Pac-12 North: Separating the contenders from the pretenders

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Sep 19, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) runs the ball against the Georgia State Panthers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks

The Ducks, even after losing at Michigan State, are still the defending Pac-12 champions. Until another team comes in beats them in a game that truly matters, there is no way to write off this year’s Ducks, even if they do feel a bit less explosive and, dare I say, less dangerous in 2015 than in recent years. The play starts at the top, where transfer quarterback Vernon Adams was playing well before breaking a finger that cost him last week’s game, but he is not close to the play of former Ducks’ quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

Mariota was one of the best college quarterbacks ever, while Adams is merely good. Adams might not even be the best player at his position in the Pac-12 North division, let alone the entire nation. The drop off from Mariota to Adams was big, but so is the drop from last year’s Oregon running game to this year. In 2014, the Ducks ran all over the Spartans to the tune of 4.3 yards per carry. Michigan State was a good team, with a good defense, but it did not matter. In 2015, things changed. The same quality Michigan State defense showed up, but this time Oregon could only muster 2.9 yards per carry.

That lack of an explosive running game is going to hurt the Ducks this year. Those long runs we are used to seeing from Oregon will be fewer and result in more 20 yard gains instead of 80 yard touchdowns. Overall, this is still a very good team and they are still in the driver’s seat to get to the conference championship game, but its hard to say for certain that Oregon is the best team in the North division.

Verdict: Contender

Next: 30 Best College Football Quarterbacks of All-Time

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