A gametime decision, Noah Whittington takes warmups with the RBs

On the scene at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Zachary Neel of Ducks Wire reports that Oregon running back Noah Whittington has taken the field at the Peach Bowl.

He's going through warmups with the Oregon running backs, in football pants and cleats, moving normally.

Whittington's availability will be a gametime decision for the Ducks. It's crucial because Jay Harris and Dierre Hill have seven pass blocking snaps between them. At 5-8, 206 Whittington is a fireplug with the leg strength, toughness and experience to help protect Dante Moore from Indiana's aggressive blitzing and simulated pressures (5-7 defenders near the line of scrimmage, and the opponent doesn't know which ones are coming.)

In the first game between these two teams, the Hoosiers sacked Moore six times, destroying his rhythm and forcing a couple of interceptions. Whittington is also Oregon's leading rusher, their best chance to make gains on early downs and stay out of third and longs, the down and distance where pressure defenses thrive.

If the senior from Peach County, Georgia is able to go, the Ducks have the balance they need to compete tonight, Without him, it gets a little harder.

Curiously, as gametime approaches, the line has notched down to Indiana -3, closer than it's been all week.