Oregon vs. Stanford: College Football Zoom-In Game of the Week
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: ABC
Location: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, Oregon)
October is upon us.
We’ve got a great Saturday of action set for tomorrow. Florida-Alabama, Oklahoma-Texas, Wisconsin-Michigan State, Penn State-Iowa, and NC State-Virginia Tech are just a few of the marquee matchups that we’ve got on tap. But in my opinion, the most interesting game of the day is the Pac-10 showdown between No. 4 Oregon and No. 9 Stanford.
The two teams look to be the cream of the conference crop this year, and this contest could have championship implications down the line.
This will be the first time in history that both schools come into this matchup ranked in the top 10 and the night is shaping up to be very entertaining.
Here’s an in-depth look at the information you need to know about tomorrow night’s game.
Spotlight Player: QB Darron Thomas, Oregon
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One player in particular that could have a major impact on the outcome of this game with his play is Oregon's Darron Thomas.
Thomas has stepped in admirably for the departed Jeremiah Masoli as the triggerman to the most highly productive offense in the nation through four weeks of play.
The sophomore has completed 54 percent of his throws for over 800 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 100 yards on the ground.
It’s been the savvy decision making of the 6‘3", 210 lb. quarterback that has really been eye opening.
Thomas has looked like a natural running Oregon’s spread attack, and his ability to read defenses and put the ball where it needs to be has been outstanding so far.
Still, Thomas has yet to face a defense the caliber of Stanford’s, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to the level of pressure that he’ll face on Saturday.
Coaching Credit
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You have to give tremendous credit to both these head coaches, Oregon’s Chip Kelly and Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh, for elevating these two programs to the top of the Pac-10.
This is Kelly's second year as coach of the Ducks after leading the team to a Pac-10 Championship and a Rose Bowl appearance in his first season on the job. His energy and passion have rubbed off on this Oregon team, and his offensive knowledge is clearly evident, as the Ducks currently lead the nation in total offense.
Harbaugh’s road has been a little longer, but then again, he was given a much tougher task when he arrived after a 2006 season that saw the Cardinal finish 1-11.
After transforming San Diego into a powerhouse at the Division I-AA level, Harbaugh came to Palo Alto and changed the culture into that of a winning environment with his positive attitude and enthusiastic spirit.
The Cardinal have improved each year under Harbaugh and finally broke through last season with an 8-4 regular season campaign which resulted in the school's first bowl appearance since 2001.
LaMichael James vs. Andrew Luck: Heisman Faceoff
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Each of the team’s top Heisman candidates, Oregon running back LaMichael James and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, has been sensational so far this season.
James, a 5‘9", 185 lb. redshirt sophomore, has rushed for 455 yards and four touchdowns on 58 carries. He currently ranks 11th in the nation in total rushing, even though he missed the team’s season opening game against New Mexico due to suspension.
Andrew Luck, on the other hand, has been so good that he’s already started to hear No. 1 pick buzz in regards to next year's NFL Draft. Luck, also a redshirt sophomore, has completed 62 percent of his passes for over 900 yards and 11 touchdowns and led his team to a rout in each of their first four games.
This is a spotlight game for each of the two players and if either want to make a serious run at the award, a great performance in this contest could really give them a boost.
In last year’s meeting, James rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, but Luck got the upper hand, throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the 51-42 Stanford victory.
Autzen Stadium
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One major factor to consider when looking at this this game is that the match up takes place at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, one of the loudest venues in all of college football.
Autzen’s capacity is only 54,000 (even though they usually fit close to 60,000), but the stadium is designed so that the crowd noise simply hangs over the field. Nearly every opponent that has come to play at Autzen has left with their ears ringing.
Ducks fans are some of the wildest, loudest, and most passionate in college football.
Oregon is 27-5 over the last five years when playing at Autzen.
It was actually Stanford who ended the Ducks' longest home winning streak of 23 games back in 2001.
Battle For Pac-10 Supremacy
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For the first time in years, the Pac-10 had a new favorite coming into the season.
For years, the conference had been viewed as the USC Trojans and everyone else, but after winning the conference and making an appearance in the Rose Bowl last season, many were favoring the Oregon Ducks to repeat the feat in 2010, even without quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
The one team that looks to be standing in Oregon’s way of making it back to Pasadena is the Stanford Cardinal.
Sure, there are other quality teams in this conference, such as Arizona and USC and a few potential movers and shakers like Oregon State and UCLA, but as it stands now, Stanford has looked like the true challenger to the throne.
These two teams look to be the best the conference has to offer this season, and it will be interesting to see the affect this game has on each squad’s respective season.
The winner can use this game as a springboard for a second half push at a Pac-10 championship.
Stanford Offense Vs. Oregon Defense
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It’s not hard to figure out the key player to Stanford’s offensive success.
Sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck has lived up to the hype and carried this team to victories in the first four games of the season. Luck has shown that this offense is capable of playing at a high level even without the presence of departed running back Toby Gerhart, who rushed for over 1,800 yards in 2009.
Luck has looked poised and calm and has been just the leader Jim Harbaugh needed him to be.
Stepping in for Gerhart has been sophomore Stepfan Taylor, whose rushed for 265 yards on 59 carries. The 5‘11", 205 lb. Taylor isn’t as big nor as imposing of a back as Gerhart was, but he has the speed to make plays when the ball is in his hand.
Taylor has found lots of running room behind an offensive line that looks to be one of the best in the nation. David DeCastro, Jonathan Martin, and Chase Beeler are some of the best linemen in the Pac-10, and all look like they have NFL futures ahead of them.
The Cardinal passing attack misses experienced wide receiver Ryan Whalen, who left the Wake Forest game with a dislocated elbow.
Whalen was limited in practice this week after sitting out the Notre Dame game, and his status for tomorrow is still unclear.
The one player that has to step up for Stanford is receiver Chris Owusu, who has yet to his stride after missing the team’s first two games.
The Cardinal will be going up against a talented, yet not overly imposing Oregon defense that looks to be about middle of the pack in the conference once again.
The difference maker for the Ducks on defense is linebacker Casey Matthews, the younger brother of the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews.
Matthews is the centerpiece to the defensive unit, and he will be given the task of trying to shed blocks and slow down the running game in order to make Stanford one dimensional.
Stanford Offensive Lineup
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Quarterback: Andrew Luck (12)
Running Back: Stepfan Taylor (33)
Wide Receiver: Doug Baldwin (89)
Wide Receiver: Chris Owusu (81)
Tight End: Coby Fleener (82)
Tight End: Konrad Reuland (88)
Left Tackle: Jonathan Martin (55)
Left Guard: Andrew Phillips (71)
Center: Chase Beeler (72)
Right Guard: David DeCastro (52)
Right Tackle: Derek Hall (53)
Oregon Defensive Lineup
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Defensive Tackle: Brandon Blair (88)
Defensive Tackle: Zac Clark (99)
Defensive End: Kenny Rowe (58)
Defensive End: Terrell Turner (45)
Linebacker: Casey Matthews (55)
Linebacker: Spencer Paysinger (35)
Linebacker: Josh Kaddu (56)
Cornerback: Anthony Gildon (18)
Cornerback: Talmadge Jackson (37)
Safety: Eddie Pleasant (11)
Safety: John Boyett (20)
Oregon Offense Vs. Stanford Defense
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High powered is a good way to describe this Oregon offense.
The Ducks have gone on a near historic offensive run to start the season, averaging nearly 58 points in their first four games.
Oregon’s spread attack is hard to stop when playmaking running backs LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, and Remene Alston get their hands on the ball.
James is the star of the group, as he’s already on pace for another big season after rushing for over 450 yards in just three games.
Stanford will most definitely be focused on slowing down the rushing attack and forcing sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas to win the game with his arm.
A key player for Stanford will be big, 300-plus-pound nose tackle Sione Fua.
If Fua can eat up space and disrupt the flow of the running game, it will be a major blow to Oregon’s offensive rhythm.
Stanford’s linebacking unit could be the real difference though. Shayne Skov, Thomas Keiser, and Chase Thomas are all standout tacklers who play disciplined football.
Don’t expect it to be an easy night for James to break off many big runs.
If Oregon can’t get the running attack going early, it will disrupt their gameplan and force Chip Kelly to come up with some alternatives.
Oregon Offensive Lineup
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Quarterback: Darron Thomas (1)
Running Back: LaMichael James (21)
Wide Receiver: D.J. Davis (10)
Wide Receiver: Jeff Maehl (23)
Wide Receiver: Lavasier Tuinei (80)
Tight End: David Paulson (42)
Left Tackle: Bo Thran (69)
Left Guard: Carson York (77)
Center: Jordan Holmes (54)
Right Guard: Mark Asper (79)
Right Tackle: C.E. Keiser (68)
Stanford Defensive Lineup
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Nose Tackle: Sione Fua (92)
Defensive End: Brian Bulcke (95)
Defensive End: Matthew Masiflo (98)
Inside Linebacker: Shayne Skov (11)
Inside Linebacker: Owen Marecic (48)
Outside Linebacker: Thomas Keiser (94)
Outside Linebacker: Chase Thomas (44)
Cornerback: Richard Sherman (9)
Cornerback: Johnson Bademosi (27)
Safety: Delano Howell (26)
Safety: Michael Thomas (3)
Prediction: Stanford 48 Oregon 30
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Autzen Stadium is one of the toughest places for an opponent to survive, but I just have a feeling this Stanford team can do it.
Slowing down the Ducks offense won't be easy, but I think when push comes to shove, Andrew Luck will outplay Darron Thomas and show why he's been getting so much hype thus far this season.
It would be a huge statement win for Stanford, and one that could propel them to some mighty big things this year.
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