Two teams in the Top 25 are set to square off in their first game of the season as the No. 11 Oregon Ducks take on the No. 16 Auburn Tigers in Arlington, Texas August 31 at 6:30 CST on ABC. The winner of this game could very well see themselves enter the Top 10 and can start to build a resume to be considered for the College Football Playoffs.
This is only the second meeting between the teams with the Ducks winning in 2011 in the BCS National Championship Game. 22-19. Auburn is 97-27-2 all-time in season openers including winning 11 of the past 13. The Ducks are 88-31-4 all-time in season openers.
Oregon will have to contend with a stout Auburn defense. The Tigers have finished the past three seasons in the Top 15 nationally in scoring defense. They’ve only allowed 18.25 points per game. They will be tested as Oregon has averaged 38.3 points a game since QB Justin Herbert took over.
Herbert has thrown a touchdown pass in 28 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation. Last year, Herbert threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns.
CJ Verdell rushed 202 times for 1,018 yards and ten touchdowns as a freshman. The Ducks will have to replace wide receiver Dillon Mitchell as he’s in the NFL on the Minnesota Vikings.
QB Jarrett Stidham will have to be replaced by the Tigers as he’s in the NFL suiting up for the New England Patriots. Freshman Bo Nix will get the start Saturday.
He’ll have experience behind him at the running back position as Jatarvious Whitlow (150 carries, 787 yards, six touchdowns), Kam Martin (103 carries, 458 yards, one touchdown), and Shaun Shivers(70 carries, 371 yards, three touchdowns) all return.
Nix will also have some returning playmakers to throw to. Darius Slayton (35 rec, 670 yards, five touchdowns) and Seth Williams (26 rec, 534 yards, five touchdowns) are both looking to have a more significant impact than last year.
Written by Garin Turner
