Buffs Ready To Face No. 13 Ducks

EUGENE, Ore. — Since the beginning of the season, Colorado coach Mel Tucker has been pleased with his team's effort. From his point of view, the 3-2 Buffs (1-1 Pac-12) have played hard every week.

But for Tucker, playing hard is the minimum required — and he knows the Buffs will need more than the minimum Friday in Autzen Stadium when they face off with 13th-ranked Oregon (4-1, 2-0) in an 8 p.m. nationally televised game (FS1).

"It takes a lot to be able to finish the game and actually be successful and become victorious," Tucker said earlier this week. "The effort part is the standard, and that's got to be there, no matter what we have to do."

The second part of the equation — the factor that separates good teams from the pack — is the next step.

"We have to make the plays, have the discipline, the execution, in order to be successful," Tucker said. "I'm not happy with those guys just giving effort. That's just standard operating procedure. You can't play if you don't play hard and give effort. I mean, why even show up?"

Friday's game will be Colorado's third against a ranked opponent this year, with CU already owning wins over No. 25 Nebraska at home and No. 24 Arizona State on the road. The win over the Huskers ended an eight-game overall losing streak to ranked teams; the win at ASU ended a 29-game losing streak to ranked teams on the road.

But a win over Mario Cristobal's Ducks would be a significant feather in the Buffs' helmets.

"I like the way they play football," said Tucker, who spent one year coaching alongside Cristobal, when they worked together on the 2015 Alabama staff. "They're very sound on offense, they have a good offensive line, they're strong, and they like to run the ball. They've got playmakers at the skill spots and they have an outstanding quarterback. Defensively they play very, very fast and they're physical. They're strong up front and they have pass rushers. I like the way their team is built."

Unlike years past, defense has become Oregon's calling card. The Ducks have held their last four opponents to single-digit scoring and are giving up just 9.8 points per game, tops in the Pac-12. They are holding opponents to less than 100 yards per game on the ground, and their pass rush has already produced 19 sacks.

"Very multiple," said Colorado offensive coordinator Jay Johnson. "You see different fronts all the time. Sometime it's four down linemen, sometimes it's an odd front with tree. They do a great job keeping you off balance at the back end."

The Ducks have a number of quality players on defense, but the unit revolves around four-year starting linebacker Troy Dye. The senior has led Oregon in tackles in each of the last three seasons.

"Physical, runs to the ball extremely well, plays with a high energy level and they move him all over," Johnson said. "Sometimes he's here, sometimes he's there, sometimes he's on the line of scrimmage. So they're very multiple what they do with him, which brings a lot of challenges."

Offensively, the Ducks aim to establish the run game first with a host of talented running backs and a powerful offensive line, but it is still an offense that revolves around quarterback Justin Herbert, generally seen as a first-round draft pick. Herbert is one of just three quarterbacks in the nation to have at least 15 touchdown passes and just one interception, and he is equally adept at throwing short routes and the deep ball.

"You've got a talented group of running backs and it's not just one guy, it's two guys, three guys," CU defensive coordinator Tyson Summers said. "They keep pounding. They're coached very well. … You don't see one guy tackle those guys very easily. The offensive line is very tough. They're very sound in what they do. They do an exceptional job with the offensive line they have and what they ask them to do. I think they give them an opportunity to be successful on every play."

Stopping the run game will be a key for CU linebacker Nate Landman, Colorado's leading tackler.

"Every team comes into games wanting to establish the run game, just because it makes you more versatile," Landman said. "I think Oregon's going to be the best team to do it that we'll face because of the talent they have on the offensive line and at the running back position. They do a great job of running the ball."

The Buffs haven't faced the Ducks since a 2016 game at Autzen that saw Colorado come away with a wild 41-38 win. The game marked the starting debut of quarterback Steven Montez, who used the opportunity to become the first player in CU history to throw for 300 yards (333 yards and three touchdowns) and rush for 100 (135 yards rushing, one score) in the same game.

Now Montez is a fifth-year senior, and there is nothing he would like more than to return to Autzen and collect another win over the Ducks.

"I think they are a lot more talented this year than they were three or four years ago when we played them," Montez said. I think their front is really good. They don't need to bring a ton of pressure because their front gets enough pressure as it is. Their DB's are good and they have good linebackers. They also have a real stud at linebacker, Troy Dye … Nonetheless, that doesn't really change what we're doing. We're still going to do exactly what we think is going to work from seeing them on film. We've been practicing well and looking good."

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Colorado offensive line vs. Oregon defensive line. If the Buffs are going to have success on offense, it will begin up front. Colorado has first establish some semblance of a run game to produce manageable second- and third-down situations, then make sure to keep Montez upright in the pocket. If the Buffs can win the battle in the trenches, they'll be in the game at crunch time.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Colorado's secondary. The Buffs have been banged up at safety and cornerback. CU could see the return of safety Aaron Maddox, who has missed the last two games with a severe leg laceration, which would be a major boost to the back end. Already playing one true freshman at corner, K.J. Trujillo, Friday could also see another true freshman corner, Tarik Luckett, get time at nickel in place of Mekhi Blackmon, who is out for the season with an injury.

THE SERIES: Oregon leads the all-time series 12-9, including wins in six of the last seven. The Ducks also have a 5-3 lead in Eugene.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

Kickoff: 8:05 p.m., Autzen Stadium (54,000).

Broadcast: FS1 will carry the game with Joe Davis, Brock Huard and Bruce Feldman. KOA 850 will carry the radio broadcast with Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett in the booth.

In-game live blog, stats: A live in-game blog as well as continually updated statistics will be available on www.CUBuffs.com

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu