No. 1 Oregon will look to continue its undefeated season on Saturday afternoon when it faces Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Ducks (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) are one of eight remaining unbeaten teams in the nation. They also are 8-0 for the first time since 2013 and for the fifth time in program history.
A win Saturday at the Big House would make Oregon 9-0 to open the season for the first time since 2012 and for the third time in program history. The Ducks are 7-1 in games as the country’s top-ranked team.
Coming off a dominating performance on both offense and defense in last week’s 38-9 win over then-No. 20 Illinois, the Ducks have the nation’s most accurate quarterback in Dillon Gabriel with a 76.2 completion percentage. They also are 10th in the nation in total defense, allowing an average of 15.6 points per game.
Gabriel has thrown 143 touchdown passes and needs 13 more to break Case Keenum’s all-time NCAA record. Keenum played for the Houston Cougars from 2007-11.
Oregon, according to its sports information department, is the only school with three wins over teams currently in the Top 25 (No. 4 Ohio State, No. 15 Boise State, No. 24 Illinois). The Ducks have won the last two meetings with Michigan.
This week, the Ducks will make their second trek east as new members of the Big Ten, heading to Ann Arbor to face a Wolverines team that won the national title last season.
“We’re getting an opportunity to play the reigning national champions, right? And in this conference it’s hard every single week, so we know that we’ll get their best,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “So it’s exciting to you know, have a chance. We got to play some games that are fun for us so far this year and challenging, and this will certainly be a challenge.”
Michigan (5-3, 3-2) is coming off a 24-17 win over Michigan State at home last week. The game ended with a fight on the field between players from both teams, which the Big Ten is investigating.
Tight end Colston Loveland, who ranks in the top three all-time at Michigan in receptions (103), yards (1,295) and TDs (10) among tight ends, was among those involved in the scuffle.
“It’s unacceptable, not how we carry ourselves,” Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Monday. “We’ll address that internally. That’s not how we represent the University of Michigan. … We’ll take care of that, and that will never happen again.”
The Wolverines have a rough stretch of games ahead, with Oregon at home and No. 13 Indiana and No. 4 Ohio State on the road as three of their final four games of the regular season.
Davis Warren is expected to remain Michigan’s starting quarterback, with Alex Orji getting some playing time. Jack Tuttle, who made a start at quarterback earlier this season, announced his retirement from football on Monday due to concussions.
Saturday will be the 21st time Michigan has faced the No. 1 team in the national rankings. The Wolverines are 3-16-1 in those games, with all three victories coming at Michigan Stadium, according to the school’s sports information department.
–Field Level Media
