Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks may be feeling frustrated as the No. 1 ranked team in college football, as their top ranking has not translated into any significant advantage. Despite an undefeated season with a 12-0 record, they are now facing skepticism about their position. College football analysts like David Pollack raised doubts, questioning whether Oregon truly deserves the top seed over other teams, including Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs.
Pollack highlighted that Georgia, as the No. 2 seed, has a tougher schedule and demonstrated sustained dominance throughout the season. This comparison underscores a broader issue with the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings favoring tradition over fairness. The CFP seems more inclined to preserve bowl traditions than to strictly reward seeding.
Oregon’s path to the playoffs might have been easier if they had lost to Penn State, as it could have positioned them to face a lower-ranked conference winner in the first round. Instead, they secured a first-round bye and will face the winner of the Ohio State Buckeyes versus Tennessee Volunteers matchup in the quarterfinals, which presents a tougher challenge.
Despite the skepticism, Lanning and the Ducks are determined to prove their doubters wrong. As analyst J.D. Pickell noted, Oregon has the potential to perform well and should not be underestimated. The team’s focus will be on overcoming the challenge of a tough playoff path and showing that they belong at the top.