9-21-23 Emerald Media Group - Gameday

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College athletes rely on social media now more than ever. It’s not always a good thing.

GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.

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ON THE COVER

Bryan Addison (13) takes a photo after the game. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald)

TROY FRANKLIN

TRAESHON HOLDEN

TEZ JOHNSON

JOSH CONERLY JR.

JUNIOR ANGILAU

JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON

STEVEN JONES

AJANI CORNELIUS

TERRANCE FERGUSON

BO NIX

BUCKY IRVING

KYLER KASPER

KRIS HUTSON

GARY BRYANT JR.

GAAOPE LALOULU

MARCUS HARPER II

GEORGE SILVA

OREGON OFFENSE OREGON DEFENSE

BRANDON DORLUS

POPO AUMAVAE

CASEY ROGERS

JORDAN BURCH

JEFFREY BASSA

JESTIN JACOBS

MASE FUNA

KHYREE JACKSON

TYSHEEM JOHNSON

EVAN WILLIAMS

NIKKO REED

COLE MARTIN

JOHNNY BOWENS III

TAKI TAIMANI

KEYON WARE-HUDSON

MATAYO UIAGALELEI

JAMAL HILL

CONNOR SOELLE

JAKE SHIPLEY

TRIKWEZE BRIDGES

BRYAN ADDISON

STEVE STEPHENS IV

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS

COLORADO OFFENSE

HORN

WELLS

LANDON BEBEE SAVION WASHINGTON MICHAEL HARRISON SHEDEUR SANDERS DYLAN EDWARDS JAVON ANTONIO COLE BOSCIA TAR’VARISH DAWSON ISAIAH JATTA

JACK WILTY

KAREEM HARDEN

REGGIE YOUNG

ELIJAH YELVERTON

STAUB

DEFENSE

TAIJH ALSTON

SHANE COKES

LEONARD PAYNE JR

JORDAN DOMINECK

JUWAN MITCHELL

MARVIN HAM II

TRAVIS HUNTER

TREVOR WOODS

SHILO SANDERS

OMARION COOPER

CAM’RON SILMON-CRAIG

DERRICK MCLENDON

BISHOP THOMAS

J.J. HAWKINS

KHAIRI MANNS

LAVONTA BENTLEY

JEREMIAH BROWN

CARTER STOUTMIRE

BEN FINNESETH

RODRICK WARD

KYNDRICH BREEDLOVE

JADEN MILLINER-JONES

MARK VASSETT

JACE FEELY

CAMERON WARCHUCK

JIMMY HORN JR

DYLAN EDWARDS

ALEJANDRO MATA

JACOB POLITTE

XAVIER WEAVER

TRENT CARRIZOSA

For a more in-depth chart on both teams, visit ESPN.com

THE PAC-12 AS CONFERENCE PLAY APPROACHES

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

HOW DID THE OTHER GAMES GO?

NO. 18 COLORADO AVOIDS UPSET SCARE IN 4335 WIN OVER COLORADO STATE

The Buffaloes (3-0) have now won six straight in the “Rocky Mountain Showdown” rivalry with Colorado State (0-2). It took two overtimes and four touchdown passes from Shedeur Sanders, but Colorado got it done and remains undefeated for its game in Eugene on Saturday.

NO. 8 WASHINGTON ROLLS MICHIGAN STATE IN

41-7 BLOWOUT

The Spartans (2-1) were without their head coach on Saturday amid a misconduct scandal and the Huskies (3-0) took full advantage of his absence. Michael Penix Jr. threw for 473 yards and four scores as Washington stayed perfect. The Huskies host Cal (2-1) next week to kick off their conference schedule.

NO. 16 OREGON STATE RELIES ON ITS DEFENSE IN 26-9 WIN OVER SAN DIEGO STATE

The Beavers (3-0) limited the Aztecs (2-2) to two scoring drives on a day where Oregon State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei wasn’t at his best. He only had 284 yards and two interceptions on the day. He’ll need to step up next week when the Beavers travel to Pullman to play No. 21 Washington State (3-0).

NO. 12 UTAH PUTS WEBER STATE AWAY WITH 31-7 WIN

The Utes (3-0) are still waiting for the return of Cameron Rising, but they seem to be doing okay

without him for now. After beating Weber State (2-1), Utah is 3-0 for the first time since 2019. The Utes host No. 22 UCLA (3-0) next week in a huge game for both squads.

NO. 23 WASHINGTON STATE WHALLOPS NORTHERN COLORADO 64-21

Aside from the Bears (0-3) finding a way to score three times, there weren’t many surprises in the Cougars (3-0) third win of the season. Quarterback Cameron Ward has his team right where it wants to be ahead of next week’s clash with No. 14 Oregon State (3-0).

NO. 24 UCLA RUSHING LEADS THE CHARGE IN 59-7 WIN OVER NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

The Bruins (3-0) had 404 rushing yards across 13 ball carriers in their dominating win over the Eagles (2-1). The trio of quarterbacks used by UCLA combined for only 210 yards. But, when a team can run the ball like that, it can be incredibly difficult to beat. No. 11 Utah (3-0) will try its luck against the Bruins next week. The Utes won last season’s matchup in a thrilling 42-32 game.

ARIZONA CRUSHES UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO 31-10

Wildcat (2-1) quarterback Jayden de Laura had only six incompletions during Saturday’s win over the Miners (1-3). Arizona has quietly put together a respectable team that could cause some problems for Pac-12 teams that fall victim to overlooking the Wildcats. They’re favored in their first conference game of the season next week at Stanford (1-2).

CALIFORNIA RALLIES BIG IN 31-17 WIN OVER IDAHO

The Vandals (2-1) got up to a 17-0 lead in Berkeley and had to watch it all crumble away as the Golden Bears (2-1) scored 31 straight points to pull off a late win. Cal scored 14 in both the second and third quarters and held Idaho scoreless for the final two frames. The Golden Bears are set to take on No. 8 Washington (3-0) next Saturday night.

ARIZONA STATE GETS SHUT OUT IN 29-0 LOSS TO FRESNO STATE

Kenny Dillingham had to have been expecting better when he departed from Oregon at the end of last season. His Sun Devils (1-2) team has looked pretty bad all year, with Saturday’s loss to the Bulldogs (3-0) the worst of it. Three ASU quarterbacks combined for just 188 passing yards and five interceptions. ASU needs to regroup quickly; No. 5 USC (3-0) is next on the schedule.

STANFORD SUFFERS 23-30 HOME LOSS TO SACRAMENTO STATE

Stanford (1-2) may have cemented itself as the worst team in the conference. The Cardinal had only 387 total yards against a much lesser-skilled Hornet (3-0) team. This may forebode a long and painful season for Stanford fans as the schedule only gets harder from here. Arizona (2-1) is next on the docket for the Cardinal.

EACH TEAM WILL PLAY A CONFERENCE GAME THIS WEEK, BUT HOW DID THEY ALL FARE IN WEEK 3?

Ducks Seven McGee (7) hands the ball off to a referee after making a play. Oregon Ducks take on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 22, 2022. (Ali Watson/Emerald)

OREGON SAW A COMFORTABLE 55-10 WIN OVER HAWAII THIS WEEK. BUT NOT ALL FOOTBALL GAMES ARE CREATED EQUAL.

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THE BIGGEST SURPRISES OF THE 2023 SEASON

BY JOE MOORE • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

The Pac-12 has had its fair share of surprises in the first three weeks

The Ducks are about to play their first inconference game against a very strong Colorado team, which will enter the matchup 3-0 after winning just one game the season before.

The matchup with Colorado will be the first time that both programs will be ranked in the AP Top 25 heading into the game, besides the Fiesta Bowl matchup in 2002. With the upcoming game looking like a marquee matchup so soon after Oregon’s huge 49-10 win in 2022, here are some other surprises from the Ducks and the rest of the Pac-12 this season.

UNDEFEATED WEEK 1

The Pac-12 was undefeated after Week 1, going 13-0 thanks to a USC win in Week 0. The undefeated streak continued into Week 2 before ending after an overtime loss for the Arizona Wildcats. The unbelievable start marked the first time the Pac-12 was undefeated after Week 1 since 1932, and the first time any conference accomplished the feat since 2006.

The Pac-12 is in the midst of what will be the last season of the conference in its current iteration, but Pac-12 teams are refusing to let the conference go out with a whimper. Going into Week 3 there were eight ranked teams from the Pac-12, the most the conference has ever had in an AP Poll.

The Pac-12 is looking like the best conference in college football this season, and the wins just keep coming. All eight of the ranked teams were able to come away with a win in Week 3 which kept all

eight teams in the AP Poll for after Week 3.

NEW LOOK FOR THE OFFENSIVE LINE

The Ducks’ offensive line suffered massive losses to what was one of the best units in the country after last season. Oregon allowed quarterback Bo Nix to be sacked only five times the whole season. However, that offensive line lost four starters heading into this season. A big question before this season started was how the new front line would look.

So far, the Ducks look strong protecting the pocket. Through three weeks, Oregon has allowed just one sack. In addition to the protection of Nix, the O-line has excelled in creating opportunities in the run game. The Ducks have averaged 229.3 rushing yards per game over their first three contests, making them No. 17 in the FBS.

With Oregon beginning the harder part of their schedule as they head into conference play, the O-line will be tested more and more as the weeks go on. Their play will be something to monitor to see if they will continue to play at an elite level, or if their early-season excellence will come back down to earth.

ELITE OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE

The Ducks’ offense has been scoring at an absurd rate through the early weeks of the season. Oregon is second in the FBS in scoring, with 58.0 points per game, and fourth in offensive yards per game with 579.7.

Nix has picked up where he left off after a very strong first season with the Ducks in 2022. The Auburn transfer has 893 passing yards for eight touchdowns so far with a 77.6 completion percentage. The Ducks’ bolstered receiving core has been led by a familiar face, as Troy Franklin has 17 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

Going into a matchup with their first ranked opponent of the season, the Oregon offense will look to continue playing at the elite level that it’s been at.

COLORADO’S TURNAROUND

The aforementioned Buffaloes have seen a massive turnaround with the injection of new head coach Deion Sanders and over 50 new players added in the transfer portal. However, even with the overhaul, a 3-0 start for Colorado did not seem like something that was in the cards for them.

Colorado is one of the two currently ranked Pac-12 teams to not make an appearance in the AP Poll last season, joined by Washington State. However, the Cougars were competitive last year, playing tough games against many of the conference’s best teams. The Buffaloes went just 1-11, serving as an easy game for most teams they matched up against.

The upwards trajectory of Colorado’s program seems poised to continue with the recruiting efforts that Sanders is making during his first season. Colorado’s surprise start to the year might set a trend of a more competitive program as they move to the Big-12.

< Players gather in the endzone to pray before the game. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)

The University of Oregon Ducks > football team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

ATHLETES WORK TO INTERCEPT FAME, FANS

On social media, college athletes and teams are learning how to play ball

BY OWEN MURRAY • DESIGNED BY PAYTON LIEBELT

In the modern age of college athletics, players, teams and fans rely more than ever on social media to promote their profiles and express their support. Gameday graphics have entire teams behind them, high school highlights go viral daily and players can now profit from their own likenesses to the tune of millions of dollars.

The meteoric rise of social media has evolved in the past five years in its value to professionals, but it’s important to discuss how that crescendo in prominence affects its users, especially in sports. The availability of otherwise inaccessible public figures can be exciting, but also dangerous. As many have found, striking a balance between being present and being kept at arm’s length can be a new key to success.

A DELICATE BALANCING ACT

It all starts with the athletes. Spring is filled with high school seniors sat before a collection of hats — videos of this will often go viral as the sports world strives to engage with the upcoming season as soon as it can — and college athletes find themselves responsible for taking advantage of the opportunity to self-promote. Social media provides that chance to form a tenable link between the athlete and their goals, whether that be a scholarship, growth in fans or brand deals.

A landmark NCAA decision in June 2021 kicked this into overdrive, as compensation for a college athlete’s NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) became legal. Players were now free to associate themselves with brands, profit from jersey sales, and create their own businesses based on their career.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who tallies roughly 200,000 followers between Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, decorates his timeline with a mixture of personal and professional posts. Nix earns $1.4 million per year from NIL deals, ranking 10th in the nation according to On3 Sports. He often features posts from brand partners like Bose and Topps in between collections of his typical game photos.

However, Nix also connects with

fans through a variety of engaging content. Anniversary posts and vacation highlights break up what otherwise could appear as a deluge of advertisements. His comments section is often filled with supporters pleading for another year, or wishing the Pinson, Ala. native luck.

SUFFERING UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

This engagement is not always organic; professional and amateur athletes alike will hire teams of social media specialists who work to curate exactly that type of reaction from a follower base like Nix’s. They’ll look to organize content that keeps the athlete in a positive light, even in negative moments.

In the midst of a difficult, injuryladen spell at Auburn, Nix largely found support from his online fanbase where many players might face criticism and harsh words. An eventual transfer to Oregon was met with hopeful responses that would eventually come to fruition, with the quarterback committing to play his final year of eligibility out in the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, Auburn fans were met with the opposite emotion; Nix’s connection to the Jordan-Hare faithful had developed over his three years in a starting slot with the Tigers, in large part online. While many wished him well, others expressed frustration in his decision. This is not uncommon for athletes to face in an age where transferring has become so normalized.

The negative connotation that comes with online comments is what often keeps players from forming that connection with their school and fanbase, and the mental health impact of social media’s openness on players can be intense. Many top athletes, including former Oregon basketball player Sedona Prince, have spoken at length about their adverse experiences on social media.

Prince, with a TikTok following of 2.7 million, faced criticism after revealing the difference between men’s and women’s locker rooms at the NCAA basketball tournament in 2021. She eventually was forced to take a break from the platform as a result of negative comments.

Bo Nix (10) looks downfield to throw on the run. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

BRINGING FANS TOGETHER

The players are only one part of the equation. Teams throughout college and professional sports rely on social media to promote games, make announcements and give fans an inside look in a world where radio shows and newspapers no longer have the advantage of preference. In Eugene, the @OregonFootball Instagram account posts a gameday graphic and publicizes their uniform combination to its nearly 600k followers. It also highlights professional Ducks like the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert throughout the year, alongside current players in competition for awards.

Those moments are just as necessary to the team’s desire to connect with their fanbase as players signing autographs and high-fiving young fans are — and that’s why the market for social media specialists and consultants has grown alongside teams being online. A communications degree became something more with the new knowledge that students gained, and journalism developed into more than just words on paper.

Given the time to develop, teams’ social media presences have become exponentially pronounced over the past decade. They’ve taken the step from additional to now being in the spotlight, and those posts have become an integral part of the gameday experience.

That impact lands most prominently amongst those in the stands; social media is equally important on both sides of the sideline. College sports draw on fans’ devotion to the school, an emotion that previously had to sustain students’ interest by itself past their time on campus. Now with social media, it’s easier than ever to feel a connection to the team from anywhere on Earth. A quick scroll through X on a Saturday afternoon will reveal an endless stream of fans weighing in together, turning the world into a huge stadium. That’s the best side of social media: its ability to bring fans closer. With that comes responsibility and the necessity to understand how accessible those thoughts are. The onus to “keep it healthy” can’t just be on the athletes; it has to spread throughout the stadium, campus and world. Just as social media brings the universe of sports together, the hope is that platforms might shape it into something that wouldn’t be otherwise possible.

That coming together of programs, players and fans has cascaded into a new age of college athletics: one laden with possibility and devotion. Once near-mythical figures could be just a comment away, prospects can become stars and teams can inject energy into those who previously relied on memories of the past and vestiges of their time at school to sustain a lifetime of fandom. It’s an opportunity to expand the world of collegiate athletics through an ever-changing platform that gives life and passion to everyone caught in its web. Put quite simply, it’s unprecedented.

It’s new, exciting and unpredictable, but that’s college football.

Adding to Oregon’s penalty troubles, newly transferred defensive back, Tysheem Johnson (0), commits a costly pass interference against a Red Raider receiver. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

BY

OREGON LOOKS TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED AS IT HOSTS COLORADO

Oregon kicks off Pac-12 play Saturday afternoon, hosting the Buffaloes in a battle of undefeated squads

The undefeated, new-look Colorado Buffaloes face off with Oregon Saturday afternoon at Autzen Stadium. Colorado, which comes to Eugene ranked No. 19 nationally, looks to be No. 10 Oregon’s toughest opponent thus far.

What a difference a year makes for Colorado. The Buffaloes, who lost 11 games by an average margin of 29.1 points last year, are coming into Saturday’s matchup 3-0.

Led by first-year head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado has taken college football by storm. The Buffaloes, who returned just 10 players from their 1-11 squad a season ago, have built their 2023 roster through the transfer portal. Players have flocked to Boulder to come play for Sanders.

Colorado’s offense is led by Deion’s son, Shedeur Sanders. Through Week 3, Sanders ranks second in FBS in passing yards and has thrown for 10 touchdowns to just one interception.

The Buffaloes narrowly evaded an upset last week against in-state rival Colorado State. In a game in which they trailed by 9 points in the fourth quarter, Sanders was able to orchestrate a last minute drive followed by a two point conversion to force overtime. After he found tight end Michael Harrison in the end zone, the Buffaloes defense was able to hold off Colorado State in double overtime.

Sanders and the Buffaloes’ offense struggled at times, especially with the absence of dynamic two-way star Travis Hunter. Hunter left the game late in the first quarter and did not return. In his post game press conference, head coach Sanders said that Hunter would “be out for a few weeks.”

In Hunter’s absence, Sanders will likely look to true freshman Dylan Edwards. Edwards has proven to be a threat early this season, exploiting defenses on the ground and in the passing game. In Week 1 against TCU,

Edwards caught three passing touchdowns while adding another rushing. The Buffaloes’ defense has struggled to stop the run thus far in 2023. Colorado has been torched on the ground, allowing 262 and 222 rushing yards in weeks one and two. Oregon’s rushing attack led by Jordan James, Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington has averaged over 215 yards per game. Through the first three weeks of 2023, the Buffaloes have forced 10 total turnovers which ties them for first in all of the FBS. Oregon’s offense, on the other hand, has specialized in keeping the ball safe. The Ducks have yet to turn the ball over this season, one of just two teams to do so.

“We talk about [turnovers] every day. That’s our main goal,” Oregon quarterback Bo Nix said. “The number one way to play clean is to not turn the ball over and not give them easy possessions.”

Oregon has dominated against lesser teams to start the season, winning games against the University of Hawaii and Portland State University by 74 and 45 points respectively.

On the road against Texas Tech, however, Oregon struggled with discipline issues. The Ducks were penalized 14 times in Week 2 for 124 yards. Oregon, relying on stellar play by quarterback Bo Nix and a clutch pick-six by Jeffrey Bassa, escaped Lubbock with a victory.

The Ducks’ penalty issues plagued them yet again in Week 3. Despite rolling over the University of Hawaii 55-10, the Ducks were penalized nine times for 76 yards. Against Hawaii, the Ducks played a near-perfect game totaling 560 yards of total offense — Hawai’i finished the game with just 201.

Oregon’s offense, which ranks second nationally in total scoring, will look to continue its dominance against Colorado. In a battle of unbeaten squads, the Ducks and Buffaloes face off at 12:30 p.m. PST at Autzen Stadium.

JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

Luke Basso (57) prepares to snap the ball to Anthony Brown. The University of Oregon Ducks defeated the University of Colorado Buffaloes 52-29 at Autzen Stadium on October 30, 2021. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

Ducks inside linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia (41) and inside linebacker Travis Dye (35) tackle a Buffalo for the ball. Oregon Ducks football takes on the Colorado Buffaloes at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct. 11, 2019. (Kimberly Harri/Emerald)

BROTHERLY CONNECTION BOOSTS DUCKS’

OFFENSE IN 55-10 WIN OVER HAWAII

Bo Nix repeatedly called the number of his adopted brother, Tez Johnson, on Saturday

BY BRADY RUTH • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

On an evening where everything seemed to be clicking for Oregon’s offense, quarterback Bo Nix spread the love — and the stats. Ten different Ducks had a reception — eight of them had multiple — during the 55-10 routing of Hawaii (1-3) that saw the Oregon (3-0) offense collect 560 yards and seven touchdowns.

Nix’s night was cut short when Ty Thompson took over as quarterback early in the third quarter. But, when Nix was in the game — and shining as bright as the Autzen lights — his favorite target was a new face for Oregon fans, but a familiar one for the Nix family.

Tez Johnson had his best game to date as a new member for the Ducks. In his third game, the wide receiver transfer from Troy snared 77 passing yards and two touchdowns as well as 48 yards returning punts.

“We don’t really care about stats and all that,” Johnson said. “We just try to win the game.”

Be that as it may, he put up some of the best stats of his career, and was a large offensive piece in the onslaught that Saturday became.

Johnson grew up an Oregon fan and although both his and Nix’s collegiate careers started in Alabama — Nix at Auburn and Johnson at Troy — both found their way to a Lanning-led team and a connection that was intricate in the Ducks’ third win of the season.

Johnson was adopted by the Nix family when he was 15 years old. Growing up with a Heisman-contending caliber brother seems to have had its benefits.

His first touchdown of the day — a 49-yard beauty from Nix — served as the opening score to Saturday’s game and electrified Autzen Stadium on a night with plenty to cheer about. Johnson caught Nix’s pass in stride as he crossed the goal line

on Oregon’s second play of the two-play scoring drive.

“It felt great,” Johnson said. “It was electric. Everything I dreamed of and [there’s] many more to come.”

The route wasn’t anything overly special. A simple stop and go move from Johnson left two Hawaii defenders two steps behind a man you can’t afford to let past you.

The second score from Nix to Johnson came courtesy of a 12-yard touchdown strike early in the third quarter. Nix was pulled to avoid any unnecessary injury or damage, but it’s not unreasonable to think the two could have teamed up for another score had Nix played a full 60 minutes.

“[Johnson] just provides something different,” Nix said. “We really have a lot of big, explosive play-makers at receiver. Tez does a really good job feeding off those other guys and those other guys do a really good job feeding off of him.”

Johnson also had a score in Week 2 against Texas Tech. A heartwarming video of Nix hugging his brother cheering, “He scored!” found its way into several highlight packages from Oregon’s Week 2 win.

In Week 3, the vibes on the Ducks’ sideline were even better as Johnson recorded his first multi-touchdown game in his college career.

“That was crazy,” Johnson said. “Every time you get to score, it’s awesome in front of all those fans. I love it.”

Clearly, Johnson’s score against the Red Raiders was no fluke performance as he caused trouble for the Rainbow Warriors’ defense all night long on Saturday.

“I think he’s had some really great performances that have shown up more in practice,” head coach Dan Lanning said. “I am really pleased with Tez. I am really pleased with all those wideouts. There are some guys in there who are certainly making us better, but I want to make sure that we continue to grow.”

Johnson appears to have established himself as one of the top receivers in Will Stein’s new offensive scheme. He, Nix and the rest of the Ducks’ offense have their biggest tests still ahead with Pac-12 conference play kicking off league wide next week. No. 19 Colorado, No. 8 Washington, No. 21 Washington State, No. 11 Utah, No. 5 USC and No. 14 Oregon State all await Oregon as it approaches the gauntlet of its season.

Johnson had nine total touchdowns in his three seasons at Troy. With Nix as his quarterback, he already has three in 2023. The Nix-Johnson connection needs to be dialed in all season long. Fortunately, the brothers already seem to be on the same page, one they finally get to write together.

We really have a lot of big, explosive playmakers at receiver. Tez does a really good job feeding off those other guys and those other guys do a really good job of feeding off of him.”

BO

NIX University of Oregon quarterback said.

Bo Nix (10) celebrates a play with Tez Johnson (15). The Oregon Ducks battled in a close fight to ultimately beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders in their home opener at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on Sept. 9, 2023. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

Tez Johnson catches a pass thrown by quarterback Bo Nix. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Portland State University Vikings in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 2, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

WORD JUMBLE CROSSWORD

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

ZUAEG

NOOLGB

KRHEI

FLINUS

David L. Hoyt & Jeff Knurek

Jumbles - GAUZE, HIKER, OBLONG, SINFUL CARTOON CAPTION - HILL-ARIOUS

THREE WEEKS DUCKS SOAR THROUGH THEIR FIRST THREE WEEKS

Bo Nix and the Ducks have jumped out with a white-hot 3-0 start to their season as they prepare for conference play, and as they prepare to face fellow Pac-12 part of the schedule, there is a lot to look forward to

BY JACK LAZARUS • DESIGNED BY PAYTON LIEBELT

Oregon has had a lot of success in their first three weeks of nonconference play, scoring more than 35 points in each of the three games they have played so far. Both sides of the ball have seen a lot of positive production, with standouts such as Bo Nix and Khyree Jackson showing playoff-level potential.

Quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate Nix has had a phenomenal start to the season and hasn’t missed a beat. The fifth-year senior has thrown for 893 yards and eight touchdowns, completing almost 78% of his passes without an interception. This is a better showing than his first three games with the Ducks last year, so a lot more will be expected of Nix as Oregon moves into their Pac-12 portion of the schedule.

The receiving core has been led by veterans Troy Franklin and Gary Bryant Jr., who have both had explosive, 100-yard games where they have shown the talent to compete with some of the nation’s best route runners. Along with the two standouts, the Ducks have some real athleticism and speed in newer guys like Traeshon Holden and Tez Johnson, rounding out a very balanced receiving core. This group is definitely among the finest in the country, and along with an elite quarterback throwing them the ball, they are destined for even bigger things during the rest of the season.

One of the offense’s most reliable groups is the linemen. Oregon has a great group of experienced and athletic linemen that have built on last year’s high standard by only allowing one sack through the first three games. A lot of what worked with the lineman was putting them in position to make quick plays and catch the defense on their heels.

Quick throws and fast developing runs have been very successful, playing to the strengths of the Ducks’ linemen. These plays have allowed them to provide Nix with the perfect amount of time and space in the pocket while also creating perfect holes for guys like Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington to attack.

The run game had both ups and downs over the course of the preseason, but has been majorly successful in setting up a lot of the

rest of the offense. While sometimes keeping to the ground works negatively, it often will set up a deep throw or a long run to the outside because of the defense expecting a run in all different scenarios.

One thing that the offense could incorporate for Pac-12 play is to use Nix’s speed and athleticism in more designed runs. While the Run-pass option offense allows him to make the decision to pull the ball and run, the hole to run through is often too small by the time that decision is made. Running-designed plays for Nix will keep the defense on their heels even more while also utilizing a tremendous asset that has gone slightly under the radar in nonconference play.

Every player on this defense has continued to improve each week this season. Stars like Brandon Dorlus and Jeffrey Bassa have continued right where they left off from last season and have led some impressive performances against Portland State, Hawaii and down the stretch against Texas Tech.

Alabama transfer Khyree Jackson has proven to be a lockdown defender in the secondary and has provided this defense with needed experience in the backfield, grabbing two interceptions so far this season. Ole Miss transfer Tysheem Johnson also stands out in the secondary, leading the team in tackles with 20 while coordinating perfectly with Jackson to lock down receivers.

With an athletic and experienced group and a great mix of transfer portal and homegrown talent, the Ducks carry a very exciting and successful group into their Pac-12 schedule. While the rest of the Pac12 has looked super strong over the first three weeks, Oregon’s defense has what it takes to stack up against some of the nation’s best players such as Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr. and Shedeur Sanders.

Gary Bryant Jr. > runs by a defender.

(Eric Becker/ Emerald)

< The Oregon football team prays at their respective end zone as they look to return to Oregon with another victory. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)

Kenyon Sadiq > avoids the tackle.

(Eric Becker/ Emerald)

< Mase Funa (right) and Brandon Dorlus (left) stretch before practice. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

Oregon has a great group of experienced and athletic linemen that have built on last year’s high standard by only allowing one sack through the first three games.”

PHOTO STORY: LOOKING BACK AT HAWAII

PHOTOS BY ERIC BECKER • DESIGNED BY LIZ BLODGETT

The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in a home match at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)