EUGENE, Ore. (KOIN) – With college football starting up, the expectations are high for the Oregon Ducks this season.
The Ducks landed the number 13 spot in the preseason coaches poll and have also been picked to win the PAC-12 North division.
Head coach Mario Cristobal is coming off a successful first season finishing 9-4 and a win in the Red Box bowl over Michigan State.
For the offense, Cristobal will return Heisman hopeful and senior quarterback Justin Herbert and an experienced offensive line with a total of 153 starts.
“There are times where a guy like that is going to have to take over a football game,” said Head Coach Mario Cristobal about Justin Herbert. “He has already done it a number of times, and its the next natural part of his growth.”
The wide receiver position added some fresh faces with early enroll Mycah Pittman and Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson to address some of the struggles with depth.
Oregon will have a new defensive look with the hire of former Boise State defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and will be lead by star linebacker Troy Dye, who was named to the Bednarik watch list, which is awarded to the nation’s top defensive player.
On top of that, they will return eight starters and bring five-star defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux into action.
“These next 19 days are going to be huge for us.” says Dye “It’s going to be big for us to come together as a unit and continue to grow as the Oregon Football team.”
Cristobal and the Ducks will now prepare for the first test of the season Aug. 31 against the Auburn Tigers in Dallas at AT&T Stadium.