EUGENE, ORE. — Prior to Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. matchup (Pac-12 Network) with Colorado, third-ranked Oregon will honor its outgoing seniors in the Ducks’ final home game.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Heisman Trophy favorite, is not expected to be among them, although there is little doubt that this will be his final appearance at Autzen Stadium.
A fourth-year junior, Mariota is a sure bet to declare for the 2015 NFL draft and is expected to be one of the first players selected. But with Mariota having a year of eligibility remaining, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said including the native Hawaiian in “senior day” activities would not be appropriate.
“That opens up a can of worms,” Helfrich said. “If a guy in that situation plans on coming out … and it doesn’t work out, that’s just a weird situation for everybody, and there is a certain protocol for that.”
Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) is No. 2 in the College Football Playoff so every game is big for the Ducks. Colorado (2-8, 0-7) has lost 18 games to ranked opponents, including the Buffaloes’ last 23 meetings against ranked foes on the road.
A Buffs victory over Oregon would “shock the world,” as players like to say. But Colorado knows its is building for the future.
The media have not been given information about CU’s quarterback situation and whether back-up QB Jordan Gehrke will get meaningful snaps.
Usual starter Sefo Liufau has been recovering from a concussion suffered in Colorado’s last game, the loss at Arizona two weeks ago. Liufau has committed six turnovers in the past two games but has already set single-season CU passing records.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
