The Associated Press
No. 7 MICHIGAN STATE (1-0) at No. 3 OREGON (1-0), 6:30 p.m. (Fox)
Line: Oregon by 12.
Series Record: Tied at 2-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Saturday’s game will be the first nonconference clash at Autzen Stadium that features two teams ranked in the top 10. Third-ranked Oregon is the highest ranked non-conference opponent for the No. 7 Spartans since they played at No. 1 Nebraska 1996. The home team has won in each of the four previous meetings between the two teams, evening the series at 2-2. Michigan State won the most recent meeting 27-20 in 1999 in East Lansing.
KEY MATCHUP
Oregon’s offense against Michigan State’s defense. The Ducks piled up 673 yards of offense in their season-opening 62-13 victory over South Dakota, after averaging 45.5 points and 565 yards last season. The Spartans, who defeated Jacksonville State 45-7 in their opener, had the fourth-ranked defense in the nation last year, allowing opponents an average of 274.38 yards offense per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Michigan State: Defensive end Shilique Calhoun, a 6-foot-4, 256 pound junior, who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last year and is projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick.
Oregon: Quarterback Marcus Mariota, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in the opener against South Dakota. The junior Heisman hopeful, considered one of the best dual-threats in the country, has thrown at least one touchdown in each of the 27 games he’s played at Oregon. He has thrown 66 touchdowns, rushed for 15 and caught one for the most career touchdowns in school history.
FACTS & FIGURES
Oregon has won 11 straight games against nonconference opponents. Their last loss came in 2011 against LSU in the Cowboys Classic. … Michigan State has won its last 11 straight games. … One of Oregon’s two losses last season was to Stanford, which lost to Michigan State 24-20 in the Rose Bowl. … The Spartans have won their last six games away from Spartan Stadium, including the Rose Bowl victory.
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