While the season didn't end the way that the Oregon Ducks and their fans wanted it to end, the latest Big Ten Champions can still come out towards the top after the National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were the only team to defeat the Ducks all season. Oregon went 13-0, including the Big Ten title game, before losing to the Buckeyes in the second round of the College Football Playoffs.
Now, with the Buckeyes vying for their third National Championship win since the turn of the century, the Ducks could still look like a dominant force depending on how Ohio State plays.
Sure, most of the nation may be pulling for the young Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish––which could be entirely due to college football fans simply being sick of the Buckeyes and their head coach, Ryan Day.
X map shows most of U.S. rooting for Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals. 💛 https://t.co/XfiMU72wzl pic.twitter.com/WsuApjmTUY
— theScore (@theScore) January 8, 2025
However, in order for Oregon to look like one of the best teams in the country, it would benefit the Ducks for Ohio State to walk away victorious.
Imagine the difference between Oregon's only loss of the year coming at the hands of the eventual National Champion versus the Ducks' only loss coming at the hands of the runners-up... Just like Oregon's two losses to Washington during the 2023-24 season.
Many Duck fans have realized that over the last two years, Oregon has only suffered three losses – all coming to teams that eventually made their way to the National Championship game.
While everyone who donned the Ducks' green and yellow throughout the season wanted the Ducks to finally capture their long-sought-after title, settling for just one loss to the eventual National Champion isn't too shabby either.
Ohio State and Notre Dame are scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. PT from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The National Championship game will be broadcast on ESPN.