Oregon Football Game Notes: South Dakota

For complete game notes, including stats, standings, depth chart, etc., view the PDF.

ON THE AIR
National Television: Pac-12 Networks with Kevin Calabro (pxp), Glenn Parker (analyst) and Jill Savage (reporter). Radio: Oregon IMG with Jerry Allen (pxp) and Mike Jorgensen (analyst). Satellite Radio: Sirius 135, XM 196 .

THE SERIES
•Saturday’s meeting is the first between Oregon and South Dakota.
•The Ducks are 1-0 all-time against teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, having defeated Missouri State, 56-7, in 2011.

QUICK HITS
•The Ducks have won nine straight home openers, averaging 54.3 points per game during that span while not scoring fewer than 38 points. UO’s last home-opening defeat came in 2004 against Indiana (30-24).
•Oregon and LSU share the best home records in college football over the last five seasons at 33-2 (.943). The Ducks’ average margin of victory in those games is 28.7.
•The Ducks have 48 wins against “power” conference schools since the start of the 2009 season - the most by any team in the FBS.
•Since 2009, the UO defense leads the Pac-12 and ranks eighth nationally in yards allowed per play at 4.78.
•Oregon is the only team in the FBS to win at least nine games in each of the last seven seasons.
•The Ducks’ No. 3 preseason ranking in the AP Top 25 poll matches the program’s highest to start a season (2011, 2013).
•The Ducks have scored at least 49 points in 26 of 53 games over the past four seasons.
•Since 2005, only USC (25-12, .676 - includes wins since vacated by NCAA) has a higher winning percentage vs. Top 25 opponents than Oregon (26-13, .667).

HEAD COACH MARK HELFRICH
Oregon Head Coach Mark Helfrich knew the comparisons would be inevitable – how do you replace arguably the most successful football coach in school history? His answer was simple – by being Mark Helfrich. That formula proved to be successful in 2013. In guiding the Ducks to a first-year mark of 11-2 and a 30-7 Alamo Bowl triumph over Texas, the number of wins equaled three others for the conference record for success by a first-year head coach as well as surpassed his predecessor Chip Kelly’s previous Oregon pinnacle for most wins by a rookie head coach. In addition, Helfrich joined Ducks’ alum John Robinson (USC, 1976) as the league’s only other coach to win a bowl games in his inaugural season. Only four other squads in school history have ever won as many as 11 football games in a single season (2001, 2010, 2011, 2012) – the former Oregon graduate assistant coach (1997) made it a fifth. Helfrich helped orchestrate the continuation of the program’s offensive firepower last season as the Ducks led the league in total offense (2nd in the country) for the fourth year in a row, in scoring offense (4th in the nation) for the seventh straight season, and in rushing (9th nationally) for the eighth time in many years. The transition to head coach has been a relatively smooth one. Six of the assistant coaches who played key roles in the program’s trio of conference championships in the past five years remain, as do three of the assistants who have called Eugene home for more than two decades. As a result of the change there really has been little change at all. The 40-year-old Oregon native was appointed the school’s 32nd head football coach on Jan. 20, 2013, following a quartet of seasons as the Ducks’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the program’s most prolific era in school history. Oregon tallied a 46-7 ledger and four BCS bowl appearances from 2009-12.

SUPER MARIOTA
Marcus Mariota is coming off arguably the best back-to-back seasons by a quarterback in Oregon history. In 2013, the redshirt junior from Honolulu more than met the challenge of following up a rookie campaign that saw him set the Pac-12 freshman record for touchdown passes (32) and lead the conference in passing efficiency (seventh nationally) en route to Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and all-Pac-12 first team QB honors. His encore as a sophomore included 3,665 yards passing and 715 rushing with 40 total touchdowns (31 pass, 9 rush) and just four interceptions. Mariota ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency rating (167.66), ninth in points responsible for per game (18.8) and total offense (336.9 ypg), and 11th in yards per carry (7.45). A Heisman Trophy candidate for most of the season, Mariota was a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (most outstanding player), the Davey O’Brien Award (national quarterback award) and Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player). He was also on the watch list for the Manning Award (top quarterback honor, including bowl game).

ANOTHER GAME, ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN
Marcus Mariota continued his streak of passing touchdowns with one in Oregon’s Alamo Bowl win over Texas on Dec. 30. The junior has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 26 games of his career, totaling 63 scores through the air. Mariota, who had 31 touchdown passes in 2013, has thrown for two or more TDs in a game 18 times with a career-high six touchdown passes at California as a freshman. He also has thrown four or more touchdowns in a game six times. Mariota’s 26-game touchdown pass streak is the second-longest in the nation behind Marshall’s Rakeem Cato.

Active TD Pass Streaks
Player (School) Streak Next Opponent (Date)
1. Rakeem Cato (Marshall) 32 vs. Miami (OH) (Aug. 30)
2. Marcus Mariota (Oregon) 26 vs. South Dakota (Aug. 30)

RETURN MEN
The 2014 Oregon roster has 48 letterwinners, including 16 starters - ten on offense and six on defense - from last season. By contrast, the 2013 squad had 56 returning lettermen and 16 starters.

FIRST TIMERS
A big question heading into every season is “how many true freshmen are expected to play?” That answer will be more clear following the first game, but for some historic perspective, six saw the field last season, eight in 2012, seven in 2011 and five in 2010.

LIGHTNING STRIKES
Of Oregon’s 74 drives resulting in touchdowns last season, 49 (66.2 percent) lasted two minutes or less. The Ducks’ two longest TD drives of 2013 came against UCLA with their first scoring march lasting 4:00 and the last eating up 4:55.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Since 2000, Oregon is 34-6 in regular season, out-of-conference contests, earning notable victories against the likes of Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan (x2). During that stretch, the Ducks are 3-1 against the SEC, 5-2 vs. the Big Ten, 1-1 vs. the Big 12, 4-0 against the Mountain West, 12-2 vs. the WAC, 2-0 against Conference USA and 6-0 vs. FCS sides.

COACHING CONTINUITY
An often overlooked facet of Oregon’s run of success has been the continuity of its coaching staff. Second-year head coach Mark Helfrich is in his sixth season on staff, but he is supported by several assistants who have served the last three UO head coaches. Running backs coach Gary Campbell is in his 32nd year on the Oregon staff, which is the longest tenure of any Oregon assistant football coach in school history. In addition, offensive line coach and running game coordinator Steve Greatwood enters his 28th season at UO, while recently promoted defensive coordinator Don Pellum is in his 22nd campaign.

HOUSE OF LOUD
With a standing room only crowd of 58,330 at Autzen Stadium on Nov. 29 vs. Oregon State, the Ducks ran the nation’s third-longest sellout streak to 96 consecutive games (cap. 54,000), dating to 1999.

AP POLL STREAK
Consecutive Final AP Poll Appearances
No. Team Last Yr out (Record, ranking)
7 Oregon 2006 (7-6, NR)
6 Alabama 2007 (7-6, NR)
5 LSU 2008 (8-5, RV)

10-WIN SEASONS
Consecutive 10-win seasons in modern era
1. Florida State 14 1987-2000
2. Texas 9 2001-09
3. Virginia Tech 8 2004-11
Miami (Fla.) 8 1985-92
5. Boise State 7 2006-12
USC 7 2002-08
7. Oregon 6 2008-present
Alabama 6 2008-present
Florida 6 1993-98
10. Nebraska 5 1993-97
Oklahoma 5 2000-04
Oklahoma 5 1971-75
Alabama 5 1971-75

NATION’S BEST HOME WINNING PERCENTAGE (1997-present)
Team Record PCT
1. Boise State 99-10 .908
2. Oklahoma 92-10 .902
3. Ohio State 105-13 .890
4. Oregon 92-17 .844
5. Virginia Tech 91-18 .835
6. Florida 91-19 .827
7. Nebraska 98-21 .824
8. Georgia 88-19 .822
9. LSU 97-22 .815
10. Texas 85-20 .810
11. Wisconsin 93-23 .802
12. TCU 77-22 .778
13. USC 83-25 .769
14. Texas Tech 80-28 .741
15. Auburn 90-33 .732

NATION’S BEST CONFERENCE WINNING PERCENTAGE (1997-present)
Team Record PCT
1. Boise State 109-15 .879
2. Ohio State 106-30 .779
3. Florida State 104-31 .770
4. Oklahoma 109-36 .752
5. Virginia Tech 98-34 .742
6. Florida 101-38 .727
7. Oregon 104-41 .717
8. Texas 101-40 .716
9. BYU 75-31 .708
10. USC 99-45 .688
11. Fresno State 92-42 .687
12. TCU 91-44 .674
13. LSU 92-48 .657
14. Miami (Fla.) 84-45 .651
15. West Virginia 74-47 .612

HIGHEST SCORING TEAMS (1997-present)
Team Games Points Avg.
1. Boise State 215 8,335 38.77
2. Oregon 213 7,580 35.59
3. Texas 215 7,534 35.04
4. Oklahoma 220 7,658 34.81
5. Kansas State 213 7,288 34.22
Texas Tech 211 7,220 34.22
7. Florida 212 6,960 32.68
8. USC 215 7,015 32.63
9. Hawaii 219 7,040 32.15
10. TCU 209 6,396 30.60

WINS BY WEST COAST TEAMS
(1997-present)
Team Wins
1. Boise State 175
2. Oregon 157
USC *157
4. BYU 136
5. Utah 135
6. Fresno State 132
7. UCLA 120
8. Oregon State 119
9. Arizona State 114
10. Hawaii 112
*Includes wins since vacated by the NCAA

EXPLOSION PLAYS
A staple of Oregon’s blur offense in recent years has been “explosion plays” of 25 yards or more from scrimmage. Last season the Ducks racked up 67, with 21 resulting in touchdowns.

75 - Addison rec. at COLO (Mariota)*
71 - Mariota rush at UVA*
66 - Hardrick rush vs. UCLA
66 - Tyner rush vs. WSU*
65 - Huff rec. at WASH (Mariota)*
57 - Addison rec. vs. UTAH (Mariota)
57 - Mariota rush vs. WSU*
57 - Mundt rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)
54 - Huff rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)*
49 - Marshall rush vs. NICH*
47 - Marshall rush vs. NICH
46 - Mariota rush vs. NICH*
46 - Huff rec. vs. NICH (Mariota)
45 - Hawkins rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)*
45 - Forde rush vs. NICH
44 - Huff rec. vs. OSU (Mariota)
44 - Addison rec. at COLO (Mariota)*
43 - Addison rec. at WASH (Mariota)
40 - Tyner rush vs. OSU
40 - Marshall rush vs. UCLA*
40 - Forde rush at COLO
40 - Thomas rush at UVA*
40 - Lowe rec. vs. NICH (Mariota)
39 - Huff rec. at COLO (Mariota)
38 - Huff rec. vs. OSU (Mariota)
38 - Addison rec. at WASH (Mariota)
38 - Addison rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)
37 - Marshall rush vs. WSU
37 - Allen rec. vs. COLO (Rodrigues)
36 - Marshall rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)
35 - Marshall rec. vs. WSU (Mariota)
35 - Mariota rush at WASH
33 - Mariota rush vs. TEX
31 - Huff rec. vs. UCLA (Mariota)
31 - Huff rec. at UVA (Mariota)
31 - Tyner rush at UVA*
31 - Huff rec. vs. NICH (Mariota)
30 - Hawkins rec. at ARIZ (Mariota)
30 - Marshall rush vs. WSU*
30 - Addison rec. at WASH (Mariota)
30 - Addison rec. at UVA (Mariota)*
29 - Huff rec. at ARIZ (Mariota)
28 - Huff rec. vs. OSU (Mariota)*
28 - Brown rec. vs. UTAH (Mariota)
28 - Mundt rec. vs. CAL (Mariota)
28 - Thomas rush vs. TENN*
28 - Thomas rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)
28 - Huff rec. vs. TENN (Mariota)
28 - Thomas rec. at UVA (Mariota)
28 - Rodrigues vs. NICH
27 - Baylis vs. TEX (Mariota)
27 - Addison rec. at ARIZ (Mariota)
27 - Tyner rush vs. UTAH
27 - Huff rec. vs. NICH (Mariota)
27 - Addison rec. vs. NICH* (Mariota)
27 - Mariota rush vs. NICH
26 - Hawkins rec. vs. UTAH (Mariota)
26 - Huff rec. at STAN (Mariota)
26 - Marshall rush vs. UCLA
26 - Marshall rush vs. WSU*
26 - Mundt rec. vs. WSU (Mariota)
26 - Huff rec. at WASH (Mariota)
26 - Mariota rush vs. NICH
26 - Huff rec. at COLO (Mariota)*
25 - Baylis rec. vs. UTAH (Mariota)
25 - Marshall rush vs. CAL*
25 - Huff rec. vs. CAL (Mariota)
* indicates touchdown

DUCKS ON WATCH LISTS
Pharaoh Brown, Jr., TE
•Mackey Award (tight end)

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Sr., CB
•Walter Camp Award (player of the year)
•Bednarik Award (defensive player)
•Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player)
•Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back)

Jake Fisher, Sr., OT
•Outland Trophy (interior lineman)

Hroniss Grasu, Sr., C
•Outland Trophy (interior lineman)
•Rimington Trophy (center)
•Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman/linebacker)

Tyler Johnstone, Jr., OT
•Outland Trophy (interior lineman)
•Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman/linebacker)

Derrick Malone, Sr., ILB
•Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player)
•Butkus Award (linebacker)
•Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman/linebacker)

Marcus Mariota, Jr., QB
•Walter Camp Award (player of the year)
•Maxwell Award (player of the year)
•Davey O’Brien Award (quarterback)

Byron Marshall, Jr., RB
•Maxwell Award (player of the year)
•Doak Walker Award (running back)

Johnny Mundt, So., TE
•Mackey Award (tight end)

Thomas Tyner, So., RB
•Maxwell Award (player of the year)
•Doak Walker Award (running back)

Tony Washington, Sr., OLB
•Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player)