December 1st 2024.
Reaction to the events of the past weekend has been swift and varied, but one thing is for sure: the Oregon Ducks' victory over Washington was anything but one-dimensional. In fact, it was a multifaceted win that had as many layers as the 49-21 scoreline and secured the Ducks' first undefeated regular season since 2010.
While some may argue that this victory means little in the broader context of the program's goals, it cannot be denied that it was a significant win for head coach Dan Lanning and the team. Not only did it remove the weight of three prior losses to the Huskies from Lanning's back, but it also created a win-win situation for the Ducks in the upcoming weekend.
With their undefeated record, Oregon now has two paths to the College Football Playoff, but they are not equal. If they can beat Penn State in the Big Ten title game, they will enter the CFP as the No. 1 seed with a bye and a date with the winner of the No. 8-9 game on New Year's Day. However, this may not be the ideal scenario as the possible opponents could be a two-loss team from the SEC or Ohio State, both of which possess the talent to match the Ducks' high-powered attack.
On the other hand, if the Ducks were to lose to Penn State, they would likely drop to the No. 5 seed and face a home game against the No. 12 seed before potentially advancing to the quarterfinals. While this may seem like a less desirable path, it could ultimately be an easier one for the Ducks as they would have two weeks off and then face a Big 12 or Mountain West opponent at home.
In our opinion, the latter option is the preferred path. We are not suggesting that the Ducks should lose on purpose, but the victory over Washington has created a situation where they can either be the Big Ten champions and the No. 1 seed, or lose and potentially have an easier path to the semifinals.
Moving on to other news in the college football world, Arizona State's turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite being picked to finish 16th in the Big 12, the Sun Devils have secured a spot in the conference championship game thanks to a first-year quarterback, a second-year coach, and a standout tailback. If they can win the title game, they will be just four quarters away from a spot in the CFP.
While Arizona State's rise has been impressive, the collapse of their in-state rival, Arizona, has been equally shocking. After finishing with 10 wins last season, the Wildcats ended this year with eight losses, leading to calls for coach Brent Brennan to be fired. While he certainly deserves criticism for the team's performance, it is rare to see a coach dismissed after just one season, unless there are off-the-field issues involved. We predict that Brennan will return next season with a new coaching staff and a short leash.
Meanwhile, Washington State's November fade has been a major disappointment. After starting 8-1 and on the cusp of a playoff berth, they have now lost three straight games as double-digit favorites. This is unacceptable on every level, and coach Jake Dickert must thoroughly examine every aspect of the program to avoid a repeat of this collapse.
Finally, with conference play over, the bowl picture is beginning to take shape on the West Coast. With Oregon guaranteed a spot in the CFP, the other Pac-12 teams will move up one spot in the bowl lineup, with the possibility of a 6-6 team making it into a higher-ranked bowl. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds in the coming weeks.
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