Ducks land in CFP rankings despite rocky season
A win over Northwestern has the Ducks ranked, but on the outside looking in on the current 12-team playoff.
Despite a season fraught with challenges, Oregon football (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) managed to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Ducks earned a first-place ranking of No. 23, as announced live on ESPN on Tuesday. Coming in at this position, the Ducks find themselves on the periphery of the 12-team playoff, one season prior to the anticipated implementation of a 24-team playoff format.
The Ducks' recent form has been a morale booster, following a hard-fought victory against Northwestern. However, their path to the playoffs will be tested against the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday in a road game. This matchup initially featured the preseason No. 1 and 2 teams from the AP poll, but due to the unpredictable nature of this season, the Buckeyes have been struggling after a disappointing loss to No. 20 USC.
Other teams featured in this week's CFP rankings include No. 19 Iowa, No. 8 UCLA, and No. 4 Indiana. The Ducks' journey has come with notable individual achievements, such as Brandon Smith's comparisons to Saquon Barkley after a significant win. As the Ducks prepare for their crucial matchup against Ohio State, the outcome could play a pivotal role in shaping the Buckeyes' chances in the upcoming playoff.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
