Oregon Football: Pac-12 media predicts Ducks to repeat as champs

Getting back to a “normal” college football season in 2021 will be nice for fans and it got kicked off over the past couple of weeks with media days for each conference.

At these media day events, coaches talk about their teams, what to look for, what they expect from their guys, and then the media gets to predict the conference champion.

And after winning two straight conference titles, Oregon football is projected to three-peat.

According to the Pac-12 media, the Ducks are the overwhelming favorite to win the North and then go on to win a third straight conference title. Oregon received 27 votes to win the conference while USC got 10 and Utah hauled in three. Almost three-fourths of the Pac-12 media at the event believe that Oregon will take the conference.

The Ducks are projected to be the Pac-12’s top-ranked team to begin the season and a potential top-10 squad in college football. So these rankings aren’t a complete surprise.

It’s surprising to see little love for Washington and I’m sure if USC fails to win the conference title again, Clay Helton’s seat will only heat up more.

Oregon football has the pieces to three-peat

Oregon has a ton of talent and the Ducks are the favorite to represent the Pac-12 in the College Football Playoff this season, being the first team to make the semifinal since Washington in 2016.

The Ducks have arguably the best player in college football in Kayvon Thibodeaux, two of the top linebackers in the conference in Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, a potentially elite secondary led by Mykael Wright and Jamal Hill, an elite backfield with Troy Dye and CJ Verdell, a strong offensive line, deep tight end group, and top-tier receiver room.

The only major question mark is at quarterback and the Ducks have four starting-caliber players at the position.

Why is Oregon projected to three-peat? Because someone is going to have to wrestle the trophy away from the most talented team in the conference.