People say that Oregon complains too much about not getting enough respect on a national stage.
You know what I say? Hey, it’s true. The Ducks don’t get enough respect on a national stage, people!
And I can prove it with a dose of common sense and a little level-headedness.
This week the Ducks moved from seventh to sixth in the Associated Press poll, from eighth to seventh in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll and stayed seventh in the Bowl Championship Series Rankings, as Virginia Tech tumbled in all three polls.
But realistically, a few more teams are going to have to tumble before Oregon can start thinking about the national championship.
The Ducks will need to move up to second in the BCS rankings in order to play in the Orange Bowl, where the national champion will be determined.
But why aren’t the Ducks ranked higher? Why is the title game so far in the distance, when Oregon should be tailgating the top spot?
There are two teams that undoubtedly should be ranked higher than Oregon. One is undefeated Oklahoma. The undisputed top team in the country, Oklahoma proved themselves with wins over Kansas State and Nebraska.
The second team is Miami. Although they have one loss, the Hurricanes have picked off Florida State and Virginia Tech, when both teams were undefeated. A pathetic loss in Seattle to the Huskies weakens the ‘Canes a bit, but overall they are a good team. Oregon fans should pray on Friday night that the upset bus rolls Miami’s way, with “Pittsburgh” scrawled across the side.
Beyond Oklahoma and Miami, the field thins out. First, let me point out that Oregon has beaten two ranked teams — Washington and UCLA — when they were both ranked sixth in the nation. The Ducks will make it three top-10 victories if Oregon State beats Arizona and holds on to its No. 10 ranking, and then Oregon beats the Beavers. Don’t forget that Oregon handled Arizona when the Wildcats were 21st, and the Ducks’ one loss was to the No. 6 team in the country at that time, Wisconsin.
So, take a long, hard look at numbers 3-5 in the AP poll. No. 3 is Florida State. Ranked first heading into the season, Florida State has long dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference, a league better known for basketball (think North Carolina and Duke) than football. Florida State has lost only twice in 64 ACC games since joining the conference.
Yes, Florida State beat then-No. 10 Clemson last week, but the “Bowden Bowl” was minus its star, Clemson’s Heisman hopeful Woody Dantzler, who was not fully healthy due to an ankle injury. Florida State has a top-10 loss to Miami, but has beaten only Clemson and then-No. 21 North Carolina State. Florida State has blown out many of the unranked teams its played, though, which is apparently worth more than playing close games with good teams. Go figure.
At the No. 4 spot is another team resting on history’s laurels, Nebraska. Embarrassed by Oklahoma in their only true test of the season, the ‘Huskers will most likely be embarrassed by the Sooners again in the Big 12 title game, or perhaps before, as they will take on Kansas State next week. Nebraska has beaten only one top-25 team, then- No. 23 Notre Dame.
The No. 5 team is Florida, the biggest mystery of the teams in front of Oregon. Florida beat then-No. 11 Tennessee, No. 19 Auburn and No. 13 Georgia, but lost to unranked Mississippi State, 47-35. The Gators will find out if they’re for real when they take on Florida State to end the season.
Oregon trails many big-name football programs, but looking at the records, it’s obvious the Ducks should be ranked higher.
Think big, Oregon faithful. I implore you to bring your oranges to Saturday’s game against California, and fling them on the field when the Ducks win.
It may be far-fetched, but Oregon could be smelling Florida’s citrus fruits instead of California’s roses come January.
Peter Hockaday is a sports reporter for the Emerald. He can be reached at [email protected]