No. 18 Utah Utes vs. No. 13 Oregon Ducks
Uncertain who the starting quarterback will be going into Saturday’s matchup with the Utah Utes, Oregon has to game plan as if both guys will get snaps. Vernon Adams Jr. was named the starter at the beginning of the year, and he has been playing well under center, despite a week two road loss against No. 5 Michigan State.
On the year, Adams Jr. has completed 64 percent of his passes for 555 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jeff Lockie, the quarterback-in-waiting, under Marcus Mariota, completed 74 percent of his passes for 228 yards and two scores in his lone start this year.
Royce Freeman and the Oregon defense will play big roles in determining the outcome Saturday night. First off, the defense needs to do a much better job against the pass since it has been extremely suspect this season. Freeman, on the other hand, has been great and will need to continue that trend.
Utah has the daunting task of going on the road to Autzen Stadium, also unsure about who will be starting at quarterback come 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday evening. The passing attack hasn’t been the key to Utah’s early-season success, though, as the Utes have been more successful on the ground. Devontae Booker has 84 carries for 345 yards and four touchdowns on the young campaign.
The defense is at a disadvantage, however, as Oregon has two quarterbacks with different styles who the Utes need to plan for. The Utes have been solid against the run this year, but it’s the secondary that has really struggled, allowing nearly 260 yards per game through the air. If they can stop Lockie and Adams Jr., they’ll be in good shape.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Eugene, OR
Stadium: Autzen Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Live Stream: WatchESPN app
Radio: Here
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