Shannon Broderick

In the run-up to the 2017 college football season, The Oregonian/OregonLive is previewing each of the opponents the Oregon Ducks will meet this fall. Today, it's Wyoming.

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The basics

Game date: Sept. 16

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Where: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming

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Time/channel: 4 p.m. PT, CBS Sports Network

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Coach: Craig Bohl, 22-30 in four seasons

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2016 record: 8-6

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Shannon Broderick

Early storyline

Two unescapable topics in the lead-up to Willie Taggart's first road game as UO coach are sure to be Laramie’s elevation, and its effect on the Ducks as a whole, and Josh Allen’s right arm, and its effect on the defense. War Memorial Stadium is the highest FBS stadium at 7,220 feet — at USF, Taggart played at an elevation of 50 feet above sea level, while Autzen Stadium is around 430 — and the Cowboys are keen to let opponents know that fact, too. A greeting on the team’s videoboard prior to kickoff asks, “How’s your oxygen?” (How much of a factor will it be? Oregon has played well at altitude in the past, winning its last four games against Colorado, at an elevation of 5,440 feet.) As for Allen, several NFL draftniks have projected him to be a top pick in the 2018 NFL draft, if not the No. 1 overall selection. He will be the latest high-profile QB faced by the veterans in UO's secondary.

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Notable 2016 stats

The Cowboys ranked 99th in third-down defense, 92nd in getting stops inside their own 20-yard line and 100th in allowing first downs, and those struggles added up to a lot of points. Wyoming ranked 101st in the FBS by allowing 34.1 points per game. A bright spot was its ability to create plays defensively by scoring five defensive touchdowns and forcing 27 turnovers, 10th-most nationally.

Those turnovers gave the ball back to UW's offense, which often turned over the ball itself. Josh Allen's interceptions accounted for 15 of his team's 24 turnovers lost.

For all the talk of Allen's arm, Wyoming ranked 36th in rushing offense (205.4 yards per game) and the combination of passing and running made it dangerous in the red zone, where it converted 90.6 percent of drives inside an opponent's 20.

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The offensive player you should know: Josh Allen, quarterback

The 6-foot-5, 222-pound Allen earned second-team all-Mountain West honors after throwing for 3,203 yards and rushing for 523 more. He threw 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Though he ranked 89th in completion percentage (56.0) and 99th in completions on third down (53.1 percent) he was 32nd nationally in passing efficiency, and also ranked sixth in yards per completion (15.3).

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Shannon Broderick

The defensive player you should know: Logan Wilson, middle linebacker

All but three defensive starters return but two of the departed were at linebacker, which places the spotlight on their replacements. Wilson started at weakside 'backer and was outstanding, with 94 tackles, 7 1/2 tackles for loss, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown. He was the Mountain West freshman of the year and earned first-team freshman All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America. This year, he'll move inside to the 'Mike' linebacker spot.

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Last year against the Ducks

Did not play. Last played in 2014 when Oregon won, 48-14.

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Quotable

"Prior to deciding I was coming back to school, I sat down with my family. We went to dinner and I had told them I was going to declare the next day. I was going to the NFL, would start training in San Diego. We made a toast to it and my dad made a speech, ‘I’m so proud of you, we’re going to be behind you the whole time.’ Something just didn’t feel right." -- Josh Allen on returning to Wyoming for the 2017 season.

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Shannon Broderick

Previous opponent previews

Southern Utah

Nebraska