Verone McKinley III
Southern California tailback Darwin Barlow (22) fumbles the ball as he's hit by California safety Elijah Hicks (3) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Berkeley, Calif. California's Trey Paster picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Utah's Whittingham unanimous AP Pac-12 Coach of the Year

By Anne M. Peterson Dec. 10, 2021 12:43 PM EST

Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd, second from left, celebrates alongside coach Kyle Whittingham, left, quarterback Cameron Rising and wide receiver Britain Covey (18) after Utah defeated Oregon 38-10 to win the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
No. 14 Utah beats No. 10 Oregon 38-10 for 1st Rose Bowl bid

By Josh Dubow Dec. 03, 2021 11:37 PM EST

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal, center left, shakes hands with Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham following their NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Take 2: Oregon, Utah meet again with Pac-12 on the line

By Anne M. Peterson Dec. 02, 2021 03:28 PM EST

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) looks to pass the ball in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/George Frey)
No. 10 Oregon faces No. 14 Utah for Pac-12 title

By The Associated Press Dec. 02, 2021 02:40 PM EST

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) passes during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Oregon State, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Oregon State at Oregon 11/27/2021

Nov. 27, 2021 04:33 PM EST

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal shouts in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Stinging from loss to Utah, Oregon hosts rival Oregon State

By The Associated Press Nov. 26, 2021 09:28 AM EST

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) walks off the field after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Division titles at stake when No. 24 Utah hosts No. 4 Oregon

By The Associated Press Nov. 18, 2021 05:01 PM EST

Washington State wide receiver Travell Harris (1) hauls in a pass over Oregon safety Verone McKinley III (23) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
No. 5 Oregon downs Washington State 38-24 with big 2nd half

By Anne M. Peterson Nov. 14, 2021 02:12 AM EST

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown (13) runs behind offensive lineman Alex Forsyth (78) as Washington State defensive end Ron Stone Jr. (10) pursues during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Washington State at Oregon 11/13/2021

Nov. 13, 2021 11:29 PM EST

Oregon players and mascot celebrate a win over UCLA in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oregon host Colorado amid 16-game wining streak at Autzen

By The Associated Press Oct. 28, 2021 02:16 PM EDT

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oregon at UCLA 10/23/2021

Oct. 23, 2021 05:23 PM EDT

Oregons' CJ Verdell runs against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Whittingham among AP's Pac-12 award winners for 1st half

By Pat Graham Oct. 19, 2021 04:48 PM EDT

California quarterback Chase Garbers (7) passes against Washington State in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
No. 9 Oregon regroups after Stanford loss, ready to host Cal

By Anne M. Peterson Oct. 14, 2021 03:45 PM EDT

Oregons' Travis Dye (26) walks off the field after losing to Stanford after overtime in an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Ninth-ranked Oregon looks to rebound at home against Cal

By The Associated Press Oct. 14, 2021 11:55 AM EDT

Oregon running back CJ Verdell (7) runs through hole in during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
No. 3 Oregon visits Stanford in search best start in 8 years

By The Associated Press Sep. 30, 2021 01:54 PM EDT

Oregon cornerback Mykael Wright (2) celebrates his interception with Oregon safety Verone McKinley III (23) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
No. 3 Oregon takes opportunistic defense into Stanford

By Josh Dubow Sep. 30, 2021 12:23 PM EDT

Oregon cornerback Mykael Wright (2) celebrates his interception with Oregon safety Verone McKinley III (23) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Interceptions a point of pride for No. 3 Oregon Ducks

By Anne M. Peterson Sep. 29, 2021 06:16 PM EDT

Oregon safety Bennett Williams (15) dives to make an interception in front of Arizona offensive linemen Josh McCauley (50) and Donovan Laie (78) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
No. 3 Oregon has big 4th quarter in 41-19 win over Arizona

By Anne M. Peterson Sep. 26, 2021 02:16 AM EDT

Oregon wide receiver Jaylon Redd (6) looks back as he is pursued by Arizona cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (4) while heading to the end zone on a 75-yard run in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Arizona at Oregon 9/25/2021

Sep. 25, 2021 11:19 PM EDT

Arizona quarterback Will Plummer throws down field against Northern Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
No. 3 Oregon opens Pac-12 play against struggling Arizona

By The Associated Press Sep. 23, 2021 11:25 AM EDT