Stakes Are High As Oregon, Auburn Battle

The noise from outside says that Oregon is facing not only Auburn, but battling relevance. The Pac-12 has been left out -- WAY out -- of the College Football Playoff discussion the last few seasons, and the Ducks are seen as one of the few teams in the league that might be able to change that in 2019.

Oregon's Justin Herbert (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The conference has been ribbed for being too finesse and defensively-challenged, almost a G5 league.

The Ducks don't want to hear any of that as they head into Saturday's battle with the Tigers, and they have done a good job leading up to the game of blocking out the criticisms and skeptics, and focusing on the task at hand. The game kicks off at 7:30 Eastern from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"Well, I think the expectations inside never really change," Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. "I think you always acknowledge what the noise is on the outside. When I say noise, I say that respectfully because I certainly respect the media and the choices and decisions made, but it never really factors into the process, never really factors into our preparation. I think the guys have understood pretty clearly when we prepare well and we focus on what we're doing, we're pretty good; and when we don't, we don't play very good. We've got to make sure that we are prepared mentally and have a mindset that's a different level. Help enhance the DNA.

“I think anytime you play a game you’re representing your conference, as well as your university, your community. But we don’t try to make it anything outside of us preparing as our program as we face a great opponent. So we really try to stay focused on just the simple stuff.”

Auburn played in this game a year ago, knocking off a Washington team that was expected to challenge for national honors. That experience could be a boost for the Tigers, who are breaking in a host of newcomers on offense, including at the quarterback spot. Dual-threat freshman Bo Nix won the job in fall camp and has a skill set that can cause problems for opponents. But this is also his first collegiate game, so you can rest assured Oregon will have some surprises in store for him.

"You are talking about a true freshman whose first start is against one of the best teams in the country," Auburn boss Gus Malzahn said. "College Gameday is going to be there and Kirk Herbstreit is going to be calling the game; it’s as big as it’s going to get. We need to be really good around him; that has been our message. I am just asking him to play and be himself. We are going to try to do some things he feels comfortable with. We are taking in a game plan that is really built around him and what his comfort zone is. I am excited for Bo and I know our team is, too. He has earned the right to lead us out there and we will see what happens."

Where Nix is dipping his toes into the collegiate waters for the first time, Oregon has a certified star running the offense in senior Justin Herbert. After toying with the idea of turning pro, Herbert chose to return to Eugene for his final campaign -- no doubt to become more consistent with his play. For all of the jaw-dropping throws he can make, he'll have nearly as many head-scratchers. That's something you hope would be out of the system by a fourth season, so there is a bit of pressure on Herbert.

The internal pressure Herbert is facing may not be as big as the external he'll face from Auburn's defensive line. In the discussion for best unit in America, the Tigers are strong and fast and bring a nasty attitude. Auburn finished in the top 20 in sacks in 2018 (38) and returns everyone, including maybe the best DE-DT  combo in America in Nick Coe and Derrick Brown. Coe is a special player, and is listed as both an edge rusher-LB and DT. Malzahn has said he will "move around" in Auburn's scheme and no doubt look to create havoc in whatever way he can.

"I think that is going to be a huge key," Malzahn said. "He can make all the throws and he’s got really good receivers to throw to, so you’ve got to make him uncomfortable. I think that is going to be a big key. Like I said really in the opening -- the line of scrimmage -- you know we need to win the line of scrimmage. That’s really where it starts for us and really where it starts for Auburn football and so that’s going to be a big key."

Herbert is being talked about as a potential number one overall draft pick after the season, and he certainly looks the part. At 6-6, 240, and possessing a howitzer on his right shoulder, Herbert will be the barometer for how well Oregon's offense does this season, though the hope is that his receivers help him out more than they did last year (52 drops, most in FBS). The Ducks have a pair of backs in CJ Verdell and Travis Dye who combined for nearly 2000 yards last year, and a receiving corps that's both new and experienced. Leading the way is Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson, who has the speed to run past corners and the size (6-5) to fend off physical safeties.

Oregon, which finished 9-4 last year, has the nation's most experienced offensive line, a quintet that has 153 starts between them. It's not often that the trench men get publicity, but this group merits it. Guard Shane Lemieux is one of the top guards in the nation, and tackle Calvin Throckmorton has played every position on the line for the Ducks. The unit can run and pass block equally well, and could make for Auburn's toughest challenge of the season.

Cristobal knows that the game could indeed be decided in the trenches.

Auburn's Derrick Brown (Auburn Athletics)

“There’s a lot of big bodies, a lot of big talented guys and certainly those are going to be some unbelievable bodies," he said. "The physicality on both sides is impressive to watch and I know that as competitors both sides are ready to get after it. But it’s more than that, I think the physicality of their corners, I think the physicality of their safeties, the speed and explosiveness of their linebackers, the power of their offensive line, the speed of their wide receivers – they have explosive players all over the place – their backs. I think there are so many battles, to say that it’s going to be just focused on one it’s hard to say. Of course, yeah, I know a lot of people, there’s going to be attention drawn to that, but I think across the board is you can expect a very physical game on both sides. A tremendous amount of respect for Auburn and how they do things."

The Ducks D is taking a backseat to the offense, but many eyes will be on true frosh edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, the nation's top overall recruit for 2019. Oregon managed just 29 sacks a year ago, a number that definitely needs to increase. Troy Dye is a tackling machine at middle linebacker, and the secondary is stocked with ballhawks, as the quartet picked off 12 of Oregon's 17 picks from last year. Corner Thomas Graham is one to watch.

While Nix is working out his jitters, he'll have the help of a deep and talented ground game. JaTarvious Whitlow will be first man up, but fans could see as many as five players toting the pigskin.

Eli Stove and Will Hastings are veterans in the receiving corps and are both back from medical redshirts, and Seth Williams has all-SEC ability after shining as a freshman with 26 catches and five scores. World class speedster Anthony Schwartz could be a game-time decision, and would add a true `Wow' component to the Tigers attack.

The offensive line returns all five starters, led by seniors Prince Tega Wanogho at left tackle and Mike Horton at right guard. The group struggled to open holes for the run game, but was solid in pass protection in 2018.

Auburn's defense is more than just Coe and Brown, however. Defensive end Marlon Davidson could blossom into a star this season, and safety Daniel Thomas is the leading returning tackler from last year and does a little bit of everything -- plays in the box, covers, hits like a truck.

There has been a lot of offseason talk about Malzahn's job security, especially after the Tigers went just 8-5 and were blasted by Georgia and Alabama. Another subpar season and it could be goodbye Gus, so getting off to a fast start is paramount -- especially with an early schedule that includes trips to Texas A&M and Florida

Malzahn expects his troops to be ready, and hopes the fans are, as well.

"We really appreciate our fans and we’re looking for a big turnout in Dallas," he said. "Last year against Washington, it was like a home-field advantage and we’re hoping for the same thing. This season, we want to make our fans proud, our former players proud with the way we play, that hard-nosed, physical, disciplined, good Auburn football. That’s been our message and that won’t just be our message this first game, but all season.

"Overall, we’re excited. Our team’s excited, our coaches are excited to get to play one of the top teams in the country and it’s going to be a good measuring stick to see where this team is at after this first game.