Autzen Zoo
Fansided

Oregon Football: Best, worst and most likely scenario for 2021 season

By Connor Muldowney

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 02: (L-R) Deommodore Lenoir #0, Travis Dye #26, George Moore #77 and Anthony Brown #13 of the Oregon Ducks leads teammates onto the field before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at State Farm Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cyclones defeated the Ducks 34-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 02: (L-R) Deommodore Lenoir #0, Travis Dye #26, George Moore #77 and Anthony Brown #13 of the Oregon Ducks leads teammates onto the field before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Iowa State Cyclones at State Farm Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cyclones defeated the Ducks 34-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the third quarter with Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and Oregon Ducks linebacker MJ Cunningham (39) at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the third quarter with Oregon Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and Oregon Ducks linebacker MJ Cunningham (39) at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Best-case scenario for Oregon football

Let’s start off with the good news. Oregon football has serious national title talent and in the best-case scenario, the Ducks are representing the Pac-12 in the College Football Playoff.

If you take a look at the schedule, there’s really only one game they should have a problem with and that’s at Ohio State in Week 2. Other than that, the schedule is very favorable and outside of a road game against rival Washington, there’s a chance that the Ducks run the table in conference play.

Obviously, the best-case scenario here would be to go undefeated, but even with one loss in non-conference play to the Buckeyes and an 11-1 record, the playoff should come calling.

I just don’t see this team going on the road to beat Ohio State because Columbus is a very difficult place to play for non-conference foes and even though the Ducks do have the talent to pull off the upset, I just don’t think it’s a must-win for the best-case scenario.

So let’s say Oregon finds its quarterback and whoever starts exceeds expectations and becomes one of the best passers in the Pac-12, then a win over Ohio State looks much more likely. Until then, just keeping it close against the Buckeyes, correcting some mistakes, and running the table in conference play is your best-case scenario. And that’s with the offense coming together nicely under a new quarterback and the defense living up to the hype.

Best-case: 12-1 with Pac-12 title and playoff berth

Home/Oregon Ducks Football