**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season we will feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on how Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Mitch Terrell, the assistant sports editor at Arizona State’s The State Press.**
Seven of Oregon’s last nine losses over the last five seasons — including this year — were suffered away from Eugene and Autzen Stadium.
What has been called one of the greatest home field advantages in college football, Autzen Stadium will not be there to comfort No. 3 Oregon, as it will face the most well-rounded team the Ducks have faced this season.
Not to point fingers, as the Sun Devils haven’t faced any team worth bragging about, but were teams in well-known conferences. While the record of Arizona State’s opponents (16-23) may not show power on paper, those teams would have their way with the first three opponents Oregon played this season.
Besides comparing the records of those teams on both ends, Oregon’s offense hasn’t seen a defense like Arizona State’s. With the ability to force turnovers and tackles for loss quite frequently, Oregon’s offense will have to be just as on key as the Sun Devils’ defense. Redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota and the Ducks’ three young offensive lineman will have their hands full with Arizona State’s defensive front that ranks No. 2 in the country in tackles for loss and sacks.
Arizona State’s top-10 overall defense in the country poses as the high-paced Oregon offense’s first test, and will come in a hostile, sold-out environment unlike any other.
The Ducks rank 32nd in points against per game this season, while Arizona State ranks ninth against tougher opponents in the Big 10 and the SEC.
While Mariota is known for his ability to scramble and extend the play with his legs and versatile offensive weapons in the backfield, redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly — the most efficient passer in the Pac-12 — presents the same ability.
The Sun Devil defense will be well equipped and prepared for Mariota’s quarterback style of play and will attack it aggressively. As for running backs sophomore De’Anthony Thomas and senior Kenjon Barner, they will be the main focus for the Sun Devil defense. When ASU shuts down the running back core of Oregon with their front seven, Mariota will be forced to throw into coverage, and add onto his already five interceptions this season.
After seeing Arkansas State throw and run all over Oregon’s “top-tier” defense, Kelly and “Run DMC” — running backs D.J. Foster, Marion Grice and Cameron Marshall — will quite literally waste no time punishing Oregon’s defense.
To Oregon fans and students, don’t be surprised if the Ducks leave Tempe with their first “L” of the season, as Arizona State will expose Oregon’s flaws for the entire nation to see.