An article in ESPN the Magazine reports that anywhere from 40%-60% of the Oregon Ducks football team smoke marijuana on a regular basis.

The article focuses on the use of marijuana across college athletics and football in particular. According to the article the national average is about 25% for football teams in the NCAA, making Oregon’s percentage strikingly high (no pun intended).

The sources are both former and current players on the team. The identities of the players were not revealed.

Chip Kelly and the Athletic Department have a policy where they drug test the players to the extent that the Oregon state law permits them. After a third positive test the player is forced to sit out for half of a season without eligibility. A fourth positive test results in dismissal from the team.

It is unclear as of now how Kelly and the Oregon Athletic Department will handle the reveal of this information.

The likely answer: nothing.

There is not much more that the team can do to ensure college kids will not smoke. They test that as much as the law allows and the players pass. If they do not, they are punished and eventually dismissed.

Cornerback and returner Cliff Harris was dismissed from the team last fall for a series of marijuana-related incidences. Harris was expected to be a star and was a returning All-American.

The same can be said the year prior when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was dismissed for several drug policy violations as well. Masoli was expected to lead the Ducks to a conference title and possibly a national championship game. Turns out his replacement, Darron Thomas, accomplished both of those things in his place the next season anyway.

By removing Harris and Masoli from the team for drug reasons he proved will remove anyone he has to.

The statistics may seem shocking, but do not expect any fallout from this article. Marijuana is simply a part of college culture, especially in Eugene, Oregon. Colleges across the country have issues with drugs and drinking, and football players are susceptible to it just like any other student. There is simply not much that can be done.

The most damage that can be done to Oregon is to their reputation.

With a little over a week left until Oregon holds its spring game, the Ducks continue to practice out of sight from the media and some concerns about positions battles remain.

One area that Oregon needs to address is the wide receiver position. Last season freshman De’Anthony Thomas was the team’s leading receiver, but he will need to play more running back this season to replace LaMichael James. Also, Oregon lost veteran receiver Lavasier Tuinei to graduation.

Junior Josh Huff had a disappointing season last year when having issues dropping the ball, but continued to show flashes of excellence. However, Huff was arrested last month for a DUI and it is unclear just how far into Head Coach Chip Kelly’s doghouse Huff is.

Walk-on receiver Justin Hoffman returns for the Ducks in 2012, but he is viewed more as a possession receiver that is a solid blocker and good for a catch now and then. He is not the deep threat that Oregon needs to stretch the field and open up the rest of the offense.

The solution to the problem was supposed to be the talented coalition of redshirt freshman. Devon Blackmon, BJ Kelley and Tacoi Sumler were all expected to battle one another for snaps this season, but all indications are that they are still learning and remain too inconsistent to earn the trust and approval of Kelly.

The answers may actually come from veteran receivers like Daryle Hawkins and Rahsaan Vaughn.

Hawkins was bounced back and forth between receiver and quarterback early in his career, but this may be the year that the junior takes off after settling in at the wide-out position. His speed combined with his size at 6’4 would be a huge plus for Oregon.

Vaughn, like Hawkins, saw some playing time last year but as the season went on he saw his role decline. However, he does have talent and experience and will likely be in the mix come September.

There are other position battles raging at Oregon’s closed spring practices as well. While the defense is littered with experience and talent, the strong safety position is an area of interest after experienced veteran Eddie Pleasant graduated.

The Ducks have a log-jam of sorts at the position, but it is a good problem to have considering all of the players are very talented and they will be playing alongside experienced senior John Boyett, one of the top free safety’s in the nation.

Brian Jackson, Avery Patterson and Erick Dargan may be the favorites at this time. It is important to note that all three of these players will see action in Oregon’s defensive backfield come the fall, but consistency at that position is important.

Another area of interest is in the true freshmen that are working with the team in spring practice after arriving early in Eugene.

Arik Armstead, a highly touted defensive end, is an athletic freak and the thoughts of placing him opposite Dion Jordan would be unbelievable for the Ducks. However, Armstead is fresh out of high school and even though he seems to be picking it up fast, it is unlikely that he will make an elite impact this quickly.

The real impact may come from tight end Evan Bayliss. Indications are that he is learning the offense incredibly quickly and may see time on the field right away backing up sophomore Colt Lyerla.

Bayliss is a huge boost for Oregon because injuries have left the tight end position very thin heading into next season.

Lastly, the focus for most Duck fans remains on the quarterback competition.

Chip Kelly remains tight-lipped and hasn’t said either sophomore Bryan Bennett or freshman Marcus Mariota has the edge. However, reports indicated that Bennett, the more experienced player, is leading and is the favorite to be under center come September 1 for the season opener.

A lot remains unclear right now about Oregon, but following the spring game people should have a bit better idea of where things stand with a few of these battles.

After an offseason in which they celebrated their third consecutive conference title and a Rose Bowl victory, the Oregon Ducks are getting back to work.

As spring camp gets underway there is a mix of excitement and anxiousness among Duck fans. Many believe this team could potentially be the most talented and athletic unit in Oregon history. Head coach Chip Kelly has brought in highly-rated recruiting classes littered with budding talent and the players he brings in fit his offensive system perfectly.

The belief by most people is that any Kelly offense will be able to put points on the board, but if his players reach their potential it is nearly impossible to stop them.

But replacing experienced star players like running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas leaves the Ducks with large holes to fill if they are going to have their same dominating success.

The departure by James was expected by the Ducks. After leading the nation in rushing for two consecutive seasons, winning three conference titles plus a BCS bowl, and taking firm hold of most of the school records for running backs, there was not much left to accomplish at Oregon for James.

Oregon does have experience returning at the running back position with senior Kenjon Barner and sophomore De’Anthony Thomas, both of whom have shown their electric capabilities in the past when James was not on the field.

Barner has been a star waiting in the shadow of James for three years and should shine in his opportunity to be the number-one back. Thomas was sensational last season as a true-freshman, playing Kelly’s “tazer” position as a hybrid running back/wide receiver. He ended up leading the team in receptions and touchdowns.

Both players should expect increased repetitions on the field this season, which is exciting to think about but worrisome from a durability standpoint. With the unexpected transfer of sophomore running back Tra Carson, it is vital that both Barner and Thomas stay healthy. The Ducks may also need incoming true freshman Byron Marshall to step into playing time right away if he is capable due to lack of depth.

While the answers at the running back position seem to be clearer, the quarterback position is a little more unclear.

With the shocking decision by Darron Thomas to declare for the NFL draft, there is a competition for the vacancy at quarterback between sophomore Bryan Bennett and freshman Marcus Mariota.

Bennett is considered to be the favorite heading into spring camp because of his success in his limited playing time last season as Thomas’ back-up. Though there is not a huge sample size to analyze for Bennett, he showed flashes of a very strong arm and great mobility at the quarterback position. Possibly most impressive about Bennett was his decision-making ability when making correct option reads and not throwing ill-advised passes. His experience makes him the favorite at this point.

While Bennett may have the edge because of his increased time spent in Kelly’s system, Mariota may be the best-suited quarterback to play in Kelly’s offense. Though he hasn’t been seen in game action since arriving at Oregon, Mariota has serious star potential.

In looking at Mariota’s film from high school in Hawaii it is clear that he is a perfect fit for Kelly’s “blur” offense. He stands at 6’4” and has a tremendous arm. But most impressive is that he runs the 40-yard dash somewhere in the 4.45 second range. Bennett may have the experience and past success behind him, but Mariota’s potential may just be good enough to give him the edge.

No matter who wins the QB battle between Bennett and Mariota it is clear that either will be an athletic improvement at the position over Darron Thomas. Thomas was slower, not overly accurate and didn’t have an outstanding arm. But what Thomas did have was experience in big games, was cool under pressure and most importantly he won…a lot. He went 23-3 as a starter. That’s a large void to fill no matter how athletic you are.

Kelly refuses to hint at who has the edge in position battles and will not say who the starters are until the week before the week one game against Arkansas State. Practices are closed so it is difficult to speculate at this point, but for a team that should be in the national title picture once again this season these are battles that will be followed closely.

Though most casual fans judge a team’s current and future success on the on-field product and coaching, those with close knowledge of the game know that a team’s future performance starts and ends on the recruiting trail.

Coming off of three consecutive BCS births and conference championships, the Oregon Ducks had issues to address with recruiting just like every team does. Due to graduation of senior leaders and early departures from a few key players, the turnover this year was going to be high for the Ducks.

But having that recent success on the field, as well as the best facilities in the nation and a very strong fan base, has helped Chip Kelly and his staff pull high school stars from around the country to Eugene.

This year the Ducks have signed 21 players to come to Oregon in another successful round of recruiting. Of those 21 players, 9 earned All-American accolades. In all Oregon’s recruiting class is ranked around 15th by most scouts, their second consecutive season ranked in the top 15.

Over the past few years it has become clear what type of players Kelly wants in his system. He needs fast, explosive players on both sides of the ball. On offense he is looking for quickness, athleticism and versatility, while on defense he wants aggressive and speedy defensive backs and height along the defensive line.

This year was a perfect example of these trends, with a particular focus on the defensive line. Of the 21 players the Ducks signed, 5 or 6 will be defensive linemen and none are shorter than 6’6. The headliner of this recruiting class is Arik Armstead, a 6’8, 285lbs 5-star defensive lineman from Elk Grove, CA. Armstead is one of the most coveted players in the nation this season and was ranked as the 24^th overall player in the class by ESPN and 4^th by 247 sports. Armstead will have an opportunity to compete right away in Eugene and will be enrolling in the spring to take part in spring drills. Also of note, Armstead will also play basketball for Dana Altman and the Ducks.

A few of the more exciting players in this recruiting class will play on the offensive side of the ball for Oregon including running back Byron Marshall and wide receiver/athlete Bralon Addison.

Marshall runs a 4.38 40-yard-dash and ran a 10.67 100-meter time as a sophomore. Marshall has had a few injury problems in his career but he is expected to be 100% healthy and has a chance to see the field next season with the departure of All-American LaMichael James.

Addison is a phenomenal athlete that can play pretty much anywhere in Kelly’s offense, but most expect to see him at wide receiver. Addison was All-State 1^st team quarterback in Texas and nearly led his team to a state championship single handedly. There is a talented group of wide receivers that all redshirted this season for the Ducks, but Addison may be explosive enough to find his way into some packages if he can learn the offense fast enough.

Oregon also addressed needs at tight end and defensive back with this class. With a lack of depth at tight end and the number of players needed on a regular basis to play in an aggressive Oregon secondary, these players should all have an opportunity to compete for playing time if injuries occur to returning starters.

The class as a whole averages 6’3, 222lbs which is the largest in Oregon history. The type of athlete is changing in college sports and the Ducks are the ones leading that revolution.

For a complete detailed breakdown of the Oregon recruiting class follow this link to goducks.com.

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3383&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205372554&DB_OEM_ID=500

After 33 wins, three consecutive Pac-10/12 championships, three BCS game appearances and a host of records to his name accumulated during his three seasons, Oregon’s LaMichael James has decided to forgo his senior season with the Ducks and enter the NFL draft.

James, an All-American running back, set Oregon records in career rushing yards (5,082) and 100+ yard rushing games (18). He also holds the single game rushing mark in Duck history with a 288-yard performance earlier this season at Arizona. All in all James has 5,869 total yards and 58 touchdowns to his name in the Oregon record books alongside his 2010 Doak Walker Award trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s top running back. James was also a finalist for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, an award won by Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

Though James has produced gaudy statistics and has proven success at the college level, his lack of size and various injury concerns could hurt him when it comes to draft position in April. He is currently projected as a 3^rd round pick by ESPN’s Todd McShay prior to combine and scouting workouts which will take place over the next few months. However, with track star speed and quickness, impressive strength and undeniable toughness, whoever picks up James will be getting a player determined to make an impact.

For the past two seasons James has lined up alongside quarterback Darron Thomas in the Oregon backfield, who has also decided to take his shot at the professional ranks. Thomas has amassed impressive statistics in his own right in that time and in his two seasons as a starting quarterback he won 23 games against only 3 losses. He ends his career ranked in the top-10 in school history in touchdown passes (51, 5^th), passing yards (4,529, 9^th), and total offense (5,150, 10^th).

While most assumed James was NFL bound following the team’s 45-38 Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin, Thomas was expected to return for his senior season with the Ducks. He is not considered a top prospect as a quarterback and many do not even project him to be drafted. Most believe he would have greatly benefited from another year of training at the college level, leaving Oregon fans scratching their heads with news of his departure.

James will pass the reins at the running back position to Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas, two highly productive and explosive players. Thomas will be replaced by either Bryan Bennett or Marcus Mariota, who will battle for the job in the offseason.

While losing two players as successful as James and Thomas hurts the Ducks, Oregon fans almost lost a much more important figure to the NFL; Head coach Chip Kelly.

Sources believed that Kelly had all but signed his name on the dotted line to become the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before changing his mind at the last second to return to Eugene.

Some have been wondering when a coach with Kelly’s college spread offense scheme would get a shot at changing the “under center” NFL scene. With athletic dual-threat quarterbacks like Newton (Carolina) and Michael Vick (Philadelphia) proving they can perform in the NFL, Tampa Bay decided that now may be the time that Kelly’s system could start to gain some footing in the league.

Kelly is back coaching Oregon…for now. However, even though Duck fans everywhere are thrilled with his decision to return, it has become clear that Kelly is interested in coaching at the highest level and may just be waiting for the right opportunity.

It may just be a matter of time.

Though the road to this point of the season has had a few more bumps than most Oregon Duck fans would have liked, the junction they have reached is right where they wanted to be; in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game.

Even with the heartbreaking loss at home to USC a few weeks ago the Ducks (10-2, 8-1) had the best conference record and will host south division “champion” UCLA (6-6, 5-4) on Friday night at Autzen Stadium. The Bruins were given the chance to play in the game because USC (10-2, 7-2) remains ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA sanctions.

Though this is hardly the scenario that Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott had in mind for the conferences first ever championship game, someone had to represent the south and UCLA managed to win a division that seemingly every eligible team tried to lose down the stretch.

The Bruins have been in the news this week, but not because of their impending matchup with the Ducks.

Following their embarrassing 50-0 loss last week at the hands of their cross-town rival USC, head coach Rick Neuheisel was told he would not be returning next year to the program. Neuheisel will coach the Bruins on Friday night and would coach in a bowl game should UCLA make it to one, in effect making him an ironic “lame duck” coach when his team takes the field against Oregon.

If UCLA is going to even keep this game close they will need to play their best game in the soon-ending Neuheisel era. They are physically outmatched by the talent and speed of Oregon on both sides of the ball.

The Ducks enter the game averaging 45.9 points a game, 291.0 rushing yards per game and 510.6 total yards per game. All rank Oregon in the top 5 in the nation, and if the Bruins are going to be competitive they will need to control the stable of athletes the Ducks can trot onto the field.

Though quarterback Darron Thomas and All-American running back LaMichael James get most of the headlines, true freshman De’Anthony Thomas has shown he is a real threat on the Oregon offense.

De. Thomas has 16 total touchdowns this year and is likely to eclipse the 2,000 total yard mark this week. He lines up all over the field in Chip Kelly’s spread offense, from running back to receiver. No matter where he is on the field at the start of the play, if he finds himself in space with the ball he is dangerous. The Bruins have no one that will be able to chase him down in the open field, and that includes their track team as well.

James, who injured his elbow last week against Oregon State, is questionable for Friday but the injury did not appear to be as serious as when he dislocated his other elbow October 6^th against California. That injury required James to sit out 2 games and likely cost him an opportunity to return to the Heisman Trophy presentation for a second straight year.

Regardless of who the Ducks put on the field on offense the Bruins simply are not athletic enough to stop Oregon if they get into a rhythm. For that reason this game will not be close come the 4^th quarter.

The only way the Bruins win this game is if Oregon turns the ball over 4 or 5 times in their own territory and UCLA turns all of those opportunities into touchdowns. Barring injuries, lack of focus and an unexpected apocalypse the Bruins are going to be hard pressed to stay within 3 scores of the Ducks.

One other thing that could keep things interesting for the first half is the emotion that the UCLA players will take the field with. They will be playing for their coach, and motivation like that can be dangerous for opponents that do not come prepared.

Oregon will be ready. They can smell a third straight conference championship and a birth in their 2^nd Rose Bowl in 3 years.

The Ducks have to prove to the nation that they can win a big game against a premier opponent. They won’t let a chance to face Michigan State or Wisconsin slip by because they let a team like UCLA surprise them. The Rose Bowl is exactly one month after the Pac-12 championship game so there is no reason why the Ducks wouldn’t put all of their focus and effort into winning this game.

Oregon wins 55-20 and will play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl January 2^nd in Pasadena.

All eyes were on Palo Alto on Saturday night to watch two of the nation’s best teams and individual players square off for the likely eventual Pac-12 title.

#7 Oregon entered the game with a Chip on their shoulders and on their sideline, both of which propelled their motivation heading into a game with #4 Stanford that they entered as an underdog for the first time since the national championship game last season.

On a slippery field Stanford lost their footing on their climb to a national championship. Turnovers led to them losing their grip on the Pac-12.

No amount of Luck in the world was going to keep the Ducks from flying away with the Pac-12 north crown and a golden opportunity to host the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game in Autzen Stadium on December 2^nd.

Oregon showed the offensive firepower many have come to expect from the nation’s most exciting offense over the past few years.

Ducks running back LaMichael James maintained his status as the leading rusher in the country by racking up 146 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. On Stanford’s unstable and slick natural grass surface, James looked like the only player that was able to control his movements.

The highlight of the night came early in the second quarter when James took the ball up the middle, made a few quick cuts that caused Cardinal defenders to slip, and then raced 58 yards to the endzone.

It may have come early, but the tone had been set for the rest of the night. Oregon came to play. Fast.

While James may have done enough on the national stage to run his way back into Heisman Trophy contention, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck did not play up to the hype that has left him already preparing his acceptance speech  for the award.

Luck struggled against an athletic and aggressive Oregon defense. The Ducks forced 5 total turnovers on the night, including 2 interceptions and a fumble from Luck. All 3 Luck turnovers led to Oregon touchdowns.

While the turnovers were not the whole story, the efforts of the Duck defense cannot be understated. They continued to put relentless pressure on the quarterback, sacking Luck 3 times and leaving them 5^th in the nation in that category for the season. Prior to the Oregon game, Stanford had allowed only 4 sacks all season.

One of the concerns about the Duck defense is the lack of size along the defensive line. But the big and physical offensive line of Stanford was the one getting pushed around in the trenches, making it difficult for Luck and the rest of the offense to find any form of rhythm.

Oregon may not have had the ball for long, but when they did they ran past the Stanford defense with ease.

On their first 5 touchdown drives the Ducks did not need to hold the ball more than 2 minutes. Big scoring plays by James, freshman running back De’Anthony Thomas and wide receiver Josh Huff all went for more than 40 yards.

Quarterback Darron Thomas may not have dominated the game statistically like Stanford’s golden boy, but he managed the game very well. Thomas completed 11 of his 17 attempts for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. Most importantly he did not turn the ball over and allow the Cardinal to have any extra opportunities to get back into the game.

The “Duck swagger” may have never been more apparent than on 4^th down. Head coach Chip Kelly is notorious for his willingness to take risks. Three times Kelly gave the offense the green light to go for it on 4^th down. Two of those attempts translated into touchdowns for Oregon.

Kelly gave Stanford the impression he was going to be taking chances all night right away. After a first quarter score from D. Thomas to wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei, Kelly decided to go for the 2-point conversion by snapping the ball directly to tight end David Paulson, who then threw to the long snapper for the score. Who other than Kelly could have imagined that up?

It was that kind of night for the Cardinal. For 60 minutes the speed and control of Oregon dominated Stanford in every facet of the game.

As a result Oregon has taken Stanford’s spot at #4 in the BCS poll, with the Cardinal slipping to #9. The Ducks now need to win only one of their remaining two games to clinch the north division title and host the championship game.

But after a win like this the Ducks have much to be proud of. They sent a message to the rest of the country that had forgotten about the power from the Pacific Northwest; they are still here, they are motivated, and they want revenge.

They want another shot at LSU.

The stage is set for the Pac-12 showdown we have all been waiting for. The lights will be on, ESPN College Gameday will on campus and around the country all eyes will be on Palo Alto as the #7 Oregon Ducks (8-1, 6-0) square off against Andrew Luck and #4 Stanford (9-0, 7,0).

This game has everything that college football fans want to see.

Both teams are top-5 nationally in scoring with Stanford averaging at just over 48 points per game (3^rd) and Oregon coming in just behind at 46 points (5^th).

Though the lights will be on for the primetime game, there will be enough star power on the field to shine through.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is considered the best quarterback in the nation and will almost certainly be the first overall pick in April’s NFL draft. Luck is regarded as the most pro-ready prospect since Peyton Manning and his play this season has proven that. The Indianapolis Colts may think so too, as their “Suck for Luck” campaign thus far this season appears to be in full swing.

Luck has completed 71% of his passes and has thrown for 26 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions so far this season. He is the clear front-runner for the Heisman Trophy this season after being a finalist last year. A win over Oregon and a possible appearance in the national championship game would all but seal the award for Luck.

While Stanford may boast the nation’s top quarterback, Oregon’s LaMichael James is considered the best running back in the country.

James was alongside Luck last season at the Heisman Trophy presentation and won the Doak Walker Award, given to the country’s top running back. This season James has not slowed down when he has been on the field.

Though he has missed 2 games due to a dislocated elbow, James has still managed to rush for 1,061 yards and 9 touchdowns in just 7 games while averaging an outstanding 8.0 yards per carry.

What may give Oregon a slight edge in the first game they enter as an underdog in several years is their depth.

Running back Kenjon Barner has 8 touchdowns this season and averages just under 7 yards per carry. True freshman running back/receiver/kick returner De’Anthony Thomas has electrified the Ducks offense this season and has a team leading 12 total touchdowns, which also ties him for the national lead among freshmen.

Against a stiff Stanford defense Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas will likely need to put up bigger numbers than he has in the past few weeks since returning from a knee injury. Turnovers will put the Ducks in a severe hole against a team as good as Stanford, much like they did against LSU.

Protecting the ball and keeping Andrew Luck on the sideline will be key. Though Oregon is famous for their fast paced and high scoring offensive attack, this week slowing down a bit may not be the worst idea.

Thus far this season the Ducks rank dead last in the nation in time of possession by over a minute and a half (meaning it is not even close between them and the next worst team). Yet they still score over 45 points per game with ease. But this week making Mr. Luck stay on the bench will benefit the Oregon defense. If Oregon gets into a shootout they may do well enough to win, but if the Duck defense can stop Stanford’s offense just a few times it may be enough to bring down the mighty Cardinal.

Oregon’s defense has been criticized this season for allowing a lot of yards. But they have been much more aggressive lately and rank fairly high nationally in sacks (6^th) and scoring defense (26^th). They have also begun forcing turnovers, a key factor in their success last season.

Oregon’s defense will not have to face some important offensive players for Stanford. Wide receiver Chris Owusu, tight end Zach Ertz and offensive tackle Cameron Fleming will all be out of the lineup for the Cardinal.

This will enable the Ducks to focus in on Luck, running back Stepfan Taylor and tight end Coby Fleener.

Fleener in particular will be vital for Oregon to stop. At 6’6 Fleener is a machine in the red zone and Luck’s favorite target. Oregon will be undersized and will need to find a way to keep Fleener under control.

Stanford’s offensive line is very physical and, contrary to the national perception, the Cardinal run the ball 60% of the time. Oregon will need to control the line of scrimmage and find a way to disrupt the methodical offense of Stanford.

On Saturday night the national television audience will have an opportunity to see the two best teams on the west coast face off for the likely Pac-12 North championship and a chance to host in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.

Combine that with Rose Bowl and possible national championship implications, who would not want to watch the best game of the year that will guarantee at least a few touchdowns and double digit scoring performances? (I’m looking at you Alabama and LSU)

The game has everything a fan could want prior to kickoff. What happens after that is up to the players on the field.

But one thing is for certain; it will be fun to watch.

Prediction:

Oregon: 48 Stanford: 41

Alright Oregon fans, you can officially start thinking about Stanford.

After the #8 Ducks (8-1, 6-0) took down the rival Washington Huskies (6-3, 4-2) 34-17 Saturday night, Oregon has set the stage for the most anticipated game in Pac-12 history.

Since Stanford was on the immediate horizon for the Ducks, many believed that the game in Seattle on Saturday would be a trap game and dash Oregon’s bid at a third straight conference title.

The Huskies did all of the right things coming into the game to set up the monumental upset over their heated rival. The game was the final contest in Husky Stadium before a $250 million renovation. They also honored their 1991 co-national champion football team before the game in front of the sold out crowd. The fans were loud and ready to roll come kickoff.

However, Oregon never appeared to waver under the hostile conditions and held a lead for the entire game.

Oregon safety Eddie Pleasant intercepted Washington quarterback Keith Price twice in the first half, each leading to a touchdown for the Ducks.

Playing from behind, the Huskies did not have enough offensive firepower to pull off the upset.

Price had a rough night in the Husky backfield. In addition to the pair of turnovers, he was sacked a total of 6 times by an aggressive Oregon defensive front. Price, who entered the game among the nation’s best in touchdown passes with 23, was held to just 143 yards passing and 2 scores.

Stopping Price was not the only impressive undertaking by the Ducks defense. They held Washington running back Chris Polk to just 88 yards on the ground and did not allow him to score. Polk entered the game averaging over 127 yards per game.

Oregon has received criticism on the defensive side of the ball because they have been allowing nearly 400 yards per game this season. However, when they needed to step up to give their offense a chance to seal the game they performed.

The Ducks allowed only 278 yards on Saturday night, the Huskies’ lowest offensive output since week 1 against Eastern Washington. The 17 points Washington scored was a season low.

Though the Oregon defense was impressive on Saturday night, the explosive capabilities of the Ducks offense was on display as well.

Running back LaMichael James returned to form in a big way by rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown. James was an emotional catalyst for Oregon all night, showing the nation he is healed from the dislocated elbow he suffered October 6^th.

Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas had something to prove as well. Just one week after being benched at halftime against Washington State, Thomas wanted to show why he is the starter on a team that played for a national championship just a season ago.

Thomas did not have to do much in the game but performed solidly by throwing for 169 yards and a touchdown to tight end David Paulson.

Oregon did not put up the statistics they are used to, but it should be noted they had the ball for only 7 minutes in the first half. They finished the game with 381 yards of total offense and the 4 touchdowns scored were by 4 different Duck players.

The balance, defensive aggressiveness and ability to control the ball could prove pivotal for Oregon next week against #4 Stanford.

Contrary to what geographic locations would indicate, the rivalry between the Washington Huskies and the Oregon Ducks far exceeds those of their respective in-state counterparts.

Though Washington has not beaten the Ducks in the past 7 seasons, that does not deter fans of the two sides from barking at each other (pun definitely intended).

However, this year Husky fans have more to be excited about as head coach Steve Sarkisian has rebuilt the program back to respectability and even had the Dawgs ranked earlier this season before losing at Stanford.

Washington (6-2, 4-1) has lost only twice this season and both of those teams are currently ranked in the top-10 of the BCS polls (Stanford and Nebraska). However, they have had trouble beating the likes of California, Hawaii and Eastern Washington, all games won by one score.

The Huskies have been led by two premier offensive players, quarterback Keith Price and running back Chris Polk.

Price ranks near the top of the nation in touchdown passes thrown (23) and Polk has rushed for over 1,000 yards already this season. Though they have not faced any good defensive teams this season outside of Stanford and Nebraska, those numbers should not be taken lightly.

Oregon’s defense is notorious for allowing a lot of yards because of the amount of time they spend on the field, but have proven to be surprisingly stingy in the red zone.

This week if they want to keep Washington in check they will have to play well on all levels, but focus on making life difficult for Price to complete passes to wide receivers Devin Aguilar and Jermaine Kearse. Both players have given the Ducks trouble in the past and getting a good pass rush on Price to force turnovers and hurried throws will help the Oregon secondary keep them under control.

Oregon (7-1, 5-0) will bring a powerful offense of their own into Husky Stadium on Saturday, headlined by running back LaMichael James.

After dislocating his elbow on October 6^th against California, James missed 2 games before returning last week against Washington State. The returning Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman finalist looked rusty against the Cougars but should be 100% ready to go in Seattle.

The status of quarterback Darron Thomas is less certain.

Thomas is still recovering from a knee injury suffered against Arizona State that required him to miss one week of action. However, after being pulled after halftime in favor of freshman Bryan Bennett many wonder just how healthy Thomas is.

Many believe that Bennett may have won the job over Thomas due to his exceptional play in Thomas’ absence. Head coach Chip Kelly won’t reveal who the starter will be on Saturday night before kickoff, but if Thomas is healthy he will be in the Oregon backfield to start the game.

As far as the Huskies are concerned it may be the other Thomas that is more cause for concern.

True freshman De’Anthony Thomas has electrified the nation so far this year. He has accumulated 1,262 total yards this season so far as a running back, receiver and kick returner. Last week alone De. Thomas racked up 262 all-purpose yards, including a receiving touchdown and a 93-yard kickoff return for a score.

It will be important for the Ducks to be focused on the Huskies, unlike the rest of the country that is looking forward to next week’s Oregon vs. Stanford matchup. Washington is too good to overlook this season.

Oregon is more talented and experienced in nearly every facet of the game and that will be too difficult for the improved Huskies to overcome. Even with the raucous crowd that is sure to fill Husky Stadium Saturday night, the Ducks should walk away with a double-digit victory.

Prediction

Oregon: 45 Washington: 27