While other teams in the Pac-12 North will also have a shot at the division title, the Ducks enter 2019 as the front-runner of the bunch.Oregon struggled to put points on the board against a strong Michigan State defense in the Redbox Bowl, but the Ducks have plenty of reason to be optimistic in 2019.
Mario Cristobal’s crew returns 10 of their 11 starters on offense, including quarterback Justin Herbert, and they have a slew of reinforcements on that side of the ball to fortify their attack. Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson was a brilliant addition at receiver that will mitigate the loss of Dillon Mitchell, and the duo of CJ Verdell and Travis Dye should be even better running the ball.
The spring game also showed that new defensive stars like Kayvon Thibodeaux are ready to step up immediately and make a difference on that side of the ball. Added to a core group that includes one of the nation’s best linebackers in Troy Dye, the new influx of talent should stand to provide Oregon the opportunity to maintain defensive solidity under new coordinator Andy Avalos.
A season opener against Auburn at Jerry World offers a prime opportunity for Oregon to make a statement right away. With a win, the Ducks will vault from the cusp of the top 10 squarely up into the top eight teams in the country. Even a loss would still allow Oregon to remain in the AP Top 25 for at least one more week.