LAS VEGAS — Oregon might be the only Power 5 team playing during the first weekend of bowl games this Saturday when the Ducks take on No. 25 Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl, but there could be an asterisk on the 7-5 record that got them there.



The Ducks are 5-1 this season in games in which sophomore quarterback Justin Herbert took the majority of snaps, and it doesn’t take much more than an eye test to see the difference in the Oregon offense when Herbert is suited up.



“When Justin is in there, he’s a difference maker,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “Very good player, very good quarterback. A guy who can run, throw it, do everything. We looked at his production. … He obviously makes a big difference.”



Herbert, who missed six games with a shoulder injury, played 380 of Oregon’s 788 snaps against FBS opponents. When comparing with-Herbert and without-Herbert stats for Oregon, one fact is very...