The offseason has been a collection of shadows for Oregon. Mystery clouded who would be the team’s lead signal-caller until a week before the first kickoff. The depth chart had been covered by a blanket of secrecy and closed practices. The rumor of an NCAA thunderstorm of punishment raining on the Ducks for a bevy of murky allegations regarding recruiting violations still lurks. But quite possibly the most important darkness is the return of the USC Trojans from the shadows of NCAA sanctions.
After seven consecutive top-four AP Poll finishes from 2002 to 2008,@@http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/past_AP_Polls.htm@@ the Trojans suffered two uncharacteristic seasons of mediocrity and a two-year bowl ban. But a stacked Trojan offense led by Heisman candidate Matt Barkley racks up more yards and touchdowns than their back-to-back national champion squads and looks to be the Oregon’s biggest challenge, possibly meeting the Ducks twice.
Nov. 3 — a Saturday that features the Ducks against the Trojans as well as Alabama against LSU — is sure to bring to light as to who will contend for the BCS National Championship.
As for getting that far, the No. 5 ranked Ducks are expected to stroll through a pre-conference lineup of Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech, all at home.
Next up are five conference opponents, three of which feature new head coaches, sandwiched around a bye week in the middle of October.
If the Ducks make it to this point unbeaten, their showdown with USC — also favored to be unbeaten — will not only have Pac-12 championship implications but BCS consequences as well.
Following the clash in L.A. comes a challenging but likely winnable stretch against Cal, Stanford and Oregon State, with Cal and OSU on the road.
If Oregon makes it to this point with two or less losses, the probability for a rematch with the Trojans is high. The winner of that game would be the Pac-12’s nominee for the Rose Bowl — and potentially a BCS Championship.