Is it time to take Oregon critically within the wake of their 45-30 over UCLA? Definitely.
Is it time to think about quarterback Bo Nix a Heisman contender within the wake of that very same efficiency? Absolutely.
In an enormous Pac-12 matchup between a pair of groups ranked within the high ten, the #10 Ducks rolled to the 15-point victory over the #9 Bruins. In the win, Nix accomplished 22 of 28 passes for 283 yards and 5 touchdowns, posting an NCAA Passer Rating of 222.4, his third-best mark over his collegiate profession and his greatest since becoming a member of Oregon.
Nix’s first landing strike got here early within the second quarter, breaking a 3-3 tie. After flashing a pump pretend to promote the protection on a large receiver display, Nix reset his ft and hit tight finish Terrance Ferguson with a rocket alongside the left sideline for the landing:
Nix’s subsequent landing move broke one other tie, and it was maybe his greatest throw of the day. The quarterback comes out of a run pretend and goes up high, connecting with broad receiver Troy Franklin on this 49-yard scoring strike to present Oregon a 17-10 lead:
The replay angle of the connection is value a glance:
Following the additional level, maybe the sport’s vital play occurred on the following kickoff.
Oregon known as for a shock onside kick, with kicker Andrew Boyle dribbling the ball off the tee and recovering his personal kick, sending Autzen Stadium right into a frenzy:
The Ducks would capitalize on the additional possession, placing collectively an 8-play, 54-yard drive capped off by this landing run from Jordan James to increase their result in 24-10:
While halftime beckoned, Nix and Franklin weren’t performed, The two would hyperlink up yet one more time earlier than the break, on this quick landing move because the Ducks elevated their result in 31-13 heading into the locker room:
Oregon executes this spot idea to perfection, with Nix discovering Franklin on the out route because of some house created by the site visitors, and the Ducks are rolling.
As the fourth quarter received underway, the followers at Autzen have been shouting, and the Ducks have been nonetheless within the lead:
And Nix was not performed.
The quarterback hit working again Bucky Irving on the wheel route out of the backfield within the fourth quarter, giving him his fifth landing move on the day, and handing Oregon a 45-23 lead:
An interception from security Bryan Addison in the long run zone on UCLA’s ensuing possession successfully ended any likelihood of a comeback. The Bruins would add yet one more rating, however the Ducks would salt away the sport on their ultimate possession.
The victory retains Oregon on a path in the direction of the convention championship sport. The Ducks are the one Pac-12 staff left with an unblemished convention report, sitting at 4-0 within the Pac-12, 6-1 total. That might change, as a date with 5-2 Utah stays on Oregon’s schedule, however that contest, set for November nineteenth, is at Autzen.
There can also be the prospect for a rematch within the convention championship sport between these two groups. While the loss dropped UCLA to 6-1 total, and 3-1 within the convention, the Bruins have a variety of winnable video games left on their schedule. They face 3-4 Stanford subsequent week, adopted by 2-5 Arizona State on November 5 and 3-4 Arizona on November 12.
Besides Oregon’s assembly with Utah, the sport that can go the longest in the direction of figuring out who squares off within the Pac-12 Championship could be UCLA’s yearly assembly with USC. That sport, set for November nineteenth, could be enormous within the convention, and past.
As for Nix, this was the sort of sport that Oregon followers have been hoping he might ship. An enormous efficiency in an announcement win. Through 7 video games, the Auburn switch has 17 landing passes, already eclipsing his greatest single-season mark in three seasons within the SEC, surpassing the 16 landing passes he threw as a freshman in 2019.
He may not be the Heisman frontrunner proper now, as Hendon Hooker and C.J. Stroud are possible the names Nix is chasing, however this efficiency thrusts him proper into the dialog. And with Hooker but to face Georgia and Stroud going through one other sport towards Michigan, Nix’s Heisman inventory may proceed to rise over the subsequent few weeks.