Can Oregon Still Make the College Football Playoff? A Look at the Ducks’ Updated CFP Chances After Losing to Oklahoma State
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Want to learn how to lose to an unranked opponent with over $40 million in NIL invested in your players? Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks can certainly show you how.
In one of college football’s most historic upsets, Oklahoma State took down Oregon in Week 2, winning 39-31 despite the Ducks coming into this game as over three-touchdown favorites.
While some fans may brush off the loss with a full season still to play, there is now a possibility the Ducks might not even make the playoffs, as this loss to Oklahoma State could prove more crucial than it appears.
Utilizing PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter and the College Football Playoff Predictor, let’s take a deeper look at Oregon’s chances at a CFP run.
Did Oregon’s Loss to Oklahoma State Ruin Their Shot at CFP?
Just two weeks into the season, Oregon’s chances to make the playoffs on the PFN College FPM have already slipped 16.3%, with the Ducks now having a 60.2% chance of being selected for the CFP.
Of course, the easiest path to the CFP for Oregon is to win the Big Ten title, which guarantees an automatic spot in the playoffs.
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And while they haven’t faced a Big Ten opponent yet this season and will not until the end of September against USC, the Ducks currently have a 39.7% chance of just making the title game and a 21.1% chance of winning it all.
Speaking of winning it all, heading into their Week 2 game, Oregon was at 9.2% on the PFN CFP Predictor of winning the National Championship this season but following their loss, fell to 7.3%.
Going forward, every game for the Ducks will be crucial to their run at a CFP spot. With USC, Ohio State, and Washington still on their schedule, another loss could put Oregon on the outside looking in this season, despite spending heavily on NIL to chase a title.
Oregon will also have decisions to make regarding its head coach, Lanning, and his remaining tenure with the team following this abysmal loss as the No. 6-ranked team in the country.
They’ll have a “tune-up” game against Portland State next week before taking on several conference opponents, beginning with USC.
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However, if Portland State can hang with the Ducks, perhaps the playoffs should not even be a worry for Oregon; instead, the focus should be on who their next head coach will be.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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