Just one day before the No. 1 team in the country took the field at the Rose Bowl Game in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, an ESPN personality was still trying to figure out where exactly the Oregon Ducks call home.
Matt Barrie, a long-time analyst for the network, was discussing the Ducks' upcoming matchup with the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes and was alluding back to the two teams' first game this season.
When he talked about where the game was played, Barrie said that it had taken place in Corvallis... which is about an hour away from where the Ducks actually play football at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR.
“Remember 32-31, back in week seven, that one in Corvallis.”
— kwade (@KwadeSays) December 31, 2024
Does ESPN not know where the No. 1 team in the nation is from?
The amount of disrespect for the only 13-0 team in CFB is WILD pic.twitter.com/N1jhlFYf1G
Throughout the postseason, fans have voiced their gripes with ESPN personalities, analysts, and talents as the almost-always-present SEC bias has infiltrated the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
While Barrie made a simple mistake, fans grew frustrated once again that someone who is paid to know as much as possible about football doesn't even know where the No. 1 team is located.
I remember when ESPN had quality talent. Seems like a lifetime ago. https://t.co/cALHmZvFjG
— Duck Sports Authority (@DSArivals) December 31, 2024
During the first round of the Playoffs and the non-CFP bowl games, fans began to notice that ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit seemed to have much kinder words for SEC teams that won their bowl games compared to any other conference in the country – including the Big Ten even though Herbstreit played for Ohio State.
For the past two years, head coach Dan Lanning and Oregon's motto has been FEBU – Forget Everybody But Us – and that will have to apply more than ever as the Ducks fly toward the Rose Bowl. Ohio State is the favorite, everybody doubts the Ducks, and professionals don't even know where Oregon plays.
The Ducks (who play in Eugene) and the Buckeyes are scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. PT from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. The game will be broadcast on... ESPN.