A one-loss Oregon team was still in prime position to make the College Football Playoff thanks to its huge road win over Ohio State in September, entering the weekend No. 3 in the rankings.
A two-loss Oregon team that just got its doors blown off by Utah on Saturday, 38-7, now has essentially no hope of making the four-team playoff.
“Everybody’s upset and disappointed like we should be,” Ducks coach Mario Cristobal told reporters on Saturday after the Utah loss. “It should burn. It should hurt a ton. Guys are competitors, and it’s hard too because we’ve taken a lot of pride in being resilient and being able to bounce back from adversity. And tonight, we didn’t do a good enough job.”
The biggest beneficiary of Oregon’s loss could be Cincinnati, who improved to 11-0 with a win against SMU on Saturday, 48-14. Some believe the Bearcats, who entered the weekend No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, have not gotten their due by the committee despite an undefeated record, which includes a road win over Notre Dame.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham gets doused with water from a cooler as Utah defeated Oregon on Nov. 20, 2021. AP
Oregon defensive tackle Popo Aumavae looks at the scoreboard after the Ducks lost to Utah on Nov. 20, 2021. Getty ImagesGeorgia and Alabama were the top two teams entering Saturday, with Ohio State at No. 4. It’s possible that a one-loss Big 12 champion could spoil the party for Cincinnati.
But one thing seems certain: Oregon’s playoff chances have evaporated.
