Ready the tailgate parties, wear something green and break out the portable bleacher seats.
The boys are back in town.
After taking its show on the road to Southern California, the No. 7 Oregon football team (5-1 overall, 3-0 Pacific-10 Conference) takes on No. 21 Arizona (5-1, 3-0) at Autzen Stadium, 7:15 p.m. Saturday. The game is the Ducks’ first action at home since beating then-No. 6 Washington on Sept. 30.
Oregon played well in its win over the Trojans last Saturday, showing the nation it can win outside its hostile home territory. In doing so, the Ducks tied their highest-ever national ranking, last earned in 1964.
Now, the home team can’t wait to remind its fans, the Pac-10 and the football world what it can do at Autzen. Another win could even slip the Ducks to a school-record sixth in the Associated Press poll.
“We have everything to lose in this game, and everything to gain as well,” quarterback Joey Harrington said. “Every week is the biggest game. As long as we stay on top of the Pac-10, everybodyÕs going to be gunning for us.”
The significance of this upcoming game is paramount. At the start of the season, conference analysts labeled Oregon’s first three games against UCLA, Washington and Southern California as the make-or-break portion of its schedule. Nobody anticipated Arizona coming into Eugene with a share of the Pac-10 lead.
But here come the Wildcats, hungry for a win and in the thick of the Rose Bowl race.

“This is the biggest game we’ve played this year, by far,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “This is the only other undefeated team in the conference. That, in and of itself, is great motivation.”
Arizona is riding high after beating a surging Washington State team in triple overtime on Saturday. However, Wildcat head coach Dick Tomey is well aware of the challenge that awaits his team in Eugene.
“They’ll have to be better at Oregon,” Tomey said. “I don’t think we’ve seen a defensive line like Oregon’s yet. Oregon is terrific, better than last year because of its defense.”
The Ducks’ fate may rest on the arm of Harrington, who had the best game of his career last Saturday against the Trojans, connecting 28 of 42 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. Harrington and the Oregon receivers were off-and-on through the first five games of the season.
Establishing the passing game early should be a priority for the Ducks, as Arizona has the best rushing defense in the conference. In six games, the Wildcats have held opponents to an average of 70.5 yards on the ground per outing.
In fact, ArizonaÕs defense is fifth-best in the nation when defending the run. The WildcatsÕ overall defense ranks first nationally with 25 forced turnovers, has the third-best turnover ratio at +2.17 average and has recorded a whopping 22 sacks.
Arizona cornerback Michael Jolivette, a freshman, ranks third nationally in interceptions with five picks this season. A pair of senior defensive ends — Joe Tafoya and Idris Haroon — have taken turns being Pac-10 Players of the Week this season, as has Jolivette.
“We have to prepare for a different defense,” Bellotti said. ÒTheyÕre a very unconventional, non-traditional defense and offense in terms of the formations and the schemes that they use.Ó
Speaking of defense, Oregon played well enough against USC to preserve its No. 1 Pac-10 ranking, despite 152 yards rushing by Trojan tailback Sultan McCollough. On the road, the Ducks have let opponents slip some big plays through its ÔD.Õ Wisconsin and USC rushed for a combined total of 531 yards.
At Autzen, however, OregonÕs defensive line is seemingly impenetrable, giving up just 218 total rushing yards to four opponents.
ÒWe havenÕt put together a complete game yet,Ó defensive end Jason Nikolao said. ÒWe havenÕt blown anybody out yet, as far as IÕm concerned.
ÒWatch this game on Saturday. DonÕt miss it. YouÕre going to see a pumped-up, angry Oregon team.Ó