To advance in the CFP, Oregon has to tear down a wall

Oregon has its strongest team in years, but to survive and advance in the playoffs, they've got to test the untested.

The Dukes were No. 2 in the country against the run, allowing just 2.48 yards per carry. Texas Tech, the Ducks quarterfinal opponent if they survive and advance, was first in the FBS, allowing a scant 2.3 yards a carry on the ground.

JMU allowed more than four yards a carry in a game just once all season, On November 8 the Thundering Herd of Marshall solved them on the ground, cranking out 248 yards on 50 carries, 4.96 a pop, though they lost 35-23. Atwan Roberts, a 6-2, 210 power back, pierced them for 121 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown and a 31-yard chunk run.

In his Sunday press conference after the draw was announced Dan Lanning insisted the key to success in the playoffs was to have a normal routine and a normal process in the run-up. The Saturday practices during the off time would feel like a game. The team would have a night meeting and a pregame meal.

Reporters asked him what it was like, facing a team from 2,810 miles away and a squad they'd never played before.

“Really no different than every other team that we prepare for. You’re usually so focused on the team that you’re currently playing that you’re not watching a lot of other college games throughout the season," he said.

"So as the film gets uploaded on your system, you start breaking them down. You try to take an opportunity go back and watch those and that’s what we’ve already started the day. So process is really no different. Evaluate the film that you see, attack what you see, try to talk to some people that have maybe played common opponents, see what opinions they have on on that team, and break it down just like a normal week.”

Lanning and his newly rich offensive coordinator Will Stein, promoted to head coach at Kentucky, have to find some cracks in what's been a formidable Front 7 in purple and gold, the best the Ducks have seen in that color.

Against Troy the Dukes stoned the Trojans, holding them to -26 rushing yards in 28 attempts. Defensive end #15 Sahir West, 6-4, 270, a freshman from Baltimore, shredded Troy's offensive line with 10 tackles and three sacks, a disruptive force on the edge with 14 tackles for loss this year.

Dukes invade Autzen with swarming, stingy defense that dominated SBC

Senior inside linebacker Trent Hendrick wears No. 5, 6-0, 234. He's a slasher who piled up 96 tackles this season, with three sacks, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.

He and his teammates took inspiration from Duke's upset of Virginia in the ACC Championship Game. "Obviously, we're super excited," he said. "Ready to go out there, get prepared, get prepared right now and I'm ready to go out and beat Oregon."

Bud Elliott of "The Cover 3 Podcast" and CBS Sports forecasts a one-sided game, owing to the disparity in size and talent. "It's literally a safety issue," he said on social media.

The Dukes come at opponents with a variety of blitzes and pressure. Typically they show a four-man line, but sometimes they'll get a great notion to send a safety, Jacob Thomas or Tyler Brown.

The pass defense is handsy and sticky. They held opponents. to 49.5 percent completions and 172 yards per game, giving up 14 touchdowns all year against 12 interceptions.

Troy quarterback Goose Crowder beat them with rail shots down the sideline to Rara Thomas, good for 43 and 37 yards, another to Tray Taylor for 30, but the visitors couldn't run the football. The pressure made Crowder erratic-- JMU sacked him eight times.

Tackles Isaiah World and Alex Harkey and the rest of the Law Firm have to remember their rules and reestablish their routines. The Dukes are overmatched and 21.5 underdogs, but they're determined to make some history despite a season of weak competition.

James Madison football

Record 12-1

G1: (FCS) Weber State 10 - JMU 45

G2: JMU 14 - #39 Louisville 28

G3: JMU 31 - #115 Liberty 13

G4: #102 GA Southern 10 - JMU 35

G5: JMU 14 - #135 Georgia State 7

G6: #100 Louisiana 14 - JMU 24

G7: #53 Old Dominion 27 - JMU 63

G8: JMU 52 - #84 Texas State 20

G9: JMU 35 - #103 Marshall 23

G10: #104 App State 10 - JMU 58

G11: #74 WSU 20 - JMU 24

G12: JMU 59 - #112 Coastal 10

Sun Belt CG: #69 Troy 14 - JMU 31