Good Luck Ducks, Week 4: Wazzu

 

Oregon faces an early road test in the Northwest as the conference schedule begins. 

 

It still feels like summer in the Pacific Northwest, but Pac-12 conference play starts today in earnest. The Ducks are up in Pullman, WA today to take on the Washington State Cougars. The Cougs are off to a 3-0 start, with their big win coming in a squeaker at Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Oregon is feeling pretty confident today after dominating BYU in their second straight strong performance after the Georgia debacle.

We've reached the point in the season where you look around the conference and say "hey, looks like everyone is really good this year." Well, almost everyone. (Sorry, Colorado.) Of course, the Pac-12 has taken quite a beating in recent years, especially in the media. It's also been shut out of the playoffs for the past few seasons, and a couple of mediocre schools decided to leave. Also, their current TV deal is pretty dreadful. Still, this is a conference with a lot of history, and a 3-0 start by any school is nothing to sneeze at. The Cougars are known as a quarterback school and are led by Cameron Ward, a transfer from an FCS school in San Antonio (Incarnate Word). Let's hope that the Ducks continue to disrupt the passer and bat down the balls in the air.

Notes and other things:

• WSU is expecting a sellout today, which is always a good look for a rivalry game.
• The Cougars seemingly had the Ducks number for a few years there while a young Justin Herbert was still at UO, but the last three games have gone Oregon's way.
• I'm always going to feel better about playing in Pullman in September than November, when cold weather and sometimes snow is a big factor.
• I think I probably gave up my right as a Duck to talk about "Coug'ing it" after the years 2015 through 2018, but it's always going to be there somewhere in the back of my brain.
• I haven't talked a lot about Bo Nix yet, but after wanting to bleach my eyes during that first game, he's been pretty close to perfect. I'm not sure adversity is going to be his strong suit (is it anyone's?), but if he can continue to play near the level he's been at in the two victories, Oregon isn't going to lose many games.
• Big thanks to Dennis for today's card. He sent a few other really nice ones along with this one which I promise to show off soon.
• Game time is 1:00 PM PDT on FOX in Pullman. Go Ducks!