Oregon’s season took a major detour after Saturday’s loss at Washington State. The Ducks now have two conferences losses and are likely out of the Rose Bowl and Bowl Championship Series picture.
So where do the Ducks go now?
“It was going to be tough getting in (to the BCS) even with one loss, but with two, it changes things a lot,” Oregon linebacker Blair Phillips said. “But at the same time, we’re still going to a bowl, and we still want to get to the best bowl we can get to. Those goals haven’t changed at all.”
Oregon is seeking its sixth win this weekend against Division I-AA Portland State, which would make them bowl eligible.
The Ducks are currently tied with Washington State at 3-2 in the conference and trail USC (6-0 overall, 4-0 Pac-10) and Cal (7-1, 5-0). Oregon’s remaining schedule includes Washington, USC, Arizona and Oregon State.
“We’ve got a lot more games to play, and that’s something to look forward to,” Oregon safety J.D. Nelson said. “We’re looking to win every single game from here on out. That’s all we can do.”
That’ll start Saturday against the Vikings.
“It’s not to the point where you throw the season away,” Phillips said. “We still could win out, end up 10-2, go to a bowl game, and get another victory, and still tie or have the best record Oregon’s ever had with an 11-win season. The season’s not thrashed, a lot of things could happen, a lot of things could fall into place.”
While taking care of their own games, the Ducks also recognize the help they’ll need to reach an upper-tier bowl.
“You don’t know in this league,” Oregon center Enoka Lucas said. “You can have a champ with two losses, especially how good this league is. We just hope. We still could be in the hunt for that Pac-10 Championship.”
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