Former Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost

and won't coach in the Alamo Bowl.

His

has yet to been hired.

So, who will call the 15th-ranked Ducks' plays Jan. 2 in San Antonio

?

For the first time since Frost's departure Nov. 29 to become Central Florida's head coach, UO coach Mark Helfrich offered an answer Thursday during a bowl news conference: Either he or wide receivers coach Matt Lubick will assume play-calling duties.

"We do everything collaboratively anyway from an offensive standpoint," Helfrich said, adding that all UO's offensive assistants have had a voice in shaping the game plan all season.

Frost wanted to take part in the bowl game, Helfrich said, but won't be able to due to taking over an 0-12 Knights program in Orlando.

"Obviously he has a full plate," Helfrich said of Frost, who'd called plays for three seasons and had been on staff for seven. "It's a testament to our guys, to our players, to our program that he has that opportunity. ... He wants to participate but can't."

Lubick, who joined the UO staff from Duke prior to Helfrich's first season as head coach, is considered a favorite to land the play calling job permanently but several sources have indicated Helfrich is weighing options inside and outside the program. Lubick is also designated as UO's "passing game coordinator."

In Football Bowl Subdivision rankings the Ducks ranked fifth in rushing, sixth in yards and sixth in points per game, while quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. finished as the country's leader in passing efficiency and yards per attempt.

That offense will go against a Horned Frogs defense whose tradition as one the country's stingiest under head coach Gary Patterson was weakened early this season by a wave of injuries, with eight starters hurt within the first three weeks. TCU ranks 59th in scoring defense, allowing 26.1 points per game, and is 80th against the run while 24th inside its own red zone.

Patterson praised Oregon's pace and skill, noting of his players, "if they're not fired up, then they're watching the wrong film."

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif