EUGENE, Ore. — With No. 7 Stanford headed to town, No. 20 Oregon is set to host the biggest football game in Eugene since 2014. Both are 3-0, both are in the Top 25 and both are looking for an early edge in the Pac-12 North race before the calendar flips to October.



Can an untested Oregon team hang with a Cardinal unit that already owns a convincing win over USC?



Here are five keys to the game (8 p.m. ET, ABC).



Oregon on first down



Oregon has yet to face a stout defense. That changes Saturday, as the Cardinal owns the best defense, in terms of points allowed, in the country. The Cardinal has allowed 23 points this season; Oregon allowed 24 points in its first game against Bowling Green.



One of the biggest things is how Oregon attacks that defense on first down. Mario Cristobal this week has hammered home that Oregon’s effectiveness, or lack thereof, on first down has really limited the playcalling on ensuing...