Oregon loses Teitum Tuioti for season as Lanning prepares for a Michigan offense in flux

Oregon will face Michigan at Autzen Stadium on Saturday without Teitum Tuioti. At his Monday press conference, Dan Lanning said the linebacker hurt his knee in the 41-28 win at Ohio State, will need surgery and is done for the season. Lanning gave the update two days earlier than he normally discusses injuries, Ducks Wire reported, saying it would not have been fair to Tuioti to hold it back.

The loss comes just as Oregon looks like it has found its form. Tuioti converted a fake punt in Columbus, and Lanning said Nasir Wyatt will take on a bigger role. He declined to name anyone else who will fill in, but said the defense "will look a little bit different" and that the rotation along the defensive line would keep familiar faces on the field.

The opponent has its own upheaval. Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck on Sunday after a 15-6 home loss to Michigan State, Fox Sports reported. Kyle Whittingham said in a statement that the results had not met the program's expectations. Ducks Wire reported that the Wolverines have also reopened their quarterback competition between Bryce Underwood and Tommy Carr. Lanning said Oregon would study old Utah film for plays tied to Whittingham's longtime assistant Harding. He told his players about other teams that changed coaches during the season and played better right after. His staff, he said, will spend the week chasing ghosts.

Lanning was less guarded about Michigan's defense. He called its front as good as any Oregon has seen and credited coordinator Jay Hill for a pressure scheme that throws a lot of different looks at an offense, with tight coverage behind it. That sets up a real test for an Oregon offensive line that Lanning said outrushed Ohio State and kept Dylan Raiola protected last week. He also said receiver Jeremiah McClellan is still working back to a full load after his return from injury.

What it means for Saturday

Oregon is 6-3 and has won two straight, beating No. 20 Northwestern and then No. 12 Ohio State. The Ducks have won three of their last four, and their three losses have come by a combined 31 points. Michigan is 5-4 and 2-3 over its last five games. Its offense has gone past 21 points only once since September, the 28 it scored at Rutgers, and has managed 19.6 points per game for the season. The Wolverines' defense has allowed 16.2 per game and has not given up more than 21 in any game.

The board sees a lopsided game anyway. Oregon is favored by 10.5 points at Novig, where the Ducks are -400 on the moneyline and Michigan is +365. Across the 12 venues on this site's board, the spread runs from Oregon -10 at BetRivers to Michigan +11.5 at BetMGM. theScore Bet has the best Michigan moneyline at +380. The total is 38.5 at Novig and 37.5 at BetRivers, the lowest number listed, which fits two defenses that have been carrying their teams. Sportsbook hold on the spread ranges from 3.6% to 6.7%.

Game time is Saturday on FS1. This is Michigan's first trip to Autzen since Oregon joined the Big Ten.