UC - Davis @ Oregon preview
Autzen Stadium
Another year, another former FCS quarterback from the Big Sky Conference at the controls of the high-powered Oregon offense. Montana State graduate transfer Dakota Prukop makes his debut Saturday for the 22nd-ranked Ducks as they kick off the season by hosting the Big Sky’s UC Davis at Autzen Stadium.
Last season, Oregon was piloted by Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams, and now it’s Prukop’s turn after rolling up 3,822 yards of total offense and 39 touchdowns (28 passing) a season ago at Montana State. And Job No. 1 for the Ducks might be keeping their new QB healthy as Adams missed three games last season, and Oregon struggled as a result, finishing 9-4 and hitting a six-year low with 43 points per game. New offensive coordinator Matt Lubick, though, says Prukop will have plenty of help. “All our quarterback has to do – because we’ve got some good playmakers around him – is make good decisions and be a good leader,” Lubick told the (Salem, Ore.) Statesman Journal. “He doesn’t have to win the football game for us.”
TV: 5 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None
ABOUT UC DAVIS (2015: 2-9): The Aggies are an experienced bunch with 48 returning letterwinners, including 22 starters (10 offense, eight defense and four specialists). Coach Ron Gould has yet to announce the opening-day starting quarterback and will be choosing from two players – senior Ben Scott and sophomore C.J. Spencer – both of whom have started multiple games and played in at least seven contests last season. Defensively, UC Davis’ strength lies with safeties Darryl Graham and Keleen Culberson – the latter who missed all but two games due to injury last season
ABOUT OREGON (2015: 9-4): While Lubick is taking over the offense, the Ducks also have a new defensive coordinator in former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke, who is bringing a 4-3 scheme to Eugene. Hoke will only have four returning starters to work with from a unit which surrendered a Pac-12-most 37.5 points per game last season, but one of them is safety Tyree Robinson, who averaged 4.9 tackles per outing and paced the team with three interceptions. On the other side of the ball, expect to see plenty of junior tailback Royce Freeman who set the Ducks’ single-season record with 1,836 rushing yards a year ago.
EXTRA POINTS
1. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
2. Freeman has gained at least 1,365 yards in each of the last two campaigns, extending Oregon’s FBS-best streak of consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher to nine.
3. Gould is a 1988 Oregon graduate who played defensive back and later served as graduate assistant coach for the Ducks.
PREDICTION: Oregon 66, UC Davis 24