Tailgate Debate: Defensive concerns in Oregon-Michigan State showdown

It's the second week of college football and we're already looking at matchups that could have a major impact on the Playoff picture. Saturday features two games between ranked teams, as well as a wild-card game between Boise State and BYU.

Paste BN Sports' Dan Uthman and Jesse Yomtov reprise their weekly debate, answering the biggest questions heading into Saturday.

DU: Jesse, we have a matchup of top-10 teams on the docket tonight as No. 5 Oregon visits No. 6 Michigan State. The Ducks' tempo wore down the Spartans' defense in the second half of their meeting last year, but Michigan State says it has learned from that.

Both teams' offenses are rich with talent, starting at quarterback with Vernon Adams and Connor Cook. But both teams' defenses had breakdowns in their openers against lesser-regarded opponents. Oregon gave up 438 passing yards to FCS power Eastern Washington, the third-most allowed by any FBS team in Week 1. Michigan State gave up more than five yards per play to Western Michigan.

So as these teams fight for poll position, conference respect and their long-term prospects for the season, which should be more concerned about its defense?

JY: It's got to be Oregon. The Ducks ranked 102nd in total defense last season and suffered heavy losses, particularly in the secondary. Considering how poorly the unit was, you can look at that as a positive or a negative, but the defensive question marks are emblematic of the style of football the Oregon program plays.

Oregon does a great job of forcing opponents into passing downs, but that doesn't matter if you can't get stops. The Ducks ranked 89th in third-down defense last season at 42.3%. As much as I like safety Reggie Daniels, that young secondary has the potential to get exposed.

You expect the Ducks to outscore their opponent every week, but if the offense isn't firing on all cylinders, the defense doesn't give Adams and Co. much wiggle room. Look at the games against Stanford in recent years.

In Knoxville, No. 23 Tennessee hosts No. 17 Oklahoma in an interesting non-conference tilt. The Sooners started slow last week, managing just a field goal on their first six possessions against Akron. With a drastic overhaul under new coordinator Lincoln Riley and a conference with such high-powered offenses, do you think the Sooners can be consistent enough to make a run at the Big 12 title?

DU: It's too early to discern the potential of Riley's Oklahoma offense only one game into the 2015 schedule. However, it could be the Sooners' great equalizer in a conference that has nearly a league-wide commitment to pace and points.

Two of the top four passing performances in Week 1 came from Air Raid offenses, via Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield and Mayfield's former school Texas Tech with Patrick Mahomes. History shows that those performances are likely to continue – that's what the Air Raid does. So teams like Baylor and TCU and West Virginia that spread teams out, alter pace, mix the running back into the offense with passes as much as handoffs have another challenge to contend with in the Big 12.

Plus, Oklahoma has one of the better linebacking corps in college football and a secondary that might not match West Virginia's but can hang with anybody else in the Big 12. The Sooners are absolutely a Big 12 title contender, regardless of what happens in Knoxville. But if Oklahoma's line can protect Mayfield today, I'm confident in what will happen in Knoxville: Oklahoma will win.

Jesse, I've talked to some people this week who consider No. 22 Boise State at BYU tonight to be a "bracketbuster" for a shot at a College Football Playoff access bowl or even Playoff itself. Someone else told me BYU has no shot at any sort of Playoff or access spot, so there's little at stake? I think the game matters for both. What's your take?

JY: This one is definitely a "bracketbuster."

I don't think BYU will end up in the Playoff or a New Year's Six bowl, but that doesn't mean this game is meaningless. Since the Cougars are an independent and not eligible for an automatic berth like Boise State, they really have to go out and impress the committee all season long.

Beating the Broncos could also establish a ton of momentum for BYU, which has road games against UCLA and Michigan the next two weeks.

Even without quarterback Taysom Hill, BYU is arguably Boise's toughest opponent this season. I'm betting on the Broncos to get a New Year's Six spot as the Group of Five's top team, but a victory in Provo would provide an enormous résumé boost for the team's Playoff hopes, particularly if they lose at some point.

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