Oregon Ducks Can Still Win The Pac-12 North, Technically
By Dom Pruett
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You won’t find an Oregon fan who’s content with how the Ducks’ 2015 season has unraveled thus far. Pessimism reigns supreme among the Duck faithful.
Can you blame them?
Oregon has endured three early losses this season, but even more concerning is how they’ve been flat-out embarrassed in the losses. 62-20 at home to Utah? Yikes. An overtime home loss to lowly Washington State? Unacceptable.
Furthermore, the fast and uptempo style we’ve all grown so accustomed to seeing from the Oregon program is no longer on display. The 2015 Ducks look like every other team, void of the identity that put the program on the map.
With many of the Ducks’ toughest opponents still to come, the season appears to be headed towards a colossal disappointment.
If Oregon’s 2015 downward spiral continues, the implications could equal future mediocrity and struggles.
But before you write off the 2015 Oregon Ducks, know that there still is hope! Technically.
The biggest obstacle to Oregon’s Pac-12 title aspirations is the Stanford Cardinal, who are currently undefeated in league play. Even if the Ducks manage to upset what will be the highly favored Cardinal, Oregon will still need help from another Pac-12 team to give Stanford its second conference loss.
With only Washington, Washington State, Colorado, and Cal as the remaining Pac-12 teams on Stanford’s schedule (aside from Oregon), the Cardinal could take the North with ease.
But while Stanford may be favored to win the division, parity rules among the other five North teams.
2-1 Cal, 1-1 Washington, and 1-1 Washington State currently reside above Oregon in Pac-12 North standings. The task at hand is not impossible for the Ducks.
Of course, before Oregon can play with hypothetical scenarios that would send them to a second straight Pac-12 Championship game, the Ducks must first beat Washington on Saturday night.
By now, every Oregon fan should know; take it one game at a time.