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Blowouts were inevitable in the expanded College Football Playoff as 12 teams reached the postseason for the first time. Certainly, no one expected the No. 1 overall (and undefeated) Oregon Ducks would be among those getting blasted out of the field. But in a lopsided 41-21 rout at the hands of Ohio State, Oregon looked the part of a sacrificial lamb.
In previous years, Oregon would have been in the CFP. Ohio State would have been out as the No. 6 team with two losses. Before the 1990s, the Ducks would have simply been named AP national champions after burning through their regular season schedule undefeated and clinching the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes came out with an intensity and fervor that Oregon simply wasn’t ready for, jumping out to a 34-0 lead and cruising to the finish line. It was a freshman, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who did the most damage with 187 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Ducks fans must be groaning knowing they have two years of battles remaining against the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024, who may be the bet freshman wideout in college football history.
Now, the focus turns to the offseason as Oregon tries to rebuild from its public flogging at the hands of Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Heisman finalist quarterback Dillon Gabriel is off to the NFL after the season. So are most of the defensive line contributors, potentially four offensive linemen and the entire receiving corps.
Oregon’s ascent to the elite of college football under coach Dan Lanning has been rapid. Here’s where the program must go next.
Stay the course
The first game of the Lanning era was a total disaster. The Ducks coach scraped with the team he just helped lead to a national championship, the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs. Oregon…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/whats-ahead-for-oregon-its-time-for-player-development-to-eclipse-transfer-portal-as-ducks-modus-operandi/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2025-01-02 02:21:00
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