For the second time in three weeks, Oregon St. is in scouting mode, not game day mode, thanks this time to a scheduled bye. Fortunately, there's lots to look at today.
It starts with California at Ohio St. on ABC at 9 AM this morning. For those who can't get the Pac-12 Network due to still less than great distribution, this is the first chance to get a look at the Bears, who were thinking it could be a Golden season, but are now contemplating doom.
Even though it could be the mismatch of the day in the conference, Portland St.'s visit to Washington this afternoon is a chance to look in on the Huskies, as well as some in-state players of interest to Oregonians who are playing for the Vikings. That and the fact that Tennessee Tech at Oregon could make the start of the Arkansas St. at Oregon look pedestrian.
The late afternoon features the USC at Stanford game, the conference opener. The Trojans have lost 4 of the last 5 to the Cardinal, including last season's meeting in overtime. The country, never mind the conference, should know a lot more about both teams after this one is over.
The evening involves Arizona St.'s first trip outside of Tempe, and then, this year's edition of the Utah Holy War. Beaver Nation gets a great chance in this one to look at teams Oregon St. will face in consecutive weeks in the middle of next month. With Jordan Wynn's career over, Utah is again in replacement quarterback mode, and how that goes is of particular relevance to the conference, not just the Beavers.
And the "Air Raid" worked well enough last night, as Connor Halliday filled in admirably for the injured Jeff Tuel, throwing 4 touchdown passes as Washington St. won 35-27 in Las Vegas over UNLV.
Drop in to share your scouting reports and other observations on week 3 of the season.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com