University of Oregon vs. Arizona State University Recap

Unfortunately for the University of Oregon Ducks, their return to the college football rankings was quite short lived.

Oregon overcame a 17-point third quarter deficit against the Arizona State University Sun Devils last Saturday, and went ahead by a 35-34 score with less than seven minutes left in the game. But Arizona State responded with a steady dose of senior Demario Richard, who carried the ball 12 times for 30 yards, as part of their 11-play, 57-yard drive that ended in the 41-yard go-ahead field goal by kicker Brandon Ruiz. That gave the Sun Devils a 37-35 score with just over two minutes to go in the game.

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert led the Ducks to their own 48=yard line on the ensuing drive, but on 4^th and 3, his two yard scramble to midfield fell just short of the first down marker, resulting in the Ducks turning the football over on downs. After holding Arizona State to a three-and-out, Oregon did get the ball back deep in their own territory, starting at their own 10-yard line with less than 40 second remaining in the game. However, they couldn’t get past their own 22-yard line before turning it over on downs again.

Herbert had a season-high four total touchdowns in the game – three passing, and one rushing – and did not turn the football over. The Sun Devils seemed more focused on taking away Oregon’s rushing attack, as they held senior running back Royce Freeman to only 81 yards rushing on 15 carries, after he entered the game with 150 or more yards rushing in every game this season. The Ducks total of 120 rushing yards was a dramatic departure their average of over 285 yards per game on the ground this season.

Meanwhile, junior quarterback Manny Wilkins of the Sun Devils absolutely carved up the Oregon defense, combining for 382 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns on his own (one passing and two rushing). His 347 passing yards was the second-highest total of his career. The Sun Devils had two different receivers put up more than 130 yards receiving in the game: sophomore N’Keal Harry (seven catches for 170 yards and a touchdown) and junior Jalen Harvey (eight catches for 133 yards).

This game was not a good look for the Ducks, as they entered the matchup favored to win by more than two touchdowns. Against a defense that was allowing more than 37 points per game this season, the Ducks offense mustered only 131 yards of offense in the first half, and found themselves down 31-14 just over four minutes into the third quarter. The second half rally was no doubt exciting, but there was no need to be in that position in the first place.

Oregon will return home to the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium next Saturday, when they take on the University of California Golden Bears. They’ll again be 15-point favorites for the matchup, and simply cannot afford another let-down, especially as they enter the teeth of their Pac-12 schedule in October.