The game was rainy, sloppy, and ultimately uncompetitive, but it was exactly the kind of showing Oregon needed to close out the 2018 regular season. A first half injury to quarterback Justin Herbert and quarter-long suspension to wide receiver Dillon Mitchell aside, the Ducks’ 55-15 win over Oregon State Friday afternoon undoubtedly served as the team’s most complete performance of the year with a bowl game still to play.

With an 8-4 regular season record now secured, we wait for the determination of Oregon’s bowl game fate. In the meantime, WFOD takes a closer look at the Ducks’ resounding victory by offering up our biggest takeaways from Oregon’s Civil War win.

1. What could the possibility of an extended absence for Justin Herbert mean for Oregon?

There were very few lowlights for the Ducks Friday afternoon in Corvallis, but the undisclosed injury suffered by Justin Herbert will assuredly have people speculating as it relates to his availability for Oregon’s bowl game, and perhaps as it relates to the immediacy of his NFL future. It’s believed the injury took place when Herbert was sacked for a loss late in the second quarter, with the injury itself occurring when he was struck by an OSU defender on his left side. On replay, the hit didn’t look like much, though you could see Herbert wince in pain as he picked himself up from the turf. He would not return to the game.

True freshman Tyler Shough would come on relief to finish out the half for Oregon, but he did little more than hand the ball off twice before giving way to Braxton Burmeister, who started at quarterback to begin the second half. Burmeister would only attempt three passes in the third and fourth quarter (including one on a failed two-point conversion attempt) combined as the weather turned wet and soggy, though the game plan could have just as likely determined Burmeister’s contributions through the air. Following the collarbone injury suffered by Herbert last season, it was Burmeister who started five games in Herbert’s stead. During that stretch, the Ducks were decidedly limited offensively, as Burmeister struggled mightily in challenging opposing defenses via the passing game – particularly down field. If it’s determined that Herbert will miss the Ducks’ bowl game, the coaching staff will have to weigh the virtues of starting Burmeister over Shough. Though unremarkable as a passer, Burmeister is an elusive runner and is the more experienced quarterback. On the other hand, Shough is a highly-touted true freshman with physical attributes you love and a work ethic the coaches laud, but is a player who has yet to attempt a pass as a college football player. Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said the team would learn more about the severity of Herbert’s injury in the coming days, but it appears the win may have come at a cost for the Ducks.

2. Oregon running game starts fast, finishes fast in regular season finale

Coinciding with the fast first half starts the past two weeks has been the impressive symbiotic play of the Oregon offensive line and running backs. Much like last week’s game versus Arizona State, the Ducks found success on the ground early on the road at Oregon State, as both Travis Dye and CJ Verdell combined to gash the Beaver defense for 146 yards on 24 carries in the opening half. However, unlike last week’s game – and numerous games previous to it – the offensive dominance carried over to the second half, as Oregon punctuated the 40-point win with 392 yards rushing as a team.

It’s no secret that Oregon State’s run defense is perhaps its greatest team weakness (the Beavers ranked 126th out 130 FBS teams in rushing yards allowed per game at 271.82 entering the day), though given Oregon’s woes on the road this season, it was an encouraging sign to see both Dye and Verdell take full advantage of the gaping holes the Oregon o-line was creating for them up front. Dye led the Ducks with an astounding career-high 199 yards on 33 carries, finding the end zone twice, but it was Verdell who really put his stamp on this game. His 187 yards on 23 carries resulted in four rushing touchdowns, though he would finish with five total touchdowns after his 21-yard touchdown catch from Herbert in the first quarter started the the scoring onslaught for Oregon. It was the first time in school history that the Ducks had two running backs rush for more than 180 yards a piece in a single game. As the Ducks head into bowl season, the production from the Oregon ground game will be a development worth keeping an eye on, especially considering Oregon will look to return arguably its best offensive lineman to the fold in true freshman Penei Sewell (ankle).

Not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE touchdowns for RB @Cjverdell_. @oregonfootball would go on to win the Civil War battle, 55-15. pic.twitter.com/5azu0hk04t

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 24, 2018

3. Duck defense once again shows its opportunistic side

The Oregon defense has taken its fair share of lumps this season, but you can’t say they haven’t been opportunistic. Their propensity for generating turnovers was once again on full display Friday as the Ducks forced four turnovers (three interceptions and one fumble recovery) to add to the 18 turnovers they had forced coming into the day’s action, which was tied with Utah and Cal for the conference lead. Nick Pickett’s interception in the red zone got the ball rolling for the Oregon defense, which was followed by a Gus Cumberlander fumble recovery which came on an ill-fated trick play attempt by the Beaver offense. It was the second straight week that Cumberlander was Johnny on the spot diving on a loose ball. However, it was Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham who would be the one hammering the final nail into the proverbial Beaver coffin, as his 38-yard interception return for a touchdown extended the Ducks’ lead to 41-9 before his second interception of the game two series later added insult to injury for the Beavers. His three interceptions this season tie Deommodore Lenoir for second on the team trailing true freshman safety Jevon Holland (4).

Fifth career INT and first career pick-six for @_TG4__.

All Ducks, 41-9, with 10:54 left in the game.

📺: FS1. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/dwn4TQaALr

— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 23, 2018

4. Jermar Jefferson rendered a non-factor as Ducks shut down Beaver rushing attack

If you’re a top running back in the Pac-12, there’s a good chance you had yourself a day against the Oregon rush defense. Arizona’s J.J. Taylor, UCLA’s Joshua Kelley, and Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin each rushed for 149 yards or more in recent weeks, but the victimization of the Ducks’ run defense came to an emphatic end Friday. Despite ranking second in the Pac-12 in rushing with 1,316 yards entering the day, Oregon grounded Oregon State’s freshman phenom Jermar Jefferson, holding him to just 64 yards on 21 carries. In fact, the Ducks held the Beavers to just 54 yards on the ground, which is the lowest output allowed by the Ducks against a conference opponent this season.

5. Dillon Mitchell serves suspension

Though they wouldn’t need him, Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell was notably absent from Friday’s game after serving a quarter-long suspension for appearing late to a team meeting according to Cristobal. Mitchell would appear in the second quarter and register a nine-yard reception, but that would be it, as the Pac-12’s leading receiver in terms of yards (1,105) would hardly see the field in the second half with the Ducks committing themselves to the ground game with Herbert sidelined. With the regular season now over and with Mitchell being draft eligible following a tremendous junior season, one can’t help but wonder if this might be last time we see Mitchell in an Oregon uniform. Granted, there’s been no real speculation that Mitchell would leave early (he’d likely be a mid-round draft if he declares), but given the breakout season and potential extenuating circumstances surrounding the suspension, it may be a reality Duck fans begin bracing for.

Cristobal said Mitchell was held out for the first quarter after being late to a meeting. Available after that but the Ducks went with different personnel groupings. #GoDucks

— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) November 24, 2018

Items of note:

• Oregon has won 10 of the last 11 Civil War meetings, as the Ducks are averaging 47.2 points per game in those last 11 meetings. Oregon also beat Oregon State by at least 40 points in back-to-back games for the first time in series history.
• Thomas Graham is the fourth different Oregon player to come away with multiple interceptions in a game this season. Coming into the week, the Ducks were the only team in the FBS with at least three players with multiple interceptions in a game. Graham is also the third Oregon player to score a defensive touchdown this season.
• Justin Herbert’s first quarter touchdown pass was the 62nd touchdown pass of his career, tying him with Danny O’Neil for third all-time at Oregon.
• Travis Dye’s 199 rushing yards set a new Oregon freshman record for single-game rushing yards. It was also the second straight game in which Dye eclipsed the 100-yard mark.
• CJ Verdell is the first player in the FBS this season with four rushing and one receiving touchdown. His five touchdowns also tied the program modern era record for touchdowns in a single game.