The Ducks are fine. In the last 25 years, just 13 national champions got through the season undefeated, and after NIL and the portal that mark will be even harder to achieve in the 12-team playoff era.
Oregon looks to bounce back Saturday in SHI Stadium as 17.5-point favorites against 3-3 Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. PT in Piscataway, New Jersey, 2,908 air miles from home.
A week removed from a tough loss to No. 3 Indiana, the Ducks have to counter a Scarlet Knights offense with good balance, one that's dented opponents for 37.5 points a game this season.
Senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, 6-3, 215 has thrown for 1,785 yards this season, with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 66 percent. He runs well but Rutgers has given up 20 sacks this season, the most in the Big Ten.
That's the key for the Ducks in hitting the big number. They've got to create some havoc, disruption, negative plays. "The Greek Rifle" wants to throw it up to his big outside receivers, Ian Strong, 6-3, 215 and KJ Duff, 6-6, 225.
Brandon Finney and the Oregon defensive backs need to be strong through the catch, contesting the ball aggressively rather than grabbing jerseys and drawing flags. Rutgers has good balance also. Sophomore running back Atwan Raymond, 5-11, 205 from Montreal, Canada, has popped this year for 560 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, 5.5 yards a carry.
Oregon's injury report remains largely unchanged:
Daylen Austin (Questionable)
Dorian Brew (Questionable)
Brayden Platt (Questionable)
Kyler Kasper (Out)
Dillon Gresham (Out)
Trey McNutt (Out)
Evan Stewart (Out)
Kasper is out for the year after foot surgery. Brew has been working out and could be available soon. The Ducks are likely to get a boost in November when Trey McNutt and Evan Stewart return long rehab stints, two above-the-line players that could give the team a boost against a tough schedule over the season's last four weeks.
For the Scarlet Knights, senior running back CJ Campbell Jr. has been out several weeks with a lower leg injury and unlikely to return this season.
Rutgers ranks 17th in the Big Ten in Red Zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns just 62 percent of the time. The defense struggles to stop anyone, giving up a conference-worst 6.98 yards per play.
The game is a sellout, however, and Greg Schiano's squad enjoyed an extra day to prepare after losing to Washington 38-19 last Friday.
The Scarlet Knights typically start fast. Even in their three Big Ten losses they have been ahead or tied at the half in every game this year.
The numbers say this should be a dominating, decisive, wire-to-wire victory despite the travel. It almost seems Oregon will be better in a road environment at the point of the season. The atmosphere in Autzen has been somewhat muted, and somehow a road game promotes an edge, an us-against-them mentality.
The Ducks need that right now.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Rutgers 24