Oregon Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

Kedon. Slovis.

That’s really all there is to say. As a freshman, Slovis guided the Trojan offense to a sixth-place finish nationally in passing. He racked up 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns while keeping his interception numbers down in the single digits at nine. He had 515 yards and four touchdowns against the aforementioned Cal defense.

He singlehandedly saved Clay Helton’s job, caused JT Daniels to leave for Georgia, and was so good that Bryce Young, the nation’s top quarterback recruit, de-committed and took his talents to Tuscaloosa.

Slovis has a great cast of weapons that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyler Vaughns, and Drake London, and he’ll have a solid defense with ten returning starters to help out.

If there’s a season in which USC returns to glory, it’s 2020.

There has been no drop-off for Ohio State whatsoever under Ryan Day.

Justin Fields is a Heisman candidate after a season in which he threw for 41 touchdowns and only three picks, and added ten scores on the ground. Tailback Master Teague, and his 5.8 yards per carry, will run behind a loaded offensive line, led by guard Wyatt Davis and featuring five-star Paris Johnson Jr.

There’s a ton of turnover on the defense, but the Buckeyes have recruited at such a high level that there isn’t a major level of concern on that side of the ball. Several seniors are stepping into key roles, and it helps that senior linebacker Tuf Borland returns to lead the unit.

The Buckeyes finished first in the Big Ten in scoring, rushing, and total offense. The defense finished first nationally in passing and total defense. Ohio State is a dominant playoff team, plain and simple.

If the Ducks can defend their turf and get a victory here in week two, it will make a playoff berth all the more realistic in Eugene.