PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Myles Gaskin rushed for more than 100 yards for the second time this season last week against UCLA. Even when splitting carries with Salvon Ahmed, Gaskin’s found a groove. He has at least 81 yards in four consecutive games but that same pace could be a challenge at Oregon. The Ducks are 18th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game.
–QB Jake Browning has played his three best games of the 2018 season in Washington’s last three outings. He followed up performances of 15-of-22 passing with three touchdowns on Sept. 22 vs. Arizona State and 23-of-25 on Sept. 29 vs. BYU with a 265-yard passing, 49-yard rushing game in last week’s win over UCLA. Browning’s rushing touchdown in the 2016 rout of Oregon provided the game’s defining moment, as Browning pointed at a Ducks defender on his way into the end zone.
–S Taylor Rapp has been an important utility man for the Washington defense this season, leading the Huskies with four sacks while also serving as support in run-stopping and a presence against the pass. He dove for an interception last week at UCLA, providing the kind of play that can be difference-making against Oregon. Ducks QB Justin Herbert has been somewhat turnover prone, throwing five interceptions in five games.
–LB Ben Burr-Kirven leads Washington and the Pac-12 Conference with 74 tackles. Burr-Kirven’s ball-hawking against the run is particularly vital against an Oregon offense boasting three ball-carriers averaging at least 40 yards per game in RB CJ Verdell, Travis Dye and Tony Brooks-James.
SERIES HISTORY: Washington leads Oregon 60-45-5 but the Ducks won 12 in a row from 2004 through 2015.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re going to go in Sunday and fix everything we messed up (in the second half at UCLA). Monday, we’re going to start preparing for Oregon. We know that they’ve got … a prolific offense. It’s going to be fun.” — Washington DB Myles Bryant
