The Ducks are No. 1, but that isn’t the most important thing. The Ducks are 11-0.
Oregon football has been one of the most successful programs in the country for the majority of the last two decades, so why do these heights seem so new?
That’s because Oregon hasn’t been this perfect in 14 years — remember Darron Thomas?
Yes, the only team comparable to the current crop of Ducks is that one, the same team that appeared in the school’s first BCS National Championship, but unfortunately could not overcome the Auburn University Tigers led by that year’s Heisman Cam Newton.
The Chip Kelly Ducks featured two AP All-Americans, the first of which, Cliff Harris, returned four punts for touchdowns in that season while also snagging six interceptions and making an appearance on the AP Second-team All-American team as a cornerback.
Harris was one of two weapons at coach Kelly’s disposal that the 2024 squad simply cannot match.
The other needs little introduction, as he is an icon throughout Eugene — known to all as just “LaMike.”
LaMichael James was the man these Ducks ran behind, and he finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2010 — something current quarterback Dillon Gabriel hopes to match. But James’ impact on this team and program has lasted long after his tenure at Oregon, which is a testament to how beloved he is by Ducks’ fans everywhere.
There’s a reason we’ve all seen that same highlight reel, and to be honest, we’ve all watched it before a big exam or intramural game. James’ impact goes well beyond what he did on the field, and the College Football Hall of Famer made waves nationally in 2010.
That’s something Oregon doesn’t have in 2024 — an all-encompassing, unstoppable phenom.
The Ducks more than make up for it, however, with the team’s collective identity. What’s so important about this season’s iteration of Oregon football — and what’s helped the team stay so perfect so far — is the team’s connectedness and collective identity.
If you’ve ever listened to head coach Dan Lanning speak, you’ve probably heard. There’s a reason the weekly “Ducks vs Them” videos make waves across the Oregon football ecosystem. Phrases such as “Forget Everyone But Us” and “1-0 every week” get thrown around about as much as that football, which is part of the culture cultivated by Lanning — the fact that there is no player larger than the team or its collective goals.
One can argue that the 2010 Ducks were the “LaMike” show, but nothing of the sort can be said this season. Lanning’s message this whole season has been about rejecting the spotlight and highlight reel type plays in favor of hard work and ensuring success.
Lanning’s identity as a hard-nosed defensive coach has bled into his team in the same way that Kelly’s flashy offensive mentality bled into his national runner-up Ducks. Boiled down, I think that ends up being the major difference.
The most successful defenses do it with 11 solid, motivated players, but an electric offense can be easily fueled by one LaMike, which is where the 2010 team fell short.
What seems to be the driving force behind this season’s push for perfection and national glory is something that was missing last time the Ducks made it this far — the team-first, hard work-oriented culture defined by coach Lanning.
That is what I believe has put Oregon in its best opportunity to win a national title in the school’s history.
