A critical matchup Oregon has to solve in the Texas Tech offense

He did most of his damage in the second half after the game was out of reach, but JMU's Nick DeGennaro, 6-1, 196, beat the Oregon defense for five catches for 90 yards and a 47-yard touchdown in the Dukes' 51-34 loss to the Ducks.

He also threw a 50-yard completion on a double pass to wide receiver Landon Ellis, 6-2, 213, the home team fooled badly on the trick play.

While the Oregon defense has been solid all through a 12-1 campaign, they've struggled at times with big receivers and big plays. Against Iowa in the fourth quarter, the defense had the Hawkeyes third and five from their own 12 before giving up a 40-yard completion to tight end DJ Vonnahme, a scud down the middle of the field.

In their only loss of the year to Indiana, 6-2, 209 wide receiver Elijah Surratt beat them for eight catches for 121 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone that put the Hoosiers ahead 27-20 in the fourth quarter.

Matching up with big receivers remains a challenge

Oregon's pass defense has been solid. They rank No. 5 in the country, limiting opponents to a passer rating of 103.17 and 158 yards a game, but their one persistent vulnerability has been the big receiver. Washington's Denzel Boston beat them for two touchdowns. USC's Ja'Kobi Lane, 6-4, 200, snared six balls for 108 yards, posting up down the field. The Trojans' Tanook Hines had his best day of the season, latching on to six for 141.

That's a potential problem against TTU. Senior quarterback Behren Morton operates a well-balanced attack that likes to take shots downfield to three tall-tree wideouts:

Caleb Douglas #5

Wide Receiver Senior 6' 4", 210 lbs.

Missouri City, TX

54 receptions 846 yds 7 TD 15.7 per catch

Reggie Virgil #1 Senior 6' 3", 190 lbs.

Apopka, FL

55 receptions 676 yds 6 TDs 12.3 per catch

Coy Eakin #3 Junior 6' 2", 210 lbs.

Stephenville, TX

47 receptions 626 yds 6 TDs 13.3 per catch

Eakin had two touchdowns in the Big 12 Championship win over BYU. Douglas scored twice in a 49-0 win over West Virginia in November.

Morton grew up a Red Raider. He's wound up and thrown for 8,849 yards in his career, 71 touchdowns. The Ducks have to get some pressure, keeping the Red Raider attack out of those favorable down and distances they thrive on.

He's not much of a threat to run-- in five seasons he's carried the ball 182 times for -6 yards. The TTU o-line does a good job in protection, though, with Morton sacked 17 times all season. Powerhouse running back Cameron Dickey provides balance with 1,095 yards this year, four TDs.

In spite of their explosiveness offensively the Red Raiders struggle a bit in the Red Zone, striking for touchdowns just 56 percent of the time, 12th in the 16-team Big 12. They've settled for field goals after reaching the 20 23 times in 64 possessions.