Reports indicate UO freshman quarterback will start vs. UW

That the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Herbert has continued to improve in practice enough to become a factor in playing time is on another level.

But for the last twelve years, OR has faced Washington with the vengeance of a little brother who finally got stronger than an older brother who bullied him one too many times. Washington is now 5-0 (2-0 in the Pac-12) and is coming off their biggest win in recent memory against Stanford (who they embarrassed 44-6 last week).

The switch comes as OR head coach Mark Helfrich looks to stop the bleeding amidst a three-game losing streak.

OR trails Washington 42-14 midway through the third quarter. “He made plays on us last year, he’s made plays on everybody this year”.

So, what does each team need to do to capture a crucial conference win on Saturday? The Dawgs have lost 12 straight to the Ducks but have never been better primed to take down OR (if it does happen, imagine the headlines that will surround a 2-4 OR team…).

Despite everything said above about how dysfunctional the Ducks are, that psychological terrain might be all OR needs.

Dakota Prukop or Justin Herbert?

On Tuesday, 247Sports reported that Herbert may replace Prukop – who’s had up-and-down results – as the starter vs. Washington, which would be a brutal first start for the young quarterback. “We have to stop Royce Freeman”.

After Coleman broke out with 181 yards against Arizona two weeks ago, it was Gaskin’s turn to show off with 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns against Stanford. “You better run the football right at Oregon”. Wide receiver Darren Carrington only had one reception last weekend.

“We’re going to put the best guy out there, at that and every other position, to help us win this game”, he said. That said, they’re winless at 0-4 against the number in their last four home games and are 0-6-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall. Breeland had his first two catches of the season. “We’re so used to having OR in the conversation for division titles and Pac-12 titles and, as far as the last eight to 10 years, in the national focus”. OR has dropped three straight, including a 51-33 loss at Washington State last week in which the notoriously pass-heavy Cougars actually rushed for six touchdowns.

WASHINGTON: LB Psalm Wooching, who was named Pac-12 defensive player of the week after he had three sacks in the Huskies’ victory over Stanford. They’re ranked No. 15 nationally for total defense, allowing opponents just about 299 yards a game. With Oregon having a power running game, the Huskies defense will be tested once again.

“The biggest problem we’ve had, to be honest, is simulating their defense”, Helfrich said. However, this a lot of points to give an OR team that still has a lot of talent and usually shows up under the bright lights. For the Ducks to make this game competitive, the defense has to figure out a way to do something positive or the Huskies are going to drag them up and down the field in Eugene.