Oregon Football Opens 2018 Under The Radar On Sports Illustrated Top 25

Oregon Football did not make the Sports Illustrated Preseason Top 25, but several other Pac-12 teams are in the mix.

I don’t see it as a sign of disrespect. After last season, it is clear that Oregon Football will have to show on the field that they belong in the Top 25 Conversation this season. After a hot start and a disappointing finish last year, the Oregon Ducks enter 2018 with a Heisman Contender at Quarterback and players with plenty of experience to again start 2018 off on the right foot.

According to Sports Illustrated, the team to beat is Clemson. Alabama comes in second. The Washington Huskies enter the opening poll in 4^th as the Preseason Favorite to win the Pac-12 Conference. Washington will travel to Oregon and like the Ducks will not face the USC Trojans during the regular season, but could see the Trojans at the Pac-12 Championship game. The early part of the season for Washington will see the Huskies facing Auburn in Week 1. Both teams have Championship hopes on the line and the loser will have a lot of work to do to get back into the mix.

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For Oregon Football, a lackluster non-conference slate means Oregon could be 3-0 when they meet Stanford to open Pac-12 play in late September. The Cardinal enter the ranking at 13 and return Running Back Bryce Love. Quarterback K.J. Costello will have to improve from last season where he averaged just under 7 yards per pass. With the Cardinal coming to Eugene, the Ducks will be ready for the challenge.

The final Pac-12 team on the list is Arizona State coming in at 19^th. The Sun Devils in the Pac-12 South will have some challenges this season including an always challenging USC team and a new look UCLA squad with Head Coach Chip Kelly returning to College Football.

Oregon Football is currently progressing through Fall Camp as the team gets ready for the start of the Regular Season against Bowling Green on Saturday, September 1^st (5 pm PT, Pac-12 Network)