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The referee makes a ruling on the play. Oregon Ducks
takes on the Oregon State University Beavers for the Civil War at Reser Stadium in Corvallis,
on Nov. 23,
The Duck joins Oregon cheerleaders as they sing and dance to Oregon’s third quarter tradition, “shout.” The University of Oregon Ducks hosted and defeated the Oregon State Beavers 38-29, claiming the Pac-12 North champions title. (Emerald/ Ian Enger)
TROY FRANKLIN
CHASE COTA
KRIS HUTSON T.J. BASS
MARCUS HARPER II ALEX FORSYTH RYAN WALK
MALAESAL AUMAVAE-LAULU
TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX
BUCKY IRVING ISAAH CROCKER DOONT’E THORNTON SEVEN MCGEE
JOSH CONERLY JR DAVE LULI
KANEN ROSSI JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON
No. 11 No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
WR WR LT LG OC RG RT
QB RB WR WR WR LT LG OC RG
PLAYER # POS YEAR
BRANDON DORLUS
JORDAN RILEY CASEY ROGERS DJ JOHNSON NOAH SEWELL
JEFFREY BASSA TRIKWEZE BRDIGES
JAMAL HILL STEVE STEPHENS IV CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ BENNETT WILLIAMS
TREVEN MA’AE
TAKI TAIMANI KEYON WARE-HUDSON
No. 3 No. 91 No. 98 No. 2 No. 1 No. 33 No. 11 No. 19 No. 7 No. 00 No. 48 No. 55 No. 95 No. 18
NT DT EDGE MLB WLB CB S S CB DE NT DT EDGE
JR RS SR/TR RS JR/TR RS SR/TR SO SO RS SO JR RS JR SO/TR SR/TR
SO RS JR/TR
SO
DAWSON JARAMILLO CAM MCORMICK JAY BUTTERFIELD NOAH WHITTINGTON KYLER KASPER CALEB CHAPMAN JOSH DELGADO MICHAEL WOOTEN KAWIKA ROGERS FAAOPE LALOULU BAILEY JARAMILLO MOLIKI MATAVAO TY THOMPSON SEAN DOLLARS CHARLIE PICKARD PATRICK HERBERT JORDAN JAMES
FUNA JACKSON LADUKE JUSTIN FLOWE DONTAE MANNING DAYMON DAVID BRYAN ADDISON JAHLIL FLORENCE JJ GREENFIELD JAKE SHIPLEY BRADYN SWINSON KEITH BROWN DARREN BARKINS KHAMARI TERRELL
No.
No.
No. 22 No. 17 No. 19 No. 83 No. 77 No. 73 No. 75 No. 69 No. 8 No. 13 No. 5 No. 65 No. 88 No. 20
No. 18 No. 42 No. 10 No. 8 No. 12 No. 13 No. 6 No. 24 No. 90 No. 44 No. 21 No. 22 No. 14
MLB
PLAYER # POS YEAR
ROSS JAMES CAMDEN LEWIS
ANDREW BOYLE KARSTEN BATTLES
ADAM BARRY
No. 92 No. 49 No. 98 No. 45 No. 93
PK/KO KO LS H/PT
SO/TR JR RS JR/TR SR SR/TR
KRIS HUTSON SEVEN MCGEE ALEX BALES LUKE BASSO CHASE COTA
1 No. 7 No. 91 No. 57 No. 23
JAKE BOBO
KAM BROWN KAZMEIR ALLEN
RAIQWON O’NEAL
ATONIO MAFI
DUKEE CLEMENS
JON GAINES II
GARRETT DIGIORGIO MICHAEL EZEIKE
DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON
ZACH CHARBONNET
No. 9 No. 00 No. 19 No. 71 No. 56 No. 62 No. 57 No. 72 No. 86 No, 1 No. 24
WR-X WR-Z WR-SL LT LG OC RG RT TE QB RB
GABRIEL MURPHY JACOB SYKES
JAY TOIA BO CALVERT JONJON VAUGHNS DARIUS MUASAU KAIN MEDRANO JOHN HUMPHREY STEPHAN BLAYLOCK MO OSLING III DEVIN KIRKWOOD
No. 11 No. 99 No. 93 No. 33 No. 21 No. 53 No. 20 No. 6 No. 4 No. 7 No. 3
EDGE DT DT EDGE LB LB LB CB S S CB
RS JR/TR GR/TR RS FR SO JR SR/TR RS JR JR SR RS SR RS FR
MATT SYKES
TITUS MOKIAO-ATIMALALA LOGAN LOYA SAM MARRAZZO
BENJAMIN ROY JR JOSH CARLIN
SIALE TAUPAKI
HUDSON HABERMEHL ETHAN GARBERS KEEGAN JONES
No. 12 No. 2 No. 17 No. 64 No. 52 No. 54 No. 59 No. 81 No. 4 No. 22
WR-X WR-Z WR-SL LG OC RG RT TE QB RB
JR SO/TR JR RS SR RS FR RS JR RS JR RS JR RS SO/TR RS JR
GR/TR RS JR/TR RS SR RS SR/TR SR SR RS SR RS FR SR SR SR/TR No. 12 No. 95 No. 58 No. 35 No. 9 No. 49 No. 47 No. 22 No. 32 No. 23 No. 24
PLAYER # POS YEAR
GRAYSON MURPHY SITIVENI HAVILI-KAUFUSI GARY SMITH III CARL JONES JR CHLOE BRYANT-STROTHER CARSON SCHWESINGER SHEA PITTS AZIZI HEARN WILLIAM NIMMO JR KENNY CHURCHWELL III JAYLIN DAVIES
EDGE DT DT EDGE LB LB LB CB S S CB
RS JR/TR RS JR JR/TR SR RS SO RS FR RS SR GR/TR RS JR RS SR SO/TR
PLAYER # POS YEAR
NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA R.J. LOPEZ JACK LANDHERR IV SEAN HOLLAND LOGAN LOYA KAZMEIR ALLEN
No. 2 No. 93 No. 51 No. 23 No. 17 No. 19
PT/PK/KO KO/PK LS H PR KR
RS JR JR SR RS SR/TR JR RS SR
CHASE BARRY BEAU GARDNER CHASE ARTOPOEUS JAKE BOBO KEEGAN JONES
No. 45 No. 60 No. 3 No. 9 No. 22
PT LS H PR KR
FR RS SO RS JR GR/TR RS JR
When it comes to uniforms, Oregon football is known for having some of the best in the game. Every jersey is unique, and the flashy designs tell a story. When the athletes step on the field, they are displaying pride in representing Oregon. The next uniforms the team will wear hold a special place in the heart of the community.
For Saturday’s game against UCLA, the Ducks will wear a new version of their uniforms supporting breast cancer awareness. The design will feature black jerseys with pink numerals and a black helmet with pink wings. The material is designed around toughness, representing the resiliency of breast cancer survivors.
The program’s dedication to an important cause does not go unnoticed by Oregon students. Oregon undergraduate James Townsend thinks the team using their reputation to support a certain cause “is huge.”
“Not a lot of schools have special uniforms,” Townsend said. “I think definitely our association with Nike helps out with it, but it’s really cool they’re able to make a whole uniform for a specific issue like that.”
For other students, the significance of the uniforms is more personal. Senior Kendyl Beam said, “My family has personally been affected by cancer, and I grew up around Oregon football, so it’s really special for me to see my team support such an important and close-to-home cause.”
The team first wore an iteration of the uniforms in 2013. The team’s pink helmets were auctioned off to help raise more than $200,000 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Ducks donned another pink design in 2014. Saturday will be
the first game in eight years that the program will use its uniforms to promote awareness of breast cancer.
Members of the current team expressed their excitement to see the uniforms make their return. Like Beam, the uniform’s message has a personal meaning to some of the team. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning discussed what it means to him.
“This one kind of has a special place for me from a cancer standpoint just because my wife’s a cancer survivor,” Lanning said. “I think it’s really always special when you have a stage and you can do it for a special cause.”
Saturday’s game has huge implications. Oregon and UCLA are both in the running to reach the Pac-12 championship game. In the AP Poll, Oregon sits at No. 10 and UCLA at No. 9. The national exposure will provide an opportunity for the uniform’s message to reach a wider audience.
Oregon student Connor Stagner sees the game as an opportunity for the community to show support. “Bringing all the stuff to the Duck Store to have all the students involved too, like all the pink shirts. I’m sure everyone is going to be decked out in pink just to show everyone here cares,” Stagner said. “It’s going to be awesome to see.”
The impact of the uniforms will go beyond the final whistle. Oregon is partnering with Fanatics to auction off 20 helmets from the game. Proceeds from the sales will support breast cancer research at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. The auction is now open and will close at 9 a.m. on Oct. 24.
Our experiences as football fans are being deteriorated by penalties.
Fouls and undisciplined play have undoubtedly played a major role in the Ducks’ season so far. Ranking the top 20 in penalty yards per game, Oregon’s sloppy play has been just as big a factor as any opponent on the schedule. However, some of these calls – like a questionable targeting call on DJ Johnson against Washington State – have brought outrage to Duck fans.
They aren’t alone. Nationwide, a complaint of soft and weak officiating calls and decisions demonstrate the path football is on: a path to a two-hand touch league.
Over recent years, it seems, football is becoming softer. New regulations for penalties and the criteria for calling them appear to be creating a game with major officiating influence.
College football and the NFL alike have been attempting to progress in their efforts to increase player safety and reduce long-lasting injury. I’m not fully convinced these new systems are sturdy.
Let’s start with targeting. It’s a rule to stop players from “targeting” opposing
A few rule modifications could bring back the more physical game that fans long to see return.Oregon tight end DJ Johnson (12) chases after an Arizona player, who has possession of the ball. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)
players head or necks during tackles. It’s a rule that has certainly impacted Ore gon’s penalty-littered season in 2022. At least three players have been called for forcible contact to the head or neck and have suffered shortened games because of it. Dontae Manning, Bryce Boettcher and DJ Johnson all have been ejected from contests this year.
The rule isn’t what bothers me. Players should absolutely be protected from what used to be known as spearing. What bugs me, and I believe many football fans agree, is the frequency and the punishment.
Replay is used in these games to confirm targeting calls, and that’s great. But it should also be used to watch for intent.
How many examples have we seen where an offensive player is about to be tackled by a defending player going after their knees, when suddenly the offen sive player lowers a head or shoulder and gets hit in the head. You’re telling me a cornerback trying to make a routine tackle on a guy who’s also going low should be removed and suspended?
Something doesn’t sit well with that.
I propose a rule change. Officials should be able to look at targeting calls and review them for intent. If an unlucky series of events leads to players colliding, a penalty, but no suspension should be enforced. As it stands now in college, players miss an extra half of a football game for a targeting call. In these clear-cut cases where no intent to harm is found, a suspension shouldn’t be necessary.
Now, I understand this would be a judgment call, and it would be in the hands of officiating crews. Because of this, if intent can’t be determined, the suspensions can be upheld. However, on these instances where players collide as both players go low, I don’t feel that warrants a suspension.
College football commentator Joel Klatt said, “I just hate the ejection. This is a problem with this rule... At some point you have to measure intent.”
Joel, I completely agree.
There is no targeting ejection rule in the NFL, and I believe college football should implement this immediately. I’ll leave it at that.
The Autzen Stadium crowd groaned a lot in 2017. Not for interceptions. Not because of opposing touchdowns. And no, not because “Shout” was cut off early. It was the sight of another penalty flag against the Oregon Ducks. Oregon finished the year with 122 penalties, averaging 9.38 per game. (Sarah Northrop/ Emerald)
The topic of the NFL provides an opportunity to talk about another penalty that’s made headlines lately: roughing the passer.
The last month of NFL football has seen some questionable roughing the passer calls. In response to the calls, NFL fans have let the officials hear it. Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones was called for roughing the passer while making more contact with the football than the Raiders’ Derek Carr. The league also cer tainly seemed to favor Tom Brady with a favorable call in a close game against the Falcons.
When asked about it, Brady simply said “I don’t throw the flags.” Of course he doesn’t, but NFL quarterbacks sure benefit from it.
Ram’s defensive tackle said, “Hopefully we can do something to change that so we can, as rushers, be able to just play.”
The logic of this call is absolutely baffling to me. Defensive players can no lon ger land on quarterbacks with their full body weight. They can’t tackle anymore.
I’d like to give a disclaimer. I understand the hit on Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa turned the football world upside down and instilled a lot of fear for player safety and concussion protocol. That isn’t lost on me. What I’m saying is one look at either the Jones sack or the hit on Brady shows some seriously soft officiating and requires some case-by-case evaluating.
Again, use this incredible video-replay system that’s already used dozens of times each week. Make the call, review it, see if defenders are hitting the quarter back’s head or not and adjust the call accordingly. With all the technology leagues have available to them there is no reason to continually let horribly soft calls slip through the cracks.
More reviews and deliberation would lower the number of soft penalties being enforced in football recently, without negating the efforts to keep players safe. I’m all for calling out dangerous hits and plays that could cause injury. But on the ones that won’t, let’s take a closer look before we make weak calls that could have a heavy impact on the game we all love.
The UCLA Bruins lost a key piece to their depth on the offensive line. Earlier this week, head coach Chip Kelly announced that Tyler Manoa would be placing himself in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.
“I want to thank UCLA football and Bruin nation for such an awesome experience over the past five years. Through the good, bad, and ugly of UCLA. Over my time of being at UCLA I’ve built relationships and created memories that I will always remember.”
Manoa Tweeted. “After much thought and consideration I’ve decided I will be using my redshirt year this season and have placed my name in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.”
Coming out of St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California., Manoa was recruited as a defensive tackle and was ranked 26th in the nation at that position according to 247Sports.
He committed to UCLA in 2018 and had been recruited by former head coach Jim Mora.
His first years in Los Angeles were spent on the defensive side where he played 45 games over four seasons in a reserve role. This season he switched sides of the ball to add depth at the left tackle position.
Days after his departure was announced, Manoa chose his next destination.
“Thank you to my Heavenly Father for everything he has planned out for me,” Manoa Tweeted. “Thank you to Coach Jim Mora and @CoachDHilliard for believing in me like they did back in 2018, the original UCLA staff that recruited me.”
Manoa will be reunited at UConn with the staff that made him want to attend UCLA in the first place.
With Manoa’s departure there’s a notable absence in the backup left tackle spot. For now, the only 2nd string tackle is redshirt junior Siale Taupaki. If either starter Garrett DiGiorgi or Raiqwon O’Neal get injured, the Bruins will be in deep trouble.
While depth may be an issue in the future, their starting offensive line isn’t. “(Chip) Kelly and offensive line coach Tim Drevno have gotten the most out of this OL and they are putting on a clinic.” Bruin Report said. “Kelly is not afraid to run the ball first and run it to death but has figured out his OL has a knack for being great pass blockers. We can really see that by the fact that Kelly tries to settle his way into a game with the passing attack. I am excited for this Oregon game, how will this OL handle such a hostile environment.”
The Bruins will travel to Eugene for a highly contested matchup on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 12:30 p.m.
BY KEIJI PATTERSON • TWITTER @PATTERSON_KEIJI
UCLA’s dynamic backfield will face a stout Oregon run defense and their highest ranked opponent of the season.
Oct. 22, the No. 10 Oregon Ducks (5-1, 3-0) defense will be tasked with shutting down the dynamic rushing attack of the No. 9 UCLA Bruins (6-0, 3-0) led by quarterback Dorian ThompsonRobinson and running back Zach Charbonnet. For the sixth time, Autzen Stadium will host a Top 10 matchup. In the previous five, the Ducks are 5-0. This is the first Top 10 matchup where former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is on the opposing sideline.
Kelly has his team riding high off a hot 6-0 start to their 2022 campaign with their win against the reigning Pac-12 champions: the Utah Utes.
In the contest between the Utes and Bruins, UCLA relied on their one-two punch in the backfield (Thompson-Robinson and Charbonnet) to pull off the win.
While Thompson-Robinson is very effective on the ground, he threw for 299 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, proving he doesn’t need to rely on his legs. ThompsonRobinson has averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 42 carries for 231 yards and four touchdowns this year.
Charbonnet ran all over the Utah defense as he rushed for 198 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries. These numbers bring Charbonnet’s season total to 87 carries for 615 yards, six touchdowns and an average of 7.1 yards per carry, which is good for third best in yards per carry and second most rush yards in the Pac-12 .
Guess who’s first and second in the conference in yards per carry? The Ducks’ own one-two punch in senior quarterback Bo Nix and sophomore running back Mar’Keise Irving.
Led by this dynamic duo, Oregon’s rushing offense ranks 10th in the FBS and first in the Pac-12. UCLA’s, on the other hand, is no slouch, as they’re ranked 20th in the country and second in the conference.
That rank may worry Duck fans, but the UCLA backfield has yet to see a defense of this caliber.
Led by Brandon Dorlus and DJ Johnson on the defensive line and Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell on the second level, Oregon’s rush defense is ranked 13th in the FBS and first in the conference.
If the Ducks’ defensive line wants to find success, then they need to contain ThompsonRobinson and Charbonnet in the backfield, especially when
Kelly calls read options and zone run plays.
Charbonnet is a bruising runner who bounces off of tackles, so Oregon will have to rally to the football when he totes the rock.
With designed pressures on blitzes and defenders shooting their proper gaps, look for the Bruins’ running lanes to diminish.
Once those gaps disappear, it will be difficult for UCLA to set up their play action passing game, which is when they take their deep shots downfield.
Assuming UCLA’s rushing offense is stagnant in this contest, Thompson-Robinson will try to take over the game himself. He’s thrown for 15 touchdown passes to just two interceptions, respectively tied for 22nd and 18th in the nation. His quarterback rating of 88.4 is the fifth best in the FBS.
Thompson is a twitchy athlete who can make defenders miss on a dime and leap over you, which isn’t too surprising considering he also played wide receiver at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Thompson-Robinson’s athletic background is indicative of why he plays on a Pac-12 player of the year and Heisman Trophy level. Vegas currently has him listed as the sixth best odds at +2000 to win the prestigious award.
With ESPN’s College Gameday show coming to Eugene for the first time since 2018, expect the Oregon faithful to bring electricity from 6 a.m. until the final whistle blows. Tune into FOX this Saturday at 12:30 p.m as the No. 10 Ducks host the No. 9 Bruins in the battle of the unbeatens in Pac12 play.
The Ducks look to hand the Bruins their first loss of the season in an exciting Autzen atmosphere.
BY EMMA LOGANOregon and UCLA will meet for a highly anticipated top-10 matchup on Saturday, Oct. 22 when ESPN’s College GameDay comes to Eugene. Both teams had a bye week in week 7 but managed to climb up in the week 8 AP Poll after USC took a 43-42 loss to Utah. This is UCLA’s first appearance in the top 10 since 2015.
This will be the first game since 2014 that two top-10 teams will play at Autzen Stadium. Former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly will make his return to Eugene as a visiting coach.
Both teams are undefeated and tied for first place in the Pac-12 standings. The Ducks hold a 22-game win streak at home and are looking to give UCLA its first loss this season.
The game will be decided among the performance of the UCLA offense and Oregon defense. The Bruins’ offense has been putting up strong numbers against their opponents in the past few weeks.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is second in the nation with a 74.8 completion percentage. He also has a career-high 9.3 yards per attempt this season. Against Utah in week 6, Robinson put up 299 yards and completed 18 out of 23 passes. UCLA defeated Utah 42-32.
Running back Zach Charbonnet adds a great complement in the backfield
alongside Thompson-Robinson. He has continually been performing for the UCLA offense in the past few games, with a career-high 198 rush yards against Utah. The senior running back is second in the Pac-12 with 615 rushing yards, so he will give the Oregon defense a tough challenge.
Oregon is coming off a commanding win over Arizona 49-22 on the road in week six, where its offense dominated. In that game it collected 580 total yards and running back Noah Whittington led the offense with 92 rushing yards, highlighted by a 55-yard rushing touchdown.
The Ducks’ offense leads the conference in total yardage with 3,075 total yards and 512.5 yards per game. That’s just ahead of UCLA, which has 3,034 total yards and 505.7 yards per game.
Running back Bucky Irving and quarterback Bo Nix will likely be among the top names contributing to Oregon’s offensive success. Irving is No. 6 in the Pac-12 with 429 rushing yards, and Nix is No. 12 with 331.
Oregon has improved its offense since its season opener against Georgia scoring an average of at least 40 points in every game since. The Oregon running game has improved and Nix has been part of that improvement. Against Arizona, Nix ran for three touchdowns on eight carries.
The game will be this Saturday airing on FOX at 12:30 p.m.
The Ducks, Bruins and Sun Devils all had the week off, but the Pac-12 still had an action packed weekend and provided some large upsets and stories.
NO. 20 UTAH (5-2, 3-1 PAC-12) UPSETS NO. 7 USC (6-1, 4-1 PAC-12) 43-42 WITH THRILLING COMEBACK
This will forever be the Cameron Rising game. The Utes absolutely needed this win, and Rising provided. The Utah quarterback had a career night with 415 yards – a career high –two passing touchdowns and three rushing scores. A last-minute touchdown left Utah with a decision to kick and play for overtime… or go for the win and make a statement. Again, Rising scrambled and scored to give the Utes their first lead of the game with under a minute to play. Utah reminded the conference of its offensive firepower and that Rice Eccles Stadium is a road game to avoid. Utah goes on bye this week before a trip to Pullman and a date with the Cougars (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12).
The USC defense let the whole team down. Quarterback Caleb Williams certainly wasn’t to blame as he had five touchdown passes. The defense simply couldn’t stop Rising and the Utah offense. The first loss of Lincoln Riley’s career at USC raises some serious questions about the resilience of a defense in big games. USC also has a bye week before its week nine game at Arizona (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12)
Ben Gulbranson made his second start at quarterback for the Beavers, and the freshman is now 2-0. Oregon State relied heavily on the run on Saturday – 203 yards on 47 carries – but Gulbranson still strung together enough success to snap an eight-game losing streak to the Cougars. Oregon State had less total yardage, but never trailed en route to its second straight win. The Beavers host Colorado (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12) next Saturday night.
Washington State’s run offense has to get better. With just 23 rushing yards in 60 minutes, the Cougar offense was unable to get much of anything going on Saturday. Multiple long drives stalled, and Washington State punted six times as it dropped its third game in the last four weeks. The Cougars have a much-needed bye week as they prepare to host No. 12 Utah (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) in week 9.
An already weird season of college football got even more odd on Saturday with Notre Dame’s third loss of the season. The Cardinal, who took a four-game losing streak into the game, stunned Notre Dame with a solid defensive win. Stanford allowed 301 yards on the day and forced two fumbles. The Fighting Irish offense was unable
Just because Oregon didn’t play doesn’t mean the conference passed on the chance to make headlines.
to find success against one of the worst teams in the Pac-12. Still, having already beaten Stanford, Oregon looks better with every Cardinal victory. Stanford hosts Arizona State (2-4, 1-2 Pac-12) next Saturday.
WASHINGTON (5-2, 2-2 PAC-12) BOUNCES BACK WITH 49-39 WIN OVER ARIZONA (3-4, 1-3 PAC-12)
It’s not unrealistic to say Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is having one of the best seasons by a Pac-12 quarterback in a while. He had a career-high 516 passing yards (also a school record) against the Wildcats and brought his season total to 2,560, which leads the nation. On Saturday, the Washington offense strung together seven scoring drives and 595 yards. The defense struggled again, but it could afford to do so. The Huskies play at California (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) in week 8.
Arizona’s offense honestly looked pretty good in its loss to Washington. Jayden de Laura threw for at least 400 yards for the fourth time this season, and the transfer quarterback also had four touchdown passes. The Wildcats just never found a lead and couldn’t stop the Huskies in their fourth loss of the year. Arizona has now lost six straight to the Huskies. Next week, Arizona hosts a bitter USC (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12) team in need
of a rebound after an off week in week 8.
Maybe Karl Dorrell was the problem in Boulder. The Buffaloes were the lone winless team in FBS, but that changed on Saturday against Cal. It wasn’t pretty, but nobody said it had to be. Two scores in the fourth quarter forced overtime. The Buffaloes scored on a 22-yard touchdown pass, and the defense kept the Bears in check. Next thing you know, the Buffaloes field was flooded by its ecstatic student-body who had been longing to witness a victory. Mike Sanford picks up the win in his coaching debut, and the Buffaloes may take a shred of momentum into next week’s game in Corvallis against Oregon State (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12).
Two missed field goals sunk the Bears in a close game against Colorado. Cal failed to score in the first half and overtime — a hard combination to find success with. The Bears’ offense couldn’t generate points when it mattered, most importantly in overtime with the game on the line. Cal faces the red hot Washington (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) offense at home next weekend.
