Southern Utah @ Oregon preview

Oregon is seeking to rebound from its first losing season since 2004 and new coach Willie Taggart leads the Ducks into action for the first time when they host FCS member Southern Utah on Saturday. Taggart, hired away from South Florida, inherits a 4-8 squad and promises to put the entertainment back into an offense that slipped last season.

Taggart is looking for sophomore quarterback Justin Herbert to be more comfortable after being forced to play earlier than expected and he is looking to put bushels of points on the scoreboard. "We are going to be fun," Taggart recently told reporters. "You are going to see tempo, you are going to see things we have done in the past around here, but you will see things that are different. In a nutshell, you'll see us (have a) lethal simplicity. We are going to be sharp, fun, simple, fast." The best development of the offseason for the Ducks was senior running back Royce Freeman deciding to return to school instead of entering the NFL draft. Freeman has rushed for 4,146 career yards and is on track to break the school mark held by LaMichael James (5,082 from 2009-11).

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None

ABOUT SOUTHERN UTAH (2016: 6-5, 5-3 Big Sky): Senior quarterback Patrick Tyler passed for a school-record 23 touchdowns last season but is still trying to hold off sophomore Aaron Zwahlen (transfer from Hawaii) as the opener approaches. The defense features two standouts in senior outside linebacker Mike Needham (five interceptions in 2016) and senior defensive tackle Robert Torgerson (12 tackles for losses, including five sacks), and Needham is aware of the importance. "It's a resume game for me," Needham said of playing a Pac-12 program. "You don't try to play harder in those games, but you kind of do. You just want to have the best game of your life against those teams."

ABOUT OREGON (2016: 4-8, 2-7 Pac-12): Freeman ranks third in school history with 47 total touchdowns, but his junior season was disrupted by a shin injury and his output of 945 yards was roughly half of his school-record 1,836 yards racked up as a sophomore. Herbert worked on being more assertive with his teammates in the spring and summer after displaying promise with 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions. The defense allowed an average of 41.4 points per game but has a budding star in sophomore linebacker Troy Dye, who led the squad in tackles (91) and stop for losses (13) last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ducks senior WR Charles Nelson, who caught 52 passes last season, holds the school record with 2,173 kickoff return yards.

2. The Thunderbirds were 0-2 against FBS foes last season, falling to Utah (24-0) and Brigham Young (37-7).

3. Freeman has 22 career 100-yard outings, four behind the school mark held by James.

PREDICTION: Oregon 45, Southern Utah 13