Oregon's Marcus Mariota Set To Appear On This Week's Sports Illustrated Cover

Sports Illustrated has announced their cover for this week's issue on their Facebook page, and it features Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota under the headline "Peaking Duck: A Forensic Study of Why Oregon Quarterback Marcus Mariota Will (Or Won't) Be the Top Pick in Next Year's NFL Draft."

Through three games, Mariota has led the Ducks to a perfect 3-0 record, including arguably the nation's best out of conference win, a 46-27 win over Michigan State. Considered a Heisman favorite, Mariota has thrown for 806 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while rushing for 156 yards and three more scores.

This marks Mariota's third SI cover, as he was previously on the regional cover of the 2013 College Football Preview, and the Nov. 4, 2013 issue, following Oregon's win over Washington. It also marks Oregon Football's ninth SI cover since 2003. The cover athletes have been Joey Harrington (Aug. 13, 2001), Jason Fife (Sept. 29, 2003), Jeremiah Masoli and Jordan Holmes (Aug . 17, 2009), LaMichael James (Nov. 15, 2010 and Dec. 13, 2010), De'Anthony Thomas (Sept. 24, 2012), and Mariota (Aug. 19, 2013, Nov. 4, 2013, and this week).

For those of you who believe in the SI cover jinx, the Ducks face Washington State this weekend, and have a bye the week after.