Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

Oregon-Arizona St Preview Capsule

Associated Press
Published | Updated

No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) at Arizona State (5-1, 3-0), 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Oregon by 9 1/2.

Series record: Tied 16-all.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Oregon went unchallenged through its first six games, the closest a 17-point win over Fresno State. The Ducks face their first real road test after playing five home games and one in Seattle against Washington State. Arizona State is off to a somewhat unexpected start under coach Todd Graham, leading the Pac-12 South, and gets a true gauge of how good it can be against one of the nation's best teams.

KEY MATCHUP

Oregon's ground game vs. Arizona State's run defense. The Ducks have two of the country's most dynamic running backs in Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, and are fourth nationally with just over 302 yards rushing per game. The Sun Devils have gotten off to a good start behind their defense, ranking first in the Pac-12 and fifth nationally in total defense, allowing 272.7 yards per game. Something has to give.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oregon: QB Marcus Mariota. The first freshman to start a season at quarterback for the Ducks since 1991, Mariota has been solid, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,301 yards and 15 TDs with five interceptions. He will face an environment unlike anything he's seen at Sun Devil Stadium, which is expected to be sold out and blacked out with everyone in the stands wearing black T-shirts.

Arizona State: DT Will Sutton. Arizona State is second nationally in tackles for loss with 59 on the season and Sutton has been a big reason. The big junior has been almost unstoppable on the interior, leading the Sun Devils with 13 tackles for loss, including 8 1/2 sacks. He could be a key to slowing the fast-flying Ducks.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oregon has won the past seven meetings in the series and four straight in Tempe. ... The Marshall brothers will meet on the football field for the first time when Arizona State senior Cameron goes against Oregon freshman Byron. Both are running backs. ... Oregon has never lost a game between the second and eighth weeks of the season under coach Chip Kelly, going 26-0. ... Arizona State QB Taylor Kelly has gone 99 passes without throwing an interception, while Oregon has 10 picks, including four that have been returned for TDs. ... Oregon was third in the opening BCS Standings, though just a few percentage points behind No. 2 Florida. ... Arizona State is playing on a Thursday night for the second straight week — it beat Colorado last week — and third time this season.