Oregon, South Dakota Game Video Recap
The Ducks won their third straight season opener Saturday, but were far from perfect.
(EUGENE, Ore. ) — The general assumption is that a team makes no bigger improvement during the season than from week one to week two.
That's something Mark Helfrich would like to see apply in No. 3 Oregon's case, as the Ducks move on from their 62-13 win over South Dakota and look forward to hosting No. 8 Michigan State in Autzen Stadium on Saturday (3:30 p.m. PT, FOX).
The Ducks won their third straight season opener Saturday, but were far from perfect. Penalties and a boneheaded fumble hurt the offense, and the defense allowed a few big plays by the Coyotes, though rarely when the starting 11 were on the field together.
Bring on the week two bump, Helfrich said. "That's usually the trend, and we sure hope that takes place," the UO coach said Sunday in reviewing Saturday's game with local media.
Michigan State, which beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl in January, opened the 2014 regular season with a 45-7 win over Jacksonville State. Though neither side returned totally intact this fall, the game matches last season's fifth-best rushing offense in terms of yards per carry, Oregon (6.26), against the No. 2 rush defense in the Spartans (2.85).
Like the Ducks, Michigan State returns a veteran offensive backfield, but has contended with losses on the offensive line entering this season.
"We'll be excited to compete," Helfrich said. "They played great in every phase in their opener. And we're excited to get back out in front of the Autzen fans as well. We'll need them as we get ready for these guys."
Players of the game:
Quarterback Marcus Mariota, safety Erick Dargan and punt returner Charles Nelson were Oregon's players of the week for the South Dakota game, Helfrich announced.
Mac and Mose - South Dakota Review:
Video Courtesy: goducks.com
