Sept. 3 — LSU 40, Oregon 27 (recap) (photos)

Given how the rest of the season played it, it seems fitting that De’Anthony Thomas was prominently involved in this high-stakes affair. This time, though, it was for all of the wrong reasons. Thomas showed flashes of brilliance, but fumbled twice in a critical third quarter that saw Oregon’s three-point deficit spiral into a 30-13 blowout. At the time, no one knew just how good LSU was, but the loss still dealt Oregon’s national title hopes a huge blow.
Key play: De’Anthony Thomas’ fumble with a little more than eight minutes left in the third quarter and Oregon trailing just 16-13. LSU would score on the ensuing drive.
Sept. 10 — Oregon 69, Nevada 20 (recap) (photos)

There was no hangover from the LSU loss in Oregon’s home opener. Darron Thomas tied a school record with six touchdown passes and De’Anthony Thomas made up for his earlier mistakes with two electrifying touchdown catches.
Key play: De’Anthony Thomas’ 69-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter showed the first glimpses of what he was truly capable of.
Sept. 17 — Oregon 56, Missouri State 7 (recap) (photos)

LaMichael James made his return to the spotlight in a big way, racking up 204 yards and three touchdowns. Although Missouri State scored first in the game, it never really had a chance against the Ducks and was shut out the rest of the way. Though the competition was weak, Oregon gave notice that the LSU loss did not make the team any less dangerous.
Key play: James’ 90-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, which was then the longest at Oregon since 1938.
Sept. 24 — Oregon 56, Arizona 31 (recap)

No one knew just how bad Arizona was at this point, and the talk in the week leading up to the game was all about Oregon’s last appearance in Tucson. Would 2011 bring a repeat of the 2009 double-overtime classic? In a word: no. James nearly broke 300 yards rushing (288) and Oregon never trailed in the game.
Key play: James’ 31-yard run in the third quarter that ended with a bruising takedown of cornerback Trevin Wade.
Oct. 6 — Oregon 43, California 15 (recap) (photos)

A contest that will forever be known as “The Elbow Game.” James rushed for over 200 yards for the third straight weekend before leaving with an absolutely sickening elbow injury. As it turned out, the play looked a lot worse than the injury turned out to be, and James would only miss two games. But the hush in Autzen Stadium as he lay on the ground will not soon be forgotten.
Key play: With Oregon leading by just six halfway through the third quarter, Kenjon Barner broke off a 68-yard touchdown run that would put Cal away for good.
Oct. 15 — Oregon 41, Arizona State 27 (recap) (photos)

Oregon’s season flashed before its eyes when Darron Thomas’ left leg was bent entirely the wrong way. LaMichael James was already out with a dislocated elbow, and Oregon seemingly couldn’t endure another injury to a star player. Arizona State grabbed a 24-21 lead soon after Thomas’ injury, and all of a sudden the whole season was on the line. Enter: Bryan Bennett. The redshirt freshman looked calm and collected as he led Oregon to a comfortable 14-point victory, and with his surprising performance came the first whispers about Thomas being replaced by his younger, more athletic backup.
Key play: Bennett’s 36-yard run set the tone for a third-quarter drive that ended with Oregon taking a commanding 35-24 lead.
Oct. 22 — Oregon 45, Colorado 2 (recap) (photos)

A duo of overqualified backups — Kenjon Barner and Bennett — played starring roles in a game that was over in the first quarter. The Ducks scored 29 points in the opening quarter alone, and Colorado’s only points came on a Cliff Harris safety in the third quarter. Fans who were pulling for a shutout groaned, but the defense was still dominant, giving up just 231 total yards and coming up with five sacks.
Key play: Harris’ run backward into the end zone during a punt return brought him back into the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons. @@Again@@
Oct. 29 — Oregon 43, Washington State 28 (recap) (photos)

The quarterback “controversy” in Oregon revved up a bit in this game when Darron Thomas was pulled in the second half. The Ducks would, once again, pull away on the heels of De’Anthony Thomas’ heroics (which included a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown), but all the talk after the game was about Darron Thomas and Bennett. Chip Kelly, somewhat quizzically, refused to answer questions about the situation — leaving offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and Thomas himself to fend off the controversy.
Key play: De’Anthony Thomas’ electrifying kickoff return gave Oregon a commanding 16-point lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
Nov. 5 — Oregon 34, Washington 17 (recap) (photos)

The skepticism surrounding Darron Thomas quieted a bit after he played every down in Seattle. For the Ducks as a whole, it was an important road test to pass in the lead up to a showdown with Stanford the next week. As Washington prepared to make major renovations to Husky Stadium, the Ducks made their own home there and never trailed in the victory.
Key play: Safety Eddie Pleasant set the tone early on defense by intercepting Washington quarterback Keith Price, allowing Oregon to strike first with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Nov. 12 — Oregon 53, Stanford 30 (recap) (photos)

It was supposed to be Oregon’s toughest test of the season beyond the LSU opener. On the road, against Andrew Luck and a powerful Cardinal squad that, up until then, was undefeated? This was where Oregon would trip up. No one could have seen the slip coming at home against USC the following week, and as such the Ducks’ commanding 23-point victory in Palo Alto was met with jubilation. All of a sudden, a second straight national championship berth didn’t seem out of question. At the very least, Oregon was once again in the driver’s seat for the Pac-12 championship, thanks in large part to the six combined touchdowns scored by James and Darron Thomas.
Key play: Josh Huff’s 59-yard touchdown catch made it a two-score game in the third quarter, putting Stanford away for good.
Nov. 19 — USC 38, Oregon 35 (recap) (photos)
The environment inside Autzen Stadium couldn’t have been more electric than it was on that late November night when then-No. 4 Oregon saw its second-half comeback cut short, 38-35, at the hands of No. 18 USC.
The Ducks found themselves in a hole early on, and it wasn’t until late in the third quarter that a serious comeback began. Down 38-14, true freshman De’Anthony Thomas took a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to breath new life into the Ducks. Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to bring Oregon within three.
Sophomore kicker Alejandro Maldonado had the chance to tie the game with a 37-yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide left and the Trojans snapped Oregon’s 21-game winning streak at home — the longest in the nation.
Though the game was certainly a low point for many fans, the result ultimately did not have an effect on Oregon’s postseason hopes. With USC returning 20 of 24 starters next season, you can expect that late-season showdown to be one of the best games in college football in 2012.
Key play: Alejandro Maldonado misses a 37-yard field goal that would have tied the game with just seconds remaining on the clock. Oregon had all the momentum heading into a potential overtime, but squandered the opportunity late.
Nov. 26 — Oregon 49, Oregon State 21 (recap) (photos)
Few games were less exciting than the Civil War this year. Oregon State had another losing season and looked to be little competition on paper. The Ducks did, however, have the opportunity to clinch the right to host the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game.
And they did just that.
LaMichael James ran for 142 of Oregon’s 365 rushing yards in the 49-21 victory, and also had one touchdown. Darron Thomas finished 27 of 40 for 305 yard and four touchdowns with no interceptions.
On senior day, tight end David Paulson pulled in eight passes for 105 yards, both career highs, and scored a touchdown. Defensively, Terrell Turner and Dion Jordan recorded a pair of sacks each, while junior linebacker Michael Clay had a team-high 12 tackles and one interception.
Key Play: On his one-yard touchdown run to open the first quarter, LaMichael James became Oregon’s all-time leading scorer with 324 points.
Dec. 2 — Oregon 49, UCLA 31 (Pac-12 Championship Game) (recap) (photos)
In a game filled with over-the-top pregame ceremonies and a few decorative adjustments to Autzen Stadium, the Ducks took care of business despite plenty of distractions in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game.
With USC unable to represent the South Division due to NCAA sanctions, the UCLA Bruins made their way to Eugene in the wake of head coach Rick Neuheisel’s firing. Needless to say, UCLA’s defense wasn’t ready for the Oregon’s rushing attack, and the Duck cruised to a 49-31 victory.
LaMichael James rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns in his last game in Autzen Stadium. Oregon saw its 21-7 first-quarter lead grow to 35-17 by halftime, and James’ third rushing touchdown midway though the third quarter put the game out of reach.
Once the final horn sounded, the Oregon faithful rushed the field in celebration, as the Ducks were crowned Pac-12 champions for the third consecutive season. More importantly, Oregon secured its place in the Rose Bowl for the second time in three years.
Key play:  After UCLA fought back to within seven in the second quarter, James’ second touchdown put Oregon back up by two scores.
Jan. 2 — Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38 (Rose Bowl) (recap) (photos)
In one of the most exciting bowl games played this season, Oregon finally shook the notion that it couldn’t win the big games. Third-year head coach Chip Kelly got his first Bowl Championship Series bowl victory, 45-38, over a deeply talented Wisconsin Badgers team.
It was the shootout many people expected in the first half, and the game fittingly went into halftime tied at 28. Montee Ball’s 21 first-half carries had the Badgers moving the ball well, but it was De’Anthony Thomas’ 91-yard touchdown scamper to end the first quarter the really got things going.
And as the Ducks took the ball to open the second half, Thomas struck again from 64 yards out to give Oregon its first lead at 35-28. The advantage was short-lived, and Oregon wound up down three to start the fourth quarter.
The Ducks scored 10 unanswered points in the final period, with the defense accounting for two timely takeaways in the second half — including Kiko Alonso’s impressive diving interception late in the third quarter.
In his final game, senior wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei caught eight passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, earning him Offensive Player of the Game honors. Alonso’s five tackles (including 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss) and key interception garnered him Defensive Player of the Game accolades.
Key Play: With fewer than two minutes left in the third quarter, Kiko Alonso intercepted Russell Wilson’s third-and-3 pass at the Wisconsin 39-yard line. Six plays later, Darron Thomas found Lavasier Tuinei for an 11-yard touchdown to give Oregon the lead early in the fourth quarter. They never gave it back.