Oregon Ducks could set a shocking precedent against Washington after clinching spot in Big Ten Championship
With the newly aligned college football super conferences, apparently the conferences themselves are still figuring out exactly how their tiebreakers work. Three days after the Ducks went to Wisconsin and grinded out a tough victory at Camp Randall Stadium, the Big Ten went "oh, wait, Oregon clinched a berth into the Big Ten Championship Game."It's […]
With the newly aligned college football super conferences, apparently the conferences themselves are still figuring out exactly how their tiebreakers work. Three days after the Ducks went to Wisconsin and grinded out a tough victory at Camp Randall Stadium, the Big Ten went "oh, wait, Oregon clinched a berth into the Big Ten Championship Game."
It's an unceremonious way for Oregon, in their first season in the Big Ten, to clinch their spot in the conference championship game, but what they've done has been incredible. Oregon answered the call, proving that they're capable of handling the physicality and the talent in their new conference, silencing all critics on their way to sitting atop the college football landscape.
With their spot in the Big Ten Championship Game already secure, it raises a very important question — do the Ducks need to play their starters in their last regular season game?
After the game against Wisconsin, which capped off an eight week Big Ten schedule that saw the Ducks log plenty of frequent flier miles, Oregon now gets the benefit of a late-season bye week to rest up before they host the hated Washington Huskies in Autzen Stadium on November 30.
With a spot in the conference championship game lined up, and with a new expanded College Football Playoffs format, potentially resting their starters becomes a new option that has to be considered. Let's explore some thoughts behind the decision.
If the Ducks win the Big Ten Championship Game, no matter what happens in the Washington game, they'd go into the College Football Playoffs as one of the top-4 seeds and would get a first-round bye. That's locked in. So, if they win that game, having rested players against Washington doesn't hurt them.
If they beat Washington and lose the Big Ten Championship Game, they'd be a one-loss team that would likely be the No. 5 seed and would host a first round playoff matchup in Autzen Stadium.
This is where there's a potential downside. If the Ducks rest their starters and Washington wins, then Oregon loses the Big Ten Championship Game, they'd be a two-loss at-large bid that would likely go into the playoffs as a low seed, no longer hosting a playoff game. At that point, you're looking at a team that would be carrying zero momentum off two-straight losses and would have to play on the road to keep their dreams alive.
Dan Lanning is an aggressive coach. He'll run a fake punt backed up in his own territory that puts the ball in the hands of a defensive end. This isn't the type of coach to take his foot off the gas. I expect Oregon's starters to play, but if the Ducks get out to a comfortable lead, maybe Lanning acts a little quicker than normal to pull some key players.
Oregon Ducks have overcome adversity that no other team in the country has had to on way to undefeated record
Oregon has been battle tested.
Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Blusky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, as well as follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
