No. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) passed each test thrown at it throughout the season — trap games, top-3 matchups and now hostile road environments.
For the Ducks to keep their position as the highest ranked team in the nation, they’ll need to take care of business against the No. 15 team in the 18-team Big Ten. Oregon is asked to do so with the injury bug hitting its roster.
Only a No. 1 caliber team can have a 21-point road win in a stadium as storied as The Big House and still leave fans feeling that they underperformed.
The Ducks won 38-17 last Saturday in front of 110,576 fans in Michigan but left much to be desired. For example, a muffed punt in the first quarter set up the Wolverines in a dangerous position, ultimately leading to a game-tying touchdown.
Oregon responded to its early fumble by controlling the matchup the rest of the way.
Michigan outscored Oregon 7-3 in the third, despite the Ducks having the advantage for the remainder of the game. Third quarter struggles are something head coach Dan Lanning called a “trend” this season, with Oregon being outscored 30 to 29 overall.
The Ducks do head into Week 11 with a 9-0 record for only the third time in program history. Their opponent, however, has not had the same kind of success this season.
Maryland (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) enters the matchup off a bye week. Conference play has been rocky for the Terrapins, as their defense has conceded 27 points or more in every Big Ten game. They’ve dropped both of their road Big Ten matchups, allowing 90 points and scoring 51 across the two games.
In a season of firsts, Oregon will face the Terrapins for the first time ever as Maryland makes the 2,823-mile trek from College Park, Maryland to Autzen Stadium.
Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has 13 touchdowns on 2,314 passing yards this season on 68.4 percent completion. Opposing defenses have sacked Edwards 13 times and forced six picks — something to look out for with the Ducks’ defense totaling 23 sacks and seven interceptions.
Perhaps most notable heading into the Maryland matchup are the Oregon injuries. Leading receiver Tez Johnson and offensive lineman Marcus Harper II both exited the Michigan game with injuries.
Lanning said in his postgame press conference that he didn’t have any updates for either player but that Harper told him he’d “be fine.”
Losing either Johnson or Harper for any amount of time would be a big loss for the Ducks. Johnson leads the team with 64 receptions for 649 yards while Harper has been a big part of an offensive line that’s only allowed three sacks in the last seven games.
Traeshon Holden stepped up in Johnson’s absence against the Wolverines, and recorded a career-high 149 yards on six receptions. Justius Lowe is another receiver that may face a larger role if Johnson misses time. Lowe has tallied eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown in his last two appearances.
Even though Oregon lost a couple of players against Michigan, it returned defensive end Jordan Burch and tight end Terrance Ferguson. Burch missed the previous three games with an injury he suffered during practice in early October and Ferguson missed the previous two after an appendectomy.
The Ducks have not lost at home since Nov. 12, 2022 against Washington. They have the opportunity to make it two full undefeated seasons at home with just two more games remaining in Eugene.
Oregon will look to continue its home winning streak and maintain its perfect record with kickoff against the Terrapins set for 4 p.m. on Saturday in Autzen Stadium.