The college football season got underway Thursday night, and the Oregon Ducks will begin their 2012 campaign Saturday, Sept. 1 with a 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT matchup against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
After winning the Pac-12 and the Rose Bowl last season, Oregon enters 2012 with high hopes once again despite the departure of starting quarterback Darron Thomas, who chose to forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Thomas has still not signed with an NFL team. Redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota, who won the job over sophomore Bryan Bennett, will be tasked with replacing Thomas. There were rumors that Bennett would seek to transfer after losing the job, but he was convinced to stay after meeting with head coach Chip Kelly.
Arkansas State, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Red Wolves finished 10-3 in coach Hugh Freeze's first season at the helm and won their conference title before losing to Northern Illinois, 38-20, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Here's all the info on Saturday's matchup:
Who: Arkansas State (0-0, Sun Belt Conference) at No. 5 Oregon (0-0, Pacific 12 Conference).
When: Saturday, Sept. 1. 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
Where: Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon.
T.V.: ESPN
Point Spread: Oregon by 37.
Specific Team News: For more on Oregon, head over to Addicted to Quack. For more on the Pac-12, check out Pacific Takes.
Video: 2012 Oregon season preview.
Oregon 2012 Football Preview and Schedule (via sbnation)