Four defensive matchups No. 3 Oregon must win to avoid an Indiana scare

Football is a game of matchups, and great teams assert their will by taking something away from the opponent, frustrating what they do best.

Oregon has the talent to win and cover in Autzen Stadium, provided they execute against a solid, well-coached Indiana team, 12:30 p.m. Saturday on CBS. These matchups are critical:

1. Duck defensive back Ify Obidegwu versus Indiana wide receiver Elijah Surratt

Obidegwu and Surratt were high school teammates at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Surratt is a senior, 6-2, 209 and Obidegwu a redshirt freshman, 6-1, 203. Surratt was a zero-star recruit as a prep who started at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania, transferring to James Madison in 2023 and Indiana in 2024.

Last season he caught 53 balls for the Hoosiers for 957 yards and 8 touchdowns, 18.1 yards a catch. Already this season he's caught six touchdowns, including a 49-yard strike to win the game against Iowa in the fourth quarter, two TDs against Iowa the week before.

He's a physical receiver and the Hoosiers like to use him in the quick game, the slants and hitches that are the staple of their RPO-based attack, setting opponents up for the big strike over the top later in the game.

The Hoosiers' other wideout is Omar Cooper, a former three-star from Indianapolis, 6-0, 201. Cooper's a deep threat who has averaged 18.1 yards a catch this season, 22 receptions for 408 yards.

Oregon's other starting corner Brandon Finney has been lights out in coverage this season. In 154 snaps he's been targeted 11 times with opponents completing just two passes.

This is the best pair of receivers the Ducks have faced, however, and the Indiana scheme is designed to get the ball out quickly. Podcaster Landon Tengwall of "The Landon Tengwall Show" points out IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza takes an average time of 2.6 seconds to throw, best in the Big Ten.

2. Dillon Thieneman, Jadon Canady, Bryce Boettcher and Jerry Mixon vs. the RPO

The Indiana offense is relatively simple but lethal in its execution. They rely on the Inside Zone running plays paired with a RPO tag. Mendoza is the triggerman. He tries to put defenders in a bind, choosing whether to come up and stop the run or defend against his quick, accurate passes.

These four have to disguise their intentions and confuse him, at least part of the time, and they must tackle well. Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black are both physical runners. The Hoosiers run for a conference-best 268 yards a game, 6.1 yards a carry,

The Ducks need to get some first down stops and force Mendoza in some third and longs. Stuffing some of those Inside Zone running plays and knocking away a few passes are crucial to breaking up the rhythm of a very efficient offense.

3. Matayo Uiagalelei versus Indiana right tackle Kahlil Benson

Benson is 6-6, 310. Tengwall doesn't think he has the agility and technique to win his matchup with Uiagalelei, but for that to matter, the Ducks' linebackers and safeties have to force some of those must-pass situations.

4. Bear Alexander or A'Mauri Washington vs IU right guard Bray Lynch

The strength and quickness of Alexander and Washington could be a problem for Lynch, especially if Alexander plays with the urgency he showed against Penn State. The junior transfer from USC posted five tackles, a sack and two pressures against the Nittany Lions.

Despite these quibbles, Indiana is a good team, one that throttled Illinois in Bloomington 63-10 and won at Kinnick Stadium, a very tough place to play. They're disciplined and tough.

For the Ducks to win, they've got to execute in these four areas defensively, while minimizing turnovers and special teams busts. The Hoosiers blocked a punt against the Illini, and that started the spiral.