Projected 2020 College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings for Week 14

The College Football Playoff selection committee proved itself to be completely unimpressed with the Pac-12 in its initial set of 2020 rankings. Given that reality, it would hardly be surprising to see Oregon drop completely out of the Top 25 after their first loss of the season against rival Oregon State. The 41-38 defeat in Corvallis eliminated the league’s best chance of reaching the top four and making the semifinals after the Pac-12 started its season late.

Tyler Shough threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing, and he added a score on the ground. The young quarterback also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on the final desperate play. Oregon’s defense proved its ultimate undoing, as the Ducks failed to contain Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson. The Beavers runner racked up 226 yards and two scores to pace the upset for the Platypus Trophy.

Oregon should be among the top 25 teams after their close loss on the road, but at this point a New Year’s Six bid and a Pac-12 championship is the new ceiling for Mario Cristobal’s team. A trip to Berkeley to face woebegone Cal awaits on the first Saturday of December. That precedes the big game remaining on Oregon’s schedule on on December 12, when rival Washington comes to Autzen Stadium for a showdown that looks likely to decide the Pac-12 North champion.