Los Angeles, Calif. – It’s here. The buildup has led us to a point in which there are a multitude of storylines to watch out for when the two teams converge at the Rose Bowl at 2 p.m.
Here’s a set of stories that Emerald reporters Justin Wise and Joseph Hoyt have written while covering the week’s worth of coverage leading up to the game:
– Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota. Each Heisman winner features all the intangibles to make this matchup worth all the hype and allure.
– The loss of Ifo Ekpre-Olomu at cornerback will be clear on Thursday. It serves as a spiritual and communicative loss for this Oregon team. 
– Under Don Pellum, Oregon’s defense is getting rid of the notion that it is the weakness of this team. 
– Tyler Johnstone, who had started 26 consecutive games at left tackle for the Ducks coming into 2014, hasn’t played a down this season. However, that doesn’t mean his impacts haven’t been felt. 
– Oregon’s leader in sacks may surprise you. His path to get to this point only shows the type of “monster” Oregon could have on defense. 
– Devon Allen has won an NCAA Outdoor  Track and Field Championship, as well as U.S. National Championship. Yet, the stage in front of him ranks above both. 
– Oregon’s speed and tempo poses a threat unseen before from Florida State’s defense. 
– Oregon’s freshman class has made some pivotal impacts for this team’s success. There’s no doubt the way they play will have a large impact on the outcome of the game. 
– Ekpre-Olomu’s absence definitely is a plus for Winston and the Florida State’s offensive attack. But as, Winston says, they would’ve gone right after him if he was playing. He even would go after the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman if he had the chance. 
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise