Even with a second-half stallout, the No. 5 Oregon Ducks earned a double-digit win in the first round of the College Football Playoff, putting up 51 points on the No. 12 JMU Dukes.
Now, the Ducks have to take on the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders, but would this team be the biggest hurdle in Oregon's path if the team made it all the way to the National Championship game?
The Red Raiders are a great team, don't get it twisted. Texas Tech has produced one of the most dominant defenses in the country this year, but there are still a few teams that have a leg (or two) up on the team from the Big 12.
Here is how Oregon's seven remaining possible opponents stack up against one another:
Oregon's College Football Playoff (possible) opponent power rankings
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Indiana Hosiers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Miami Hurricanes
Unsurprisingly, the other top dogs from the Big Ten are well beyond the rest of the field of competition remaining in the College Football Playoff.
Despite Indiana being the No. 1 seed, the Ohio State Buckeyes are (once again) the scariest team in the bracket. The SEC's Georgia Bulldogs have also earned their place as one of the top three teams remaining, followed by Oregon's next opponent.
The Red Raiders haven't played against as many menacing teams as Alabama, Ole Miss, or Miami, but Texas Tech has been undeniably dominant in all of its matchups. So, with that being said, the Raiders are ahead of the Crimson Tide, the Rebels, and the Hurricanes in the power rankings.
Even FanDuel Sportsbook has Texas Tech with better odds to win the National Championship (+950) than Alabama (+1800), Ole Miss (+2200), or Miami (+2200). The Ducks? Oh, Vegas oddsmakers have Oregon with +700 odds to win it all, placing the Ducks in fourth.
The Ducks have an uphill battle ahead of them if they are going to make it all the way to the natty, but Texas Tech could be the perfect opponent to kick-start their "go big or go home" campaign to win it all this season.