The Oregon Ducks face the TCU Horned Frogs in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday evening in San Antonio, Texas. The Horned Frogs will be without their star quarterback Trevone Boykin, following his arrest for third-degree assault. Head coach Gary Patterson has not announced who will start for the Horned Frogs prior to Saturday's matchup. The Ducks struggled earlier in the year, but head coach Mark Helfrich has his program gaining momentum at the right time, winning six consecutive games including a victory over Pac-12 Champions Stanford.
Oregon transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. clearly looks like a different player since returning from a broken finger, and has shown down the stretch of this season why many expected a big year out of him. The senior quarterback has thrown for 2,446 yards with 25 touchdowns to six interceptions, and is a dual threat behind center. Adams has played his best football of late and has thrown for 1,665 yards with 21 touchdowns to four interceptions during the Ducks current winning streak. He will look to move the ball up and down the field on the Horned Frogs defense.
The Ducks have plenty of playmakers on offense, and look for running back Royce Freeman to get touches early Saturday. The Ducks sophomore running back is considered by many to be one of the most underrated ball carriers in the country, and leads the team with 1,706 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Freeman has rushed for over 100 yards in 11 of Oregon's 13 games.
The Ducks have struggled on defense this season, but defensive lineman DeForest Buckner is one of the most talented prospects at his position in the country. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound defensive lineman creates havoc for opposing offenses, and has recorded 16 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks this year. Buckner will create pressure on whoever is behind center for the Horned Frogs Saturday, and is key difference maker on Oregon's defense.
Patterson has not announced whether Bram Kohlhausen or Foster Sawyer will start at quarterback Saturday for TCU, and both have limited experience behind center. TCU coaches are likely leaning towards starting senior quarterback Kohlhausen, as he has more experience than the freshman Sawyer. Kohlhausen has thrown for 369 yards with three touchdowns to one interception in his career.
Patterson will get running back Aaron Green plenty of opportunities early no matter who lines up behind center for TCU. The senior running back leads the team with 1,171 rushing yards and has scored 10 touchdowns. While the Horned Frogs will be missing plenty of talent on offense in Boykin and wide receiver Josh Doctson, expect Green to lay it all out on the field in his last game in a TCU uniform.
Both offenses can score points quickly, and TCU will need to rely on a backup quarterback to pull out a win.
Where To Watch: ESPN at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
To Watch Online Live Stream: Click Here
Oregon Ducks Radio Broadcast: Click Here
TCU Horned Frogs Radio Broadcast: Click Here
