrong.

Kieron Williams, S: While Nathan Gerry is probably the more experienced safety for Nebraska, Williams is the one who’s been tested more this year and come up bigger. Williams leads the team with 15 tackles while also having two interceptions. He’ll be tasked with keeping up with Allen and Carrington on the outside and limiting the receivers in big plays. If Williams plays big, Oregon’s offense could really sputter.

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Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich and Nebraska head coach Mike Riley are old friends. The coaches competed against one another for years in the Pac-12 before Riley bolted from Oregon State to Nebraska in 2015.

Now in his second year at the helm of the Cornhuskers, Riley will once again face Helfrich and the Ducks. This time it’ll be with a new team, a new batch of athletes and in an atmosphere far superior to Corvallis’ Reser Stadium.

Here are the matchups to watch.

Oregon Wide Receivers vs. Nebraska Secondary
This will probably be the biggest matchup to watch on Saturday. Nebraska has nicknamed its defense the blackshirts because of their fast, physical and hard-hitting way of doing things. Likewise, Oregon is blessed with arguably the best group of playmakers in the nation, so whoever rises to the occasion will probably lead its team to victory. The Ducks can beat opponents with speed (Devon Allen or Charles Nelson), size (6-foot-5 Dwayne Stanford and 6-foot-6 Pharaoh Brown) or the combination of both (Darren Carrington). Quarterback Dakota Prukop does a great job of spreading the ball around to the playmakers. Nebraska counters with some ball-hawking safeties in Kieron Williams and Nathan Gerry (each with two interceptions on the year). While Josh Kalu gives the Cornhuskers size to contend with Carrington, the depth for the Huskers isn’t the greatest.

Nebraska Offensive Line vs. Oregon Defensive Front Seven
It’s been noted how badly Oregon’s front seven was gashed last week by Virginia’s running game. Now the Ducks will have to contend with a bigger and more physical Nebraska offensive line. Nick Gates and Dylan Utter are the top returnees along the Nebraska offensive line and make up the two most important positions in left tackle and center, respectively. It will be up to Gates and Utter to make sure their unit is on the same page and locks up blocks, allowing quarterback Terry Armstrong Jr. and running back Devine Ozigbo to run wild. Meanwhile, the Ducks need to improve in shedding blocks and filling gaps if they want any chance of slowing down Nebraska and its 47.5 points per game.

Helfrich vs. Riley
Both of these coaches know each other’s tendencies and styles. With no disrespect to Oregon State, Riley will finally be coaching a team that can compete athletically with Oregon. This matchup will be like an advanced game of chess with each coach trying to predict what the other will do. The Riley and Helfrich series has been completely one-sided with Helfrich yet to lose, but with Riley’s new team and greater ability to recruit, he might secure his first win against Helfrich and the Ducks.

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Four and a half months ago, Oregon quarterback Dakota Prukop got to showcase his knowledge and command of the Oregon offense for the first time.

It was the Ducks’ 2016 spring game and Prukop, a senior transfer from FCS Montana State, finished the game by going 20-of-29 for 190 yards and two scores. Prukop didn’t show much in the game, gaining most of his completions on check-downs.

Fast forward to present and it’s evident that Prukop is now mastering the Ducks’ high-flying, tempo-pushing offense.

“Great, great,” was offensive coordinator Matt Lubick’s response regarding Prukop’s command of the offense. “He’s making good decisions — he’s very coachable so he does what you ask him to do and he takes what the defense gives him.”

In his second start of the season, Prukop finished Oregon’s 44-26 victory against over-matched Virginia with 331 yards and three scores on 21-of-31 passing. The Ducks had 632 yards of total offense in the win, averaging 8.3 yards per play and converting 9-of-14 third-downs. Prukop has thrown for six touchdowns on the year, each of which has gone to a different receiver.

“One of our philosophies on offense is we are going to get a team horizontal, we are going to use tempo,” Prukop said. “When you stretch them horizontally and then have vertical threats like we do, it pulls on defenses every which way.”

Prukop likens his game to that of a point guard in basketball. He wants to control the tempo that Oregon plays at, forcing opponents to waver under the speed of the game. He spreads the ball around to each open receiver he sees, never focusing on just one guy for an extended period of time.

Since the Ducks have arguably the deepest and most talented group of playmakers in the nation, it’s safe to say that Prukop’s ability get the ball out quick and make the right reads has been a winning formula.

‘It’s really easy to make the right play when you have skill players like that around you,” Prukop said. “If I kind of want to get risky here and take this shot, it’s almost like nine times out of 10 that they’re going to make that play — it makes my job really easy.”

What made last Saturday’s victory so enthralling for Oregon was the way Prukop handled certain situations.

With the Ducks on their own one-yard line, Prukop faked a handoff to Royce Freeman and ran diagonally right. Just before he was tackled, Prukop pitched the ball to Dwayne Stanford, allowing the receiver to pick up an extra 14 yards and push the ball out to the 24.

Later in the drive, facing a third-and-36, Prukop had Olympic receiver Devon Allen matched up one-on-one and took a chance on the speedster, connecting for a 55-yard gain and breathing life into the Oregon offense.

In the third quarter, on third-and-12, Prukop stood tall in a collapsing pocket and threw a 77-yard bomb to Allen for a touchdown, putting the game out of reach. Instead of taking off and running with the ball, Prukop trusted that Allen would be open and held on until the very last second before he was walloped by an oncoming Virginia lineman.

“When you have receivers out on the edge like that, if you can hold it for an extra second, buy a little more time for them, they will get themselves open,” Prukop said. “Just to be able to trust a guy and say ‘hey it’s third-and-36, I’m going to throw it as far as I can and see what happens’, makes this offense special.”

Prukop understands how talented his teammates are. He doesn’t have to account for 500 yards of total offense or run the ball 28 times to be effective like he did at Montana State. All he has to do is trust his teammates and trust in himself.

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Two different teams with different styles will enter Autzen Stadium on Saturday night but only one will leave with a win.

The Ducks will be looking to get to 2-0 and gain some momentum before next week’s showdown with Big-10 power Nebraska. Meanwhile, Virginia is looking to notch its first win under new head coach Bronco Mendenhall and give the ACC a big-time victory over a Power Five conference.

Here are the players who will affect the outcome of the game.

OREGON

Royce Freeman, Junior, RB: The Ducks should have two things on their offensive mind this week: faster tempo and giving the ball to Royce Freeman. “Rolls Royce” Freeman was given the ball 11 times last week, and considering he’s the star of Oregon’s offense, 11 times is nowhere near enough. He did average 7.9 yards per carry with two scores last week. Freeman is one of the top running backs in the nation, and he combines speed with power to be effective. The Cavaliers gave up 187 rushing yards last week, so expect Freeman to have a big day and start his Heisman campaign.

Jake Hanson, Redshirt Freshman, C: As the Ducks’ starting center, Hanson is key to Oregon’s offensive line. If the line can function as a singular unit and make the right reads, it allows the offense to play at a much faster pace, thus leading to more points and ultimately, a victory. Oregon quarterback Dakota Prukop said UC Davis came at Oregon with a lot of blitzes last week, which slowed down the tempo. Expect Virginia to bring pressure so Hanson will have to make the right reads and calls.

Tyree Robinson, Redshirt Junior, S: Robinson is the key to Oregon’s pass defense. He’s the undisputed leader of the secondary and in charge of making sure his teammates are on the same page and in the right spots. The Ducks had breakdowns in the secondary last week that led to several big plays for the Aggies. Virginia can sling it so Robinson is going to have to make sure the Ducks are ready to go if improvement is going to be seen.

VIRGINIA

Kurt Benkert, Junior, QB: Benkert needs a big day if the Cavaliers are going to pull off the upset. It’s that simple. It’s somewhat crazy to think you’ll stop Oregon’s offense completely so your best bet is to outscore them. If Benkert can stay under control and composed, sustaining drives with the correct reads, the Cavaliers will put a lot of pressure on the Oregon defense. Benkert throwing to nine different receivers last weekend shows he can spread the ball around and keep opposing defenses honest. A big day from Benkert could lead to the upset.

Micah Kiser, Junior, LB: Kiser was a one-man wrecking crew for the Virginia defense last week, leading the Cavaliers with 14 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. You can expect the Ducks to get Freeman going early and often so it will be up to Kiser to keep the 230-pound bruiser from running crazy. If Kiser can maintain gap control and contain Freeman, it’ll force Prukop to beat Virginia, and that’s what the Cavaliers want.

Taquan Mizzell, Senior, TB: Mizzell is an all-purpose player for the Cavaliers, rushing seven times and catching four passes last week. He is Virginia’s blend of speed and power and its best playmaker in open space. He can outrun linebackers and overpower defensive backs, so getting Mizzell as many touches as possible is a key for the Virginia offense. With Mizzell running and catching like crazy, the Cavs will have a chance to keep pace with Oregon’s offense.

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Does Oregon get the win over Virginia, making a statement that the Ducks are ready to go?

Is this the week Royce Freeman gets his Heisman campaign going?

Does Oregon’s defense stiffen up and make the day rough on the Cavaliers?

There is so much to look forward to in Saturday’s game but here are the top three matchups to watch.

Oregon RB Royce Freeman vs. Virginia LB Micah Kiser
This is a battle of physicality versus physicality. Both players are big, strong and athletic and they both lead their respective units. Without a doubt, Oregon relies on Freeman to extend drives by picking up the tough yards between the tackles while Kiser is asked to be the big man in the middle, containing players like Freeman. Oregon only gave the ball to Freeman 11 times in the opener so it’s safe to say that the Ducks are going to feed the beast more this week in hopes of jump-starting his season and Heisman campaign. Meanwhile, Kiser had 14 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles last week in Virginia’s season opener so he’s no stranger to being the most physical player on the field. If Freeman runs wild and gets the better of Kiser, expect the Ducks to light up Virginia. But, if Kiser can contain Freeman, Oregon’s offense could struggle, thus opening the door for an upset.

Virginia Wide Receivers vs. Oregon Secondary
In last week’s opening season loss, Virginia had nine different players catch the ball with three of them scoring touchdowns. Together, they totaled 264 yards and constantly kept the chains moving for the Cavaliers offense. Keoon Johnson is a big receiver, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds while Olamide Zaccheaus and Taquan Mizzell are quicker and more explosive. These three will be a handful for Oregon’s secondary who struggled last week UC Davis receivers. Expect Oregon to move safety Tyree Robinson to the corner position to match up with Johnson. Oregon’s secondary struggled mightily last year but a good performance in shutting down Virginia’s receivers will notably lead to victory, and to a better mindset heading into the rest of the season.

Returner Charles Nelson vs. Virginia Special Teams
Last week, Nelson was a hit and miss in the return game. He did some great things by getting big returns and giving Oregon great field position. He also had two turnovers — one on a punt return and the other on a kickoff return — that gave UC Davis great field position and led to seven points. Against a better team like Virginia, Nelson can’t afford to put Oregon’s defense in a bad position. You can expect the Cavaliers special teams unit to be flying hard at Nelson and trying to strip the ball. If Nelson can hang on and continue to be a spark plug for the Ducks, look to Oregon to run away with the game. If he coughs up the ball, expect Virginia to keep this game close.

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He entered fall camp as the relative unknown. He left as the star of it.

The past four weeks have been a whirlwind for Oregon freshman quarterback Justin Herbert, but in the best way possible.

Herbert began Oregon’s fall football camp as the expected fourth-string quarterback. It was expected he would have a redshirt season and lead the scout team against the Ducks’ first and second team defenses during the season. He would never see the field in 2016, all while preparing for a shot at making the traveling squad next season.

How could he possibly make the travel team and crack the depth chart? Not only did he play against a lower-level of competition in high school than his counterparts (something some people think is a huge deal), he was the last quarterback to arrive on campus, get his playbook and begin practicing.

He had Dakota Prukop, a fifth-year transfer from Montana State; Travis Jonsen, a player who’s been in the program; and Terry Wilson Jr., a freshman from Texas who arrived at Oregon during the spring, all with a jump on him.

With fall camp over and the Ducks preparing to open the season against UC Davis on Saturday, Herbert has indeed cracked the depth chart and made the traveling team. Come game day, Herbert will find himself suited up and getting action in the game as Oregon’s No. 2 quarterback.

If the Ducks blow out UC Davis, as they’re expected to do, Herbert would see significant game time leading Oregon’s high-flying offense. If anything happens to Prukop, which all Oregon fans learned last year is a tough pill to swallow when your starting quarterback goes down, Herbert is next in line to lead Oregon back to the Pac-12 Championship game.

Still, you have to question whether this is the right move for Herbert?

He’s still just a kid who at this time last year was playing high school football for Sheldon in Eugene. He’s been learning Oregon’s offense for a few months and now he’s expected to take on the likes of Stanford, USC, Nebraska, Utah and the forever-hated Washington?

If Herbert is as good as all his coaches and players say, why rush him into seeing the field? Why not redshirt him? Why not let him get an entire grasp of this offense so next year when Prukop leaves, the offense is Herbert’s and he is full-on ready to go?

By doing this, Herbert won’t take the lumps and bruises that come with being a young quarterback. He won’t run the risk of losing his confidence or getting injured. He also won’t be blamed for Oregon’s season possibly tanking. We all saw what happened to Jeff Lockie last year.

Oregon learned last year how important it is for your backup quarterback to be game-ready. I think it’s safe to assume the coaching staff learned their lesson and are making sure to not replicate last year.

Once the season starts on Saturday, the decision to play Herbert is final. There are no take-backs or anything, it’s full-steam ahead. Herbert will be suited up on Saturdays, ready to go when his name is called. It may not be the best decision, but based on last year’s debacle, it’s probably the right one.

Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka

The 2016 college football season has finally arrived for Oregon.

While the Ducks will be trying to break in a multitude of new players — most notably quarterback Dakota Prukop, three freshmen offensive linemen and a brand new defensive scheme — the Aggies return many of their offensive and defensive weapons from last year.

Here’s how the teams stack up:

Oregon Offense
Running back Royce Freeman is Oregon’s leader on offense and a dark horse Heisman candidate. The junior running back returns after rushing for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns last year and adding another 348 yards and two scores receiving. But Dakota Prukop is the key to the offense as he’s been with the Ducks since the spring as a fifth-year transfer. He earned the starting job in fall camp because of his leadership and command of the offense. Gifted with a strong arm, he’ll have many weapons to throw to, whether it be dynamic receiver Charles Nelson, Olympic hurdler Devon Allen or NFL-caliber players Darren Carrington and Pharaoh Brown.

UC Davis Offense
The Aggies are led by a pair of senior starters in quarterback Ben Scott and running back Manusamoa Luuga. Scott played in eight games last year, yet led the team with 1,598 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air. Luuga was the leader from a stable of running backs, leading UC Davis with six touchdowns and 651 rushing yards. As for receiving, Luuga and Chris Martin were the top targets as each player caught over 45 passes on the season. Luuga led the Aggies with 51 receptions but Martin averaged 14.3 yards per catch with five touchdowns.

Advantage: OREGON

Oregon Defense
The Ducks are in a transition period when it comes to defense as new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke is implementing his new 4-3 base defense, and based on practice reports, the results have been mixed at best. Secondary seems to be Oregon’s best position group as it returns all of its starters from last year’s team, including depth at the position. Safety Tyree Robinson is the key as he is seen as the leader of the group while Arrion Aprings and Ugo Amadi lockdown the corner positions. Johnny Ragin II leads the linebacking core as freshman Troy Dye will start in his first ever college football game at the WILL position. Henry Mondeaux is the only returning starter on the defensive line but came on strong at the end of last year while playing opposite DeForest Buckner, a first-round draft pick in last year’s NFL Draft.

UC Davis Defense
Experience is what leads the Aggies as five of their top six tacklers from last year return. Darryl Graham and Patrick Wells are the top two returning tacklers for the team as both players play in the defensive backfield. The linebacking duo of Russell Reeder and Brady Stibi hold down the middle of the defense while Zach Jones is the hybrid of the defense. Jones saw all of his action last year at safety but has been moved to linebacker this year to give that group more athleticism. Brandon Weaver is the top interior lineman for the Aggies as he posted 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last year.