Roundup: 2 conference games, Utah-Michigan highlight Saturday action
Ready for some more football? Ready for some more conference games? No. 2 Oregon will get its first road test of the season when it travels to the Palouse to take on Washington State (7:30 p.m. PT, ESPN), and Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press features the "eclectic" Oregon receiving corps. A lot of diverse talent over there with guys like track star Devon Allen and former PG Johnathan Loyd (and RB Byron Marshall ain’t too bad himself in the pass game … probably because he’s from San Jose). Oh, and Mel Kiper Jr. has Marcus Mariota No. 1 on his 2015 NFL draft board (USC’s Leonard Williams is No. 2 as well).
On the Cougs’ side of thangs, Washington State wide receiver Isiah Myers has become more disciplined in his approach to football, and the results are clear: Myers leads the Pac-12 in receiving and receiving yardage (26 catches for 423 yards).
If one conference game wasn’t enough for you, then please turn your attention to the Pac-12 Networks at 7 p.m. Saturday night for a North-South shoot-out between Cal and Arizona in Tucson. One guy who could make this a high-scoring affair is Arizona wide receiver Samajie Grant, but as Steve Rivera of FOX Sports Arizona notes in this story on him, Grant is listed as questionable on the injury report.
In previewing the Cats-Bears game for the San Francisco Chronicle, Mike Vernon discusses the spread offenses of Cal and Arizona and notes the key differences between the two. Also, a story on Cal football player Griffin Piatt’s transition from wide receiver to secondary (he has two picks already this year as a backup safety).
But hey, there’s some major-league non-league fun going down in Ann Arbor for Utah-Michigan (12:30 p.m. PT, ABC/ESPN2), and Junior Salt and Nate Orchard are prepared to play the Wolverines, as I’m sure the rest of the team is. Shout out to the SL Trib for the link.
But hey again, because there’s a game that’ll probably be at or around halftime when Utah-Michigan kicks off. It’s Colorado-Hawai’i, and it’s on the Pac-12 Networks starting at 11 a.m. PT/noon MT. While the passing game is off to a very fine start for the Buffs, we haven’t seen a whole lot of receptions for the Colorado tight ends. As Brian Howell notes, the top CU tight ends (Kyle Slavin and Sean Irwin) have a combined three grabs for 23 yards.
We’re tripling the fun for ya on the Pac-12 Networks. We’ve talked about the opener and nightcap already, so let’s discuss the sandwich meat: Georgia State at Washington at 3 p.m. PT. One thing to look out for in this game is more touches for wide receivers Kasen Williams and John Ross, because that’s what Chris Petersen wants, according to Christian Caple.
Oregon State greets San Diego State at 7:30 p.m. PT on FOX Sports 1, and here’s the Oregon State-San Diego State game preview from The Oregonian.
As most coaches are when it comes to their star player, UCLA head coach Jim Mora is being secretive about Brett Hundley’s injury and has not publicly said whether or not he will play against Arizona State Sept. 25.
Well, we know Taylor Kelly won’t be able to go against the Bruins, but Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici is ready to step in for the injured starter, writes Tyler Lockman. Dude’s got a cannon for an arm.
Stanford head coach David Shaw joined SI Now to talk about his team’s red zone failures against USC, upcoming road games against the Dawgs and Golden Domers and the College Football Playoff.
No Trojans this weekend, and no Trojan for the Jags on Sunday, because Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee will sit out against Indianapolis with a hamstring injury.