Good Luck Ducks, Week 6: Get Sparty

Oregon hosts Michigan State on a Friday night, just like the college football gods intended. 

 

Tonight, it will truly feel like the Ducks are part of the B1G. Well, that's aside from the whole Friday thing. Part of expanding to eighteen schools meant that, for broadcast reasons, Friday games were going to be part of the mix for, well,  most of the schools. Oregon hosts a traditional conference school in the green and white that they've played a few times in the past that they may someday form a new rivalry with. Or not. It's tough to say.

Last week, the Ducks won comfortably on the road over an outmatched and outgunned UCLA team that is still adjusting to a new head coach. This week, they are hosting a 3-2 team that is coming off of a blowout home loss to Ohio State. The Spartans also bring in a familiar face in ex-Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith. This might be one night that a bunch of Beavers fans could be pulling for their in-state rival, given the lingering bitterness of their prized head coach, alumnus and former QB jumping ship as the conference was imploding.

 

It should be a fun night at Autzen Stadium, with the full complement of the student body on campus and the typical shenanigans that a Friday college night brings. The Ducks have yet to play what feels like a "complete" game this season. I'm confident that Oregon will be up for showing the rest of the conference (and football watching country) what the move to the B1G is all about tonight.

The Spartans are led by a former Oregon State backup quarterback in Aidan Chiles, who has struggled with interceptions so far this season. Look for the Ducks to continue to establish some consistency on defense, while looking out to stop Chiles' ability to scramble and move on designed runs. (Look for me to enjoy the rest of the weekend without having any football games to worry about after tonight.)

Notes and such:

• I haven't said much about the uniforms this season, but they been nothing short of wonderful to look at, blending all of the latest modern flourishes with a look back to the mid-'90s uniform era, which just so happens to be when I attended. Tonight they are going for something different, as Dan Lanning's family helped design these to help "Stomp Out Cancer".
• Do they have any history at all? Oregon holds a 4-3 edge, with their last meeting coming in 2018 in the eminently forgettable Redbox Bowl, where the Ducks squeaked out a 7-6 win. Prior to that, the two schools met for home-and-home series three separate times, most recently in 2014/2015.
• Ducks ranking this week: 6 (AP). Oregon climbed up a couple of ticks this week while awaiting the arrival of the actual CFP rankings.
• Dillon Gabriel Heisman Watch: Gabriel seems to be a step or so outside of the conversation this week, but wins over Ohio State and Michigan could change that dramatically. You never know!
• Game time is 6:00 PM PDT on FOX. Go Ducks!