When a preseason favorite falls on hard times, the games become harder to find. Oregon's 12:30 p.m. PT clash with No. 20, 6-1 Northwestern has been relegated to the Peacock Channel, a streaming service run by NBC that requires a separate 8.99 subscription. That's what happens when national championship hopes collapse into a 4-3 start.
Dante Moore's injury exposed every flaw in the Oregon offense. In three games after Moore fell to the turf after a brutal hit from Desman Stephens II the Ducks have managed 15 points in a loss to UCLA, 17 in a win over Nebraska, 10 in a shocking, agonizing loss to Illinois last weekend. The last sealed the deal on offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer's exit.
An off-the-field scandal involving two arrests provided further embarrassment for a program that's lost its way in a 4-3 start-- it was was supposed to be a bid for a national championship. Instead, the Ducks face a fight merely to reach the Duke's Mayo or the Pop Tarts Bowl, where their opponent might be... 5-2 Oregon State.
Longtime Oregon fans are no stranger to legal troubles, distractions and down years. They'll remember Herman Ho-Ching, bowl collapses against Wake Forest and BYU, Washington clubbing the Ducks 70-21 and twice in one year, Cliff Harris telling a state trooper "We smoked it all." In 2010 starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli got thrown off the team for stealing a laptop.
In 2006 Mike Bellotti took the entire team and all the coaches to Camp Harlow to air out the problems that had arisen in the program; that group responded with an 8-1 start and No. 2 ranking before another run of adversity in 2007.
Future Rose Bowl star Kiko Alonso spent a year suspended due to off-field troubles. Even Marcus Mariota once got a speeding ticket. Sometimes incidents and consequences are just a part of growing up. Still, you'd like the Ducks to follow Georgia's example in terms of success rather than bookings and indictments. Unprecedented money, young men and fast cars, what could possibly go wrong?
For some elusive reason the Ducks are still a 3.5 favorite against Northwestern, despite the fact that in their last three games they've scored 15, 14 and 10 points. Interim offensive coordinator Jay Johnson achieved only mixed results as a playcaller at Colorado and Michigan State, but the team seemed to find something in the loss to the Illini. The running game was better. The offensive line, with Tommy Tofi moving people off the ball at left guard, seemed to find an identity.
The beginning of hope starts with a better effort. Dan Lanning, who has slumped to 4-4 in his last eight games after a 48-8 start, has to mix in some promising young talent and help this group find some resilience and help them reclaim their joy in playing football.
Dylan Raiola is the likely starter today. If he falters at all, it's time to take the wraps off Akili Smith Jr., the 6-6 four-star sophomore quarterback from Lincoln High School in San Diego. He has mobility and a big arm. Sometimes youthful enthusiasm and raw boldness can break through stagnation and doubt. Duck fans are anxious to see what he's got. It simply can't be any worse than what they've suffered through in the last 12 quarters.
In the off season Lanning has to find the best, most dynamic offensive coordinator in the country, whether it's former Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith, his old boss Mike Norvell or an up-and-comer like Rob Ezell at Wake Forest. He stumbled with the Mehringer pick after two great hires who became head coaches.
Success stories at Kentucky, UCLA, Northwestern, Oklahoma State and even Oregon State show that it's possible to turn a program around in one off season. It's a process fueled by work, commitment and hiring the right people. Lanning has said this year will be the one in which he grows the most as a head coach. If that happens, this story, this journey for Oregon football and Oregon fans, can have a fascinating next chapter.
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