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Oregon football can't get too comfortable despite likely No. 1 ranking

Two trap games are approaching.

By Connor Muldowney

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Tuesday night is a big one for Oregon football as it'll be the second reveal of the 2024 College Football Playoff rankings and there might be some controversy near the top.

The first rankings last week saw Oregon take the top overall spot after beating Michigan by 21 points in Ann Arbor and the Ducks were followed by Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami. Now, the Ducks will be looking to hold on to that top spot despite a relatively average performance at home against a bad Maryland team.

Sure, Oregon will likely hold on to that top spot because it holds the head-to-head advantage over Ohio State and both Georgia and Miami lost last week. It would have to take a monumentally shocking decision to bump the Ducks from the top spot for Ohio State or Texas but, hey, anything could happen.

Judging by the fact that the committee is unlikely to make a rash decision like that following a three-score Oregon win, the Ducks will secure that top spot and sit at No. 1 with two games left.

But they can't get comfortable.

While the final two games are more than winnable against Wisconsin and Washington, these are two of the trappiest trap games to have ever trapped a No. 1 team. Wisconsin has looked average, at best, this season but they are at home which is a very tough place to play for visitors, especially ones from the West Coast that are new to this November matchup. And Washington has had Oregon's number for the past couple of years -- yes, I know, new coach and new era, but still.

Oregon can't get too ahead of itself because it felt like that's what happened against Maryland in the first half last week and also in the first two weeks of the year and the Ducks avoided disaster.

This team can't get caught looking ahead to the Big Ten title game because college football has already claimed some crazy upsets (look at Miami at Georgia Tech last week).

Oregon needs to maintain focus and ignore the No. 1 overall ranking with two weeks left. Play like you're fighting for a spot in the playoff.

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