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Oregon Ducks' CFP Hopes Plummet After Illinois Loss
28 Oct
Summary
- Oregon's CFP hopes significantly diminished after a 21-10 loss to Illinois.
- Offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer was dismissed following the stagnant performance.
- Oregon's national championship odds have drastically fallen from preseason expectations.
The Oregon Ducks' path to the College Football Playoff has become exceedingly narrow after a 21-10 loss to Illinois. This defeat has significantly impacted their national championship hopes, with odds plummeting from +700 preseason to +35000 per BetMGM. In the aftermath, head coach Dan Lanning dismissed offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer due to another uninspired offensive showing.
Mathematically, Oregon's postseason is not over, but the margin for error is virtually nonexistent. Only two teams have previously made the CFP with three losses. Oregon would require an extraordinary winning streak and favorable outcomes from other Big Ten conference teams. Major hurdles include upcoming games against ranked opponents like Ohio State and challenging conference rivals such as UCLA and Indiana.
Independent projection models suggest Oregon has only a one to two percent chance of reaching the Big Ten title game. To achieve a 7-2 conference record, which would boost their chances to 16.2 percent, the Ducks must navigate a difficult schedule. This includes crucial matchups against Northwestern, Michigan, and Washington, all while dealing with mounting injuries and recent personnel changes.