Connor Cook (18) is one of the leaders on a good Michigan State team. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
KICKOFF: Saturday, 6:35 p.m. ET
GAMEDATE: 9/6/14
SITE: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
TV: Fox
SERIES: Michigan State and Oregon have split four meetings, both winning at home. The last was in 1999, when the Spartans won 27-20 after rallying from a 17-7 third-quarter deficit.
RANKINGS: Michigan State 7th, Oregon 3rd
KEYS TO THE GAME
Hype will certainly not be lacking this week as Michigan State and Oregon prepare for their top-10 showdown on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. But Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio doesn’t think for one second his team will be fazed by it.
“I don’t think we’re going to go in there and be intimidated,” he said. “I don’t really worry about that. We’ve played in big games, we’ve won away from home in every stadium in this conference.
“We’ve won our last three bowl games, played against good competition. We’ve been on a big stage at the Rose Bowl. We’ve been on a big stage — I don’t really worry about that. I’m more concerned about getting the job done.”
That big stage included ending Ohio State’s 24-game winning streak last season in the Big Ten Championship game before beating Stanford in the Rose Bowl. That Stanford team is the only one in the Pac-12 to have much recent success against the Ducks, winning the last two match-ups.
This will be the first non-conference match-up of top 10 teams ever at Eugene’s Autzen Stadium and could have major implications toward the first College Football Playoff.
Oregon is one of the favorites in the Pac-12 Conference, and Michigan State is a favorite in the Big Ten. A big non-conference win would give either team a significant boost when the four playoff teams are selected.
Oregon coach Mark Helfrich pointed out that the winner will also have to avoid a letdown the following week.
“Whoever wins and whoever loses are going to have to rebound the same way,” he said. “It is one game. They are in the drivers’ seat in their conference and I don’t think this game will change that in any way. If we lose, we’ll rebound as well.
“Nationally, I’m sure some hyperbole will be drawn out of it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Spartans
— RB Jeremy Langford was held in check, for the most part, in the opener, picking up 57 yards on 13 carries. But that was in just one half of work after Langford suffered a minor ankle injury.
— QB Connor Cook junior picked up where he left off last season, throwing just one incomplete pass against Jacksonville State while gaining 285 yards and connecting for three touchdowns.
–LB Taiwan Jones had a solid opener after switching from the outside and running the defense. His two tackles were not impressive, but he did a solid job of making the right checks and getting his teammates in the right position.
–CB Darian Hicks is the least experienced of the secondary and was targeted often in the opener against Jacksonville State. Hicks likely will be tested early and often.
Ducks
— RB Byron Marshall is Oregon’s top returning rusher after rushing for 90 yards against South Dakota, but the surprise came when he caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall had just 14 catches for 169 yards in his first two years at Oregon.
— WR Dwayne Stanford missed all of last season due to injury, but opened the South Dakota game with a 62-yard touchdown catch for his first career score. The 6-foot-5 sophomore brings Oregon more size than it usually has at receiver.
— WR Darren Carrington had four catches for 68 yards during his first collegiate game. The redshirt freshman has been drawing rave reviews since last fall, but he suffered an injury in the spring.
— DE DeForest Buckner is in his first year as a full-time starter as a junior. He had six tackles in the opener against South Dakota.
