Oregon’s Playoff Hopes Still Alive, Rece Davis Says
On November 3, ESPN analyst Rece Davis said Oregon could still reach the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff if it wins out. The Ducks visit Ohio State on November 7.
On November 3, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis said Oregon’s postseason chances were still alive after the Ducks beat Northwestern 34-26 on Halloween. He said an Oregon team that wins its remaining games could still reach and win the Big Ten championship, though he cited the team’s uneven performance as a reason for caution.
Oregon also needs help elsewhere. The Ducks need Indiana and Illinois to lose, and USC to drop another game against Indiana, Maryland or UCLA. Oregon holds a tiebreaker over USC after beating the Trojans 41-27 on September 26. UCLA’s results could also matter to Oregon’s path, Davis said.
The Ducks’ next game is a November 7 trip to Columbus to face Ohio State. The Buckeyes are coming off a 30-18 loss to USC on Halloween. Both teams have two conference losses, and the result could affect their chances of making the Big Ten title game and the playoff.
ESPN’s Football Power Index ranked Oregon 12th nationally and third behind Indiana and Ohio State as of November 3. The index gave the Ducks a 6.8% chance of winning their remaining games, a 2.7% chance of winning the conference and a 4.2% chance of reaching the 12-team playoff. Oregon’s bowl-eligibility probability was 99.3%.