Key to slowing Oregon? Get to QB, Stanford says

STANFORD – David Shaw is realistic. The Stanford football coach knows his defense can't be expected to stop the high-powered offense of No. 1 Oregon this Saturday.

After watching hours of dizzying videotape the past two days, he just hopes the Ducks can be slowed down.

But with all of their weapons, where do you start? It's pretty simple, really. The Cardinal must figure out a way to get some licks on redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Few believe 14th-ranked Stanford has the goods to do it, particularly at Eugene's foreboding Autzen Stadium.

Oregon is a 21-point favorite over its closest pursuer in the Pacfic-12 Conference North, and the Ducks can smell the big prize – they're three wins from an almost certain berth in college football's national championship game.

For all of their offensive explosiveness, perhaps the biggest reason the Ducks (10-0) are in this position is Mariota, who took over for departed two-year starter Darron Thomas this year.

"I know they're already talking up there that this kid is the best quarterback they've ever had, at least in this generation of Oregon football," Shaw said.

Can Mariota be rattled, however, by a physical Stanford defense that leads the nation in limiting the rush (58.6 yards per game, 2.02 yards per carry) and tops the Pac-12 in sacks (43)?

Shaw said it's imperative to get hits on Oregon's quarterback to slow him down.

"It's part of the game, and it goes back to the old Al Davis line – the quarterback must go down and he must go down hard," the coach said.

Florida – No. 7 Florida will be without quarterback Jeff Driskel against lower-division Jacksonville State on Saturday.

Coach Will Muschamp ruled out Driskel because of a sprained right ankle, saying Jacoby Brissett will start against the Gamecocks.

Muschamp also ruled out kick returner Andre Debose (knee), linebacker Neiron Ball (ankle) and safety De'Ante Saunders (knee). He says defensive back Valdez Showers is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Georgia – Outside linebacker Chase Vasser will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and miss the remainder of the season.

Vasser started in two of his five games but hasn't played in No. 5 Georgia's last three games.

Texas A&M – Police say freshman wide receiver Thomas Johnson is missing. The 18-year-old was last seen leaving his residence in College Station at 5 p.m. Monday. No other details were given.

Sugar Bowl deal – The Big 12 and Southeastern conferences have agreed to a 12-year deal with ESPN for the rights to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

A person familiar with the contract said it was worth about $80 million per year. The Big 12 and SEC recently picked the Sugar Bowl as the site of it new marquee game, starting in the 2014 season.

Texas Tech – The Big 12 says it will issue Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville a public reprimand for his sideline outburst at a graduate assistant during last weekend's win against Kansas.

Tuberville said he has apologized to Kevin Oliver, whose headset and cap were knocked off when the coach pulled on Oliver's headset.

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