In a season where Oregon allowed a school-record 41.4 points per game, the third-highest average in the 128-team Football Bowl Subdivision, it was difficult for UO to camouflage its defensive weaknesses.

But UO did a pretty good job against Virginia, Cavaliers quarterback Kurt Benkert said recently.

Last week at ACC media days in Charlotte, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Ken Sugiura asked several players about which road-game environment they considered the most fun. Popular picks included Clemson's Death Valley and Florida State's Doak Campbell Stadium.

Benkert, though, chose Autzen Stadium.

Specifically, he mentioned the bright-yellow jerseys UO wore against a backdrop of yellow-clad fans during UO's 44-26 win on Sept. 10.

"I hate that neon, that neon color," he said.

Benkert's full answer, via the AJC:

Probably Oregon. I think Oregon, it was smaller than I expected, but everyone felt like they were right there and you could just reach over and touch someone on the sideline. And I hate that neon, that neon color. It made me feel like there were so many people there, and everybody just blended in together and they wore all neon that night, too. So, like, if you were looking at the defense, you couldn't tell if the safety was in the stands or not. It just kind of plays with your mind a little bit. I am not a fan of that.

Whether it was the combination of the yellow-on-yellow, or the defense clicking, the Ducks never defended better in 2016 than they did against Virginia. The 26 points allowed were a UO season-low, as were the 4.85 yards allowed per play -- 1.5 yards per play fewer than UO's 115th-ranked average for the whole season. (And 1.7 yards per play lower than UO's average against other Power Five opponents.)

Benkert threw a pair of touchdowns against UO, but also two interceptions and completed 20 of his 39 attempts.

Be sure to read all the responses gathered by the AJC. It's a fun, insider view of what playing on the road is really like.

Oregon will play seven game at Autzen Stadium in 2017, beginning with Southern Utah on Sept. 2.

-- Andrew Greif