ESPN CFP top 25 reveal crew debate Oregon at No. 6

Following the Week 12 slate of action, the Oregon Ducks remain in the No. 6 spot in the College Football Playoff top 25 ranking. While the College Football Playoff committee has them just outside of the top 4 and the highest-ranked one-loss team, some of the ESPN college football experts on the reveal show don’t necessarily agree with that.

“You can make an argument that they’re playing some of the best football in the country,” said Booger McFarland. “Bo Nix playing at a Heisman Trophy level. The way they run the football with Bucky Irving. I just like the physicality on defense, offensive line. Oregon, to me, is a team nobody wants to play right now.”

Oregon has been a Top 20 offense and defense for the majority of the 2023 season. And aside from their one loss against Washington on the road, they have looked the part against everyone else, including Pac-12 powers Utah and USC. Unfortunately, as another analyst on the panel pointed out, Oregon’s quality of opponents has been not up to par like in previous seasons.

“If you look at their efficiency numbers, offensively and defensively, they’re off the charts good. I think they are as complete as you’ll find and as dangerous as you’ll find in the entire sport,” said Greg McElroy. “But the resume is terrible.

“They did not have a win against a team that’s currently in the top 25. Utah was that win; they were No. 22 last week. They’re now out, they’re 7-4. Their next best win is against SC, who’s 7-5 –just capped off their season in the loss last week. I think that they are deserving of the sixth spot. They are the sixth-best team in my eyes as well. But the resume doesn’t really substantiate that.”

It is worth noting that Oregon and Washington share a few similar opponents with noticeably different results on the field. Take Arizona State, for example; both teams finished with a win against the Sun Devils. However, Oregon dominated Arizona State on the road 49-13. Meanwhile, Washington narrowly escaped defeat at home, winning 15-7.

This conversation could go back and forth about Oregon and their dominance this season compared to other top-ranked teams. But there is no need for that, as Kirk Herbstreit pointed out, to close the segment. He, too, has enjoyed what he has seen out of the Ducks in head coach Dan Lanning’s second season. And with how Oregon’s final two games are set up, fans will see exactly who the Ducks are and if they are genuinely College Football Playoff material.

“You could make an argument that they’ve been the most consistent team from the beginning of the year all the way up to this point,” said Herbstreit. “It’s offense defense, every aspect that we’ve watched them play. You can look at their opponent and say look who they’re playing. Or, you can look at it and say wow.

“Bo Nix is a veteran quarterback. He’s been through every aspect this sport has to offer, the good and the bad. You got a veteran leading the way, speed all over the field, Dan Lanning coaching that defense with Tosh [Lupoi], they fly around, and they’re playing with confidence.

“It will eventually play itself out. They go to Oregon State this week; more than likely, get a rematch with Washington in Las Vegas. You win those two games, Oregon is going to be in the Playoff and they deserve to be exactly where they are, in my opinion.”