| Oregon -10½ vs Boise State. | | | | but did rush four times for 17 yards, including an |
| Has any college football team had more bad luck | | | | 8-yard scamper on the second overtime drive. |
| when it comes to injured quarterbacks than | | | | Either Harper or JuCo transfer Jeremiah Masoli will |
| Oregon has in the past eight games or so? | | | | start this week against Boise State, but coach |
| The Ducks pulled out a near-miraculous win on | | | | Mike Bellotti said freshman Darron Thomas - a |
| Saturday at Purdue to stay perfect on the young | | | | redshirt candidate - will also practice this week as |
| season, but starting quarterback Justin Roper | | | | though he might play. |
| suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral | | | | One of them will make his first major college |
| ligament in his left knee and will miss two to four | | | | start, but both will play, Bellotti said, and even |
| weeks. | | | | within the same series at times. |
| Roper is the second Oregon quarterback to go | | | | "I think it's situational," Bellotti said. "I think we'll use |
| down with a knee injury this season; Nate Costa, | | | | them both. They both have strong attributes and |
| who was considered by many the most likely | | | | bring different strengths to the table." |
| candidate to start, suffered a torn ACL last | | | | The coach added that when Roper does return, it |
| month; he won't play this season. And of course | | | | could be to a competition with Masoli and Harper |
| the Ducks were ravaged at the position late last | | | | to keep that No. 1 job. |
| season, losing Heisman candidate Dennis Dixon, | | | | "It will be competitive at that point, obviously, it |
| among others. | | | | depends on how we do in the next couple |
| Roper was 20-of-48 Saturday for 197 yards, with | | | | weeks," Bellotti said of Roper. "He's the starter, |
| two interceptions. But he settled down in the | | | | he's proven that, but there are certainly things he |
| second half and played better, helping the Ducks | | | | needs to work on to improve. |
| rally from a 17-point deficit to force overtime. | | | | "When he gets back, he'll factor in. How much he |
| Without Roper, the Ducks are down to three | | | | factors in will depend on his competitive instinct at |
| healthy quarterbacks on the roster. Freshman | | | | that point and what we accomplish in the next |
| Chris Harper finished the game against Purdue - | | | | couple games. |
| he didn't throw a pass against the Boilermakers | | | | |