NCAAF Game Preview - Oregon at Stanford
Sat Sep 21, 2019 7:00 PM EDT

UNCC
10
Clem
52
F
SMiss
7
Bama
49
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ND
17
UGA
23
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LSU
66
Vand
38
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MiaOH
5
OSU
76
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Aub
28
TxAM
20
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Tenn
3
Fla
34
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Utah
23
USC
30
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14
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35
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OkSt
30
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36
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UCF
34
Pitt
35
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Oreg
21
Stan
6
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67
WaSt
63
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AF
19
Boise
30
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OD
17
UVA
28
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Wash
45
BYU
19
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Cal
28
Miss
20
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Colo
34
AzSt
31
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SMU
41
TCU
38
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Hou
31
Tul
38
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FLInt
31
LT
43
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MSU
31
NW
10
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ULMon
20
IASt
72
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Elon
7
Wake
49
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WestMI
33
Syr
52
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BC
30
Rut
16
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UConn
3
Ind
38
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Mor
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Army
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CoCar
62
UMass
28
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ULLaf
45
Ohio
25
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CenCt
29
E Mi
34
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Troy
35
Akr
7
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BGSU
20
Kent
62
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SoAl
3
UAB
35
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Wyo
21
Tuls
24
F
App
34
UNC
31
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Lou
24
FlaSt
35
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Temp
22
Buff
38
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JMU
37
Chat
14
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SCar
14
MIZ
34
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KY
13
MissSt
28
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C Mi
12
MiaFL
17
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NMS
52
NM
55
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WVU
29
Kans
24
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W&M
7
ECU
19
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Hamp
27
Lib
62
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Wagn
7
FlAtl
42
F
GASt
34
TxSt
37
F(2OT)
(N/A)
6
SamHu
45
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SIU
28
ArkSt
41
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N AL
12
JacSt
30
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Bayl
21
Rice
13
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Ball
23
NCSt
34
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UTSA
3
NorTx
45
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SJSU
31
Ark
24
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NEV
37
UTEP
21
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Neb
42
Ill
38
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SacSt
20
Fres
34
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Toled
41
ColSt
35
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UtSt
23
SDSU
17
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C Ark
16
Hawaii
35
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Oregon-Stanford Preview
Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:13 PM

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Stanford coach David Shaw believes he speaks for most of the rest of the Pac-12 coaches when he talks about his lack of excitement over the fact that Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert decided to return to school rather than enter the NFL draft as a probable first-round pick.

Instead of getting to enjoy watching Herbert play on Sundays, Shaw now must contend with him on the field once again when his slumping Cardinal (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12) host the 16th-ranked Ducks (2-1, 0-0) on Saturday.

"I think he got some bad advice to come back to school," Shaw joked. "There are 11 other coaches in the conference who would say it. I love watching the kid play. He has a sweet stroke. We call it a repeatable motion. It's a very smooth throwing motion. He's such a good athlete, moves so well in the pocket, can escape the pocket, throws the deep ball with ease. You can see why he's so highly touted by NFL scouts."

Herbert showed that last year against Stanford when he completed 26 of 33 passes for 346 yards in a 38-31 overtime loss at home. Now he gets to face a defense that has struggled to stop big passing plays the past two weeks in losses to Southern California and Central Florida, who both lack a quarterback as capable as Herbert.

If that happens again, the Cardinal could be looking at their first three-game losing streak since 2008 - three years before Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh.

"They got explosive plays and we didn't," Shaw said of last week's 45-27 loss to Central Florida. "In three games, we've given up 18 plays of 20 or more yards. That's not us. It's missed tackles, missed alignments, letting receivers run free. We've got to play better from the top down on defense."

The Ducks have been outstanding defensively the past two weeks at home against lesser opponents, allowing just nine points against Nevada and Montana and no TDs in the past 27 drives.

Now they have to contend with their first true road game, after losing a neutral site game to Auburn to open the season.

"You have to understand that you've got to pack your toughness, your resiliency, you've got to pack your perseverance, all the stuff that goes with being a tough football team on the road, knowing that when you leave your home and you go do it on the road there's the factors that are outside the football game itself," coach Mario Cristobal said. "They can't matter, they cannot be relevant and it requires a certain type of mindset. With young players or older players, it's always going to be a huge point of emphasis"

Here are some other things to watch:

BAD MEMORIES

The Ducks have lost three straight in the series for the first time since 1995-97, with last year's 38-31 overtime loss at home particularly painful. Oregon led by 17 points at halftime but allowed Stanford to tie the game after C.J. Verdell lost a fumble in the final minute of regulation. Cristobal doesn't believe there will be any hangover for Verdell heading into the rematch.

"I don't think that exists with our guys and the way our guys are built up and the way we train. If there's anything lingering it's nothing but motivation."

BANGED-UP LINE

The Cardinal entered the season with little depth on the offensive line and that has been tested early this season. Star left tackle Walker Little went down with a season-ending knee injury in the opener. Guard Dylan Powell is doubtful this week but right tackle Foster Sarell is probable to return.

ROUGH STARTS

Oregon has lost its last four conference openers, including last year's collapse against the Cardinal. With trips still remaining to No. 22 Washington, No. 24 Arizona State and USC, as well as home games against No. 23 California and No. 19 Washington State, the Ducks can ill afford an early slipup if they want to win the North.

PICKING ON PAULSON

Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo established himself as one of the top cover cornerbacks in the nation last season. But he has been beaten a few times early this season, most notably on a 38-yard TD catch last week by Central Florida's Gabe Davis. Adebo also got beat a couple of times the previous week against USC.

"I don't know if it's called struggling or just playing against really good receivers," Shaw said. "That's the hard part for a corner. It's a little bit like an offensive lineman. If you keep the guy covered for the whole game they don't say your name, you must be doing a pretty good job, but if you give up two plays, which is what Paulson gave up, two plays now you have a bad game."

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