Since Bo Nix arrived on the University of Oregon campus, the Ducks were afraid of this exact scenario.
Without an experienced backup quarterback at their disposal, the Ducks’ season depended on Nix staying healthy and productive for the 2022 season.
He managed the productive part, but after a hit to his right leg late in the Washington game, the healthy part is in serious doubt as Oregon prepares to face No. 10 Utah inside Autzen Stadium. ( Saturday – 7:30 PM – ESPN )
If it weren’t for that freak incident on that QB run, the Ducks most likely would have found a way to defeat the Huskies and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
But now with that 37-34 loss and Nix’s unknown health status, the fate of Oregon’s season regarding a Pac-12 Championship is in serious question.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning said his quarterback is preparing as if he will be playing against the Utes, but just in case Nix can’t go, he’s said this week he has full confidence in Ty Thompson and/or Jay Butterfield to get the job done.
“I think you always have prep and you have a good feel for what guys are best at,” said Lanning on Wednesday.
“We prep year-round for those situations. That’s why you get reps with the twos, reps with the threes, and develop them in groups throughout the season for situations like that. We’ve had guys step up all year and we always want to be prepared for those moments.”
In a later interview with John Canzano, Lanning said he doesn’t want to give specifics on the Nix injury or his status because he doesn’t want to give Utah a competitive advantage.
Completely understandable.
If you’re not required to provide that information, then why give it?
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said during his weekly press briefing that he and the Utes are ‘preparing as if Nix will play’.
Nix or no Nix, Oregon still has a major problem in its secondary, and Utah has the players to exploit it.
Maybe not as much as Washington did, but the Utes are very capable of putting points on the board.
Senior Cam Rising is having another good season, completing 66 percent of his passes and nearly 250 yards per game. He’s also thrown for 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
He did miss a game a couple of weeks ago due to his own leg injury and since his return, he hasn’t been too spectacular. In the Utes favor, of course, they played Arizona and Stanford, and Rising didn’t have to be heroic.
Against Oregon inside Autzen, however, just getting by won’t cut it.
Rising will have to play like Michael Penix Jr. He’ll have to exploit every part of the field with precision throws and correct reads.
There’s also a bit of a revenge factor for the Ducks and they know full well that Rising can play a lot better than just getting by.
He torched the Oregon defense not once, but twice in 2021. That last game, a 42-10 win for Utah, was for the Pac-12 championship.
This game might not be for the conference title, but it could be a faux semifinal toward the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas on Friday, December 2nd.
Most likely, the winner of this game will face the winner of the USC-UCLA matchup earlier in the day.
All will be decided Saturday night when the Utes take on the Ducks at 7:30 pm on ESPN.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CASEY ROGERS DISCUSSES UTAH
With Nix: Oregon wins a close one 27-24
Without Nix: Ducks offense suffers and the Utes cruise 35-7.