Game day basics: Notes for No. 12 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 10 Utah Utes at Autzen Stadium

Oregon Ducks leap into the stands before the top 25 match up against Washington Huskies Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

No. 12 Oregon (8-2, 6-1) vs. No. 10 Utah (8-2, 6-1)

Saturday’s game under the lights at Autzen Stadium will be as intriguing as it is important for the Ducks.

Can they rebound from last weekend’s gut-punch loss to Washington? Can they get their revenge against a Utah team that beat them twice last season in humiliating fashion? Can they stay in the hunt for a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game? Can they win if quarterback Bo Nix isn’t healthy enough to play?

The Ducks were left reeling last Saturday after their 37-34 loss at home to the Washington Huskies, but they’ll have to quickly put that game in the rearview mirror because the Utes are arguably a tougher challenge.

Not that Oregon needs any reminders.

The Ducks were 9-1 last season and third in the College Football Playoff rankings when they were defeated 38-7 by Utah in Salt Lake City in a game the Utes led 28-0 at halftime.

Two weeks later they met again in the Pac-12 Championship game and again the Utes led 23-0 at halftime en route to a 38-10 victory that put them in the Rose Bowl and sent Oregon to the Alamo Bowl.

“I think this game means a ton,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “And I think our guys are playing for each other and they want to do well for each other. That this team really cares about each other, which is important and I think they all have a taste in their mouth from last season. You know, some of the guys weren’t here and some guys were, but they want to go perform. They want to go perform to their ability.”

About the opponent

The Utes have many of their key offensive weapons back from last season, including quarterback Cameron Rising who has completed 181-of-273 passes for 2,225 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions.

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He’s also Utah’s second-leading rusher with 335 yards and six TDs on 52 carries.

Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) throws the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the first half during the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium.

Its rushing leader is Tavion Thomas with 632 yards and seven TDs on 123 carries. Thomas rushed for a combined 157 yards and five touchdowns last season against Oregon.

Their leading receiver is tight end Dalton Kincaid, who made a name for himself nationally when he had 16 catches for 234 yards and a score in the Utes’ 43-42 win against USC on Oct. 15.

That victory came a week after a 42-32 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl, keeping the Utes in contention for a Pac-12 title. Their only other loss came in the season-opener when they fell on the road to Florida, 29-26.

Utah is statistically the best defensive team in the conference, ranking first in total defense and pass defense, and second in points allowed and rushing defense.

Here’s a comparison of where Oregon and Utah rank in the Pac-12 in key team statistics:

What’s on the line

This much is certain, Saturday’s winner will become a favorite to make the Pac-12 Championship game in two weeks, as both Oregon and Utah are tied for second in the conference standings at 6-1 with two games to play.

Southern California leads the Pac-12 at 7-1 and is playing its last game of the conference season Saturday against UCLA. A win by the Trojans, who end the regular season against Notre Dame, would put them in the Dec. 2 title game in Las Vegas. A win by the Bruins (5-2) would create a log jam of two-loss teams heading into the final weekend.

A win by the Ducks or the Utes would allow them to control their own destiny heading into their respective season finales against Oregon State and Colorado on Nov. 26.

Injury update

The availability of Nix, center Alex Forsyth and guard Ryan Walk for Saturday’s game remains uncertain after all three were injured against Washington.

“Yeah, I’m not really going to share any update with anybody,” Lanning said earlier this week when asked specifically about those three players. “We came away dinged up in that game. I will say I feel a lot more positive today, beginning to hear some news on where things are at right now.”

Nix appeared to injure his right leg following a running play late in the fourth quarter and missed a series before returning for the Ducks’ final drive.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, left, sits in the turf after being injured on a fourth quarter play against the Washington Huskies Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

On Wednesday, receiver Kris Hutson implied the team was preparing for backup QB Ty Thompson to get the start against the Utes, though Lanning reiterated that same day that Nix has been practicing this week.

Walk, who is also the backup center, was hurt in the first quarter and had a walking boot on his right leg as he watched the second half from the sideline. Forsyth left the game on the Ducks’ final drive and didn’t return.

With both Forsyth and Walk out, sophomore Jackson Powers-Johnson moved to center from guard.

“I’m proud of the guys that got plugged into some situations, some tough situations, getting thrown in in the fourth quarter somewhere different, having to snap in that environment in a unique spot is certainly a challenge,” Lanning said. “I think our guys handled that challenge well and just like me, I know several of them wish one play would have gone one way or another.”

What they’re wearing Autzen Stadium policies

Catch up on the Ducks’ season

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Utah Utes head to Eugene to face Oregon Ducks: What to know