This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Both the Stanford Cardinal and the Oregon Ducks will try to run the ball when they meet for their Game of the Year showdown at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, just like almost every other team in college football history.
What's fascinating, though, is how differently they will try to do it.
Quarterback Andrew Luck and the No. 3 Cardinal will play like they want to stay on the field, using every bit of the play clock and grinding down opponents, while LaMichael James and the No. 6 Ducks will play as if they can't wait to get off it. Twenty-eight of their 51 touchdown drives this season have taken less than two minutes, and coach Chip Kelly believes time of possession is the most overrated statistic in the game.
"You can win time of possession against Oregon and be down 21 points," Stanford coach David Shaw agreed.
Whichever style prevails — thunder, meet lightning — undoubtedly will deliver its practitioner to the inaugural Pac-12 Conference championship game, and perhaps even the Bowl Championship Series title game. It's an opportunity the undefeated Cardinal has been awaiting for a year, ever since it suffered its only loss of last season to the Ducks and watched them eventually play for the national championship.
"Stanford will look like 1950 sometimes," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "They'll have everybody within 10 yards of each other. And Oregon has everybody within 53 yards of each other, spread across the field."
The result, though, is similarly lethal.
The Cardinal averages 48 points per game and 225 rushing yards by using hulking linemen and three tight ends and a grinding, old-school style that physically wears out opponents. It also allows Luck — "the best in the country," Kelly said — to use play-action and take chances downfield, though deep-threat receiver Chris Owusu won't be available because of a concussion.
The Ducks, meanwhile, average 46 points and 298 yards on the ground with pure speed, using James — the nation's leading rusher — quarterback Darron Thomas and blazing backs Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas to race past exhausted defenses.
Obviously, something has to give.
The Cardinal seems to have an advantage, with a run defense that ranks third nationally. It also has Luck, the presumptive No. 1 pick of the next NFL Draft, and a 31/2-point edge, according to oddsmakers.
But these teams have a history.
Two years ago, the Cardinal survived for a heart-stopping 51-42 victory at home, the last loss for the Ducks before their 18-game conference winning streak. Last year, the Ducks erupted from behind for a 52-31 win in Eugene, the last loss for Stanford before its 17-game winning streak.
Expect another thriller, this time.