Oregon loses a lot of talent on offense next season, starting with quarterback Justin Herbert, running back CJ Verdell, and a large portion of the offensive line. The way the Ducks beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, however, will give pollsters plenty of reason to give Mario Cristobal’s team a long look on their ballots heading into the 2020 season.
Herbert threw for only 138 yards, and the Verdell-led Ducks backfield added just 66 more yards on the ground. Far from their high-octane offensive days of the Chip Kelly era, Oregon won thanks to a stifling defense that forced four Badgers turnovers and allowed only 18 first downs and 322 yards despite a 16-minute advantage in time of possession. Troy Dye departs after his senior year, but stalwarts like Brady Breeze and Thomas Graham Jr. return along with freshman phenom Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Ducks should open on the edge of the top 10 when the preseason polls are released in August. A tough schedule that includes FCS national champion North Dakota State and College Football Playoff semifinalist offers a chance to make an immediate impression on voters and vault even further up the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.