EUGENE -- When it comes to turnovers, the Oregon offense this season is working on a perfect game, so Ducks coach Mark Helfrich joked this week that he didn’t want to talk about it for fear of applying a jinx.

The Ducks are the only FBS team that hasn’t turned the ball over this season, and as it turns out, it might be because Helfrich talks about it every day to his team.

“It’s something we harp on and harp on; there is no off-day for coaching ball security,’’ Helfrich said. “It’s a fundamental, like tying your shoes, brushing your teeth -- you have to do it every single day the right way or it’s going to pop up.’’

The UO defense has seven takeaways, giving the Ducks a 2.3 turnover margin, second best in the nation to Miami (2.7).

“That’s a big deal,’’ Helfrich said. “The turnover margin and scoring points off turnovers is the number one contributing factor of winning and losing. That’s the biggest stat in football. There’s a couple more that are almost as important, that are weird, but turning the ball over or not, and scoring off of turnovers is key.’’

INSIDE SCOUTING REPORT:

The Ducks’ defense this week got some inside information on Cal’s leading rusher, Brendan Bigelow, who was the best friend and high school teammate of Oregon receiver B.J. Kelley in Fresno, Calif.

“I tell all the (defensive backs) that they better look out because he is a strong individual, and they already know he is very fast, so I just tell them to make sure that his legs and his arms are down,’’ Kelley said.

Bigelow, whose nickname is Blaze, has 44 carries for 175 yards this season. Kelley, meanwhile, has played but hasn’t caught a pass.

“I’m doing all right,’’ Kelley said. “I’m in the background, but I’m doing the right thing. I will be out there eventually.’’

THE NIGHT LIFE:

Ever wonder what the players think about a 7:30 p.m. kick? Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota says he has mixed feelings, saying there are pros and cons.

“I don’t really like waiting in the hotel all day, but other than that, it’s the same to me,’’ Mariota said. “I just want to go out and play.’’

But there is a benefit: “The atmosphere. Playing under the lights is always kind of special, and you know, Autzen gets a little more rowdy at night, which is cool,’’ Mariota said.

Incidentally, the Ducks have sold out Autzen Stadium 91 consecutive games dating back to 1999, the third-longest active streak in college football.

DAT STAT:

The question of whether junior running back De’Anthony Thomas can handle the workload of a featured back appears to have been answered in the first three games. Thomas has led the Ducks in carries in two of the three games and has 42 on the season, 20 of which have come between the tackles. Thomas is 11 rushing attempts from qualifying for the Pac-12 career record for average yards per rush. He has 189 rushes for an 8.6 yard average, which is 1.3 yards better than record holders Reggie Bush (USC) and Jahvid Best (Cal).

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS:

An underrated facet of any football game is the tackles made on kickoffs. Junior running back Ayele Forde leads the Ducks with five such tackles this season. True freshman Torrodney Prevot and senior safety Ben Butterfield are tied for second with four. For the season, the Ducks are allowing an average of 19.68 yards on kickoff returns, which ranks 58th in the nation. The longest return has been 27 yards by Tennessee.

Helfrich said Forde has thrived in his role because he is “tough and relentless,” which helped earn him a scholarship after being a walk-on.

“It’s the main reason we put him on scholarship - his production on special teams last year was off the charts,’’ Helfrich said. “He is a guy who is a living legend, so-to-speak ... earns a scholarship from nowhere. He has done a great job and really motivated a lot of other guys that way.’’

NOTES AND NUMBERS:

Of the Ducks’ 25 scoring drives this season, 21 (84 percent) have taken less than two minutes. ... Only six teams have faced more plays than the Oregon defense, which has seen an average of 80 per game. Cal comes in averaging 94.7 plays per game. ... The Ducks have scored at least 50 points in their first three games. They have never eclipsed 50 points in four consecutive games.

-- Jason Quick