The city of Indianapolis Jeff Bass, a linebacker for Oregon, told me in July at Lucas Oil Stadium that he could see himself traveling back to Indianapolis with his team to play in the Big Ten championship.
It was all he could think of that morning as he drove up to the stadium, staring out the window of a vehicle.
During the new conference’s media days, he said matter-of-factly, “We have to make it to the championship game before we can make it to the natty.” I want to be here for the championship game, so I’m taking it all in.
In the midst of a swirl of green and yellow confetti, I witnessed Bassa celebrate a victory in that exact championship game on Saturday. He displayed a Big Ten Champions T-shirt.
Dan Lanning dabbed at his tears.With the cap someone had given him resting on his head, Phil Knight meandered around with a perpetual smile. Children played in the confetti as if it were brand-new snow.
The scene was unique.
In fact, the Ducks defeated third-ranked Penn State 45-37 to win the Big Ten championship. Is it not unbelievable?
Yes, they can. They saw it. Bassa made his shot. However, he viewed this Big Ten triumph as a tool to achieve a bigger goal.
Therefore, I would like to know if you can see Oregon winning a national title in the real world.
That illusive natty.
Because this thing is headed there. where it must be headed.
For these Ducks, winning the national championship is crucial.
You say it’s too much? Reduce your speed? There’s still a lot of football to play.
Yes, indeed. However, Oregon has risen to the pinnacle of collegiate football. This season’s performance on the field has demonstrated that this program is built to succeed and rule in the current NIL age.
They ought to be the favorites to win it all now.
Since the Ducks are the only club in the 12-team competition that is obviously superior, anything else will just be a terrible letdown and a lost chance.
Saturday night, Lanning stated, “I don’t think it’s any secret what this team wants to accomplish.” But simply staring at it won’t get you there. It requires effort.
The Ducks’ regular season has been arguably the best in the team’s history. They defeated Ohio State while it was ranked number two, and they never fell behind against No. 3 Penn State on Saturday. They prevailed in Wisconsin and Michigan. They defeated Boise State, a College Football Playoff contender, and Illinois, another highly regarded league opponent.
Every test that has been put to Oregon has been passed.
The Ducks, who are 13-0, are the nation’s final unbeaten team. It is nearly boringly obvious that SMU will continue to be the top team in the nation when the final CFP seedings are announced on Sunday, resolving arguments regarding Alabama, Arizona State, and SMU.
Of course, winning a national championship has always been a goal for Oregon. They had previously been dangerously close.
Despite losing in the national championship, the 2010 and 2014 seasons remain the pinnacles of the program’s history. Those are respected teams. This inaugural Big Ten Ducks season will also be affected if the team doesn’t win a national championship.
But it just wouldn’t cut it for this club at this point in the season.
This might turn out to be the greatest Oregon squad ever. However, its road is the most challenging of all the great teams. This new playoff is just like that. However, it is currently expected that Oregon will succeed.
Being the unbeaten No. 1 comes with that burden. Either you succeed or you fail. The Ducks have yet to give in to the kind of pressure that coaches aspire to.
The Rose Bowl for a national quarterfinal is most likely the Ducks’ next destination. Ohio State might be their opponent.
Wouldn’t it be poetic justice for the Ducks to exit the Pac-12 and face the club that has won the Grandaddy of Them All more times than any other Big Ten program in the Rose Bowl?
Perhaps you thought the Ducks appeared weak after seeing Saturday’s Big Ten championship. said Penn State should be concerned because they were able to take advantage of their run defense in a manner that no other team has. You wouldn’t be mistaken. Nearly 300 yards were covered by the Nittany Lions. That was definitely novel.
However, keep in mind that the Ducks made clutch plays when it counted, even though they could have lost the game after taking a decisive 28–10 lead in the first half.
The sover-the-shoulder interception by Nikko Reed on Penn State’s last drive ought to go down in the annals of legendary Ducks plays.
In order to prevent the Ducks from having to punt the ball back to Penn State, Dillon Gabriel made a series of plays in the fourth quarter. He converted two deep third downs on the Ducks’ last scoring drive, and on fourth and two, he hit Terrance Ferguson over the middle for a 20-yard gain.
Gabriel pushed forward for a first down on third and one with ninety seconds remaining, saving the Ducks from having to kick the ball back to Penn State. The game turned into a game of cat and mouse after the Ducks went up large early. Oregon continued to push the Nittany Lions away despite their attempts to catch up.
And hasn’t it also been that way this season? The Ducks are being pursued by everyone else, but they haven’t been reached.
Does the Ducks win their first championship as a result?
I see it.
Are you able to?
–Bill Oramis, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s sports columnist.
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