1. Oregon Ducks
13-0 (9-0 Big Ten regular season)
What’s next: First-round bye; quarterfinals vs. No. 8 Ohio State-No. 9 Tennessee winner
Head coach: Dan Lanning (third season, 35-5 overall)
About Lanning: The 38-year-old was an assistant coach at Park Hill South High School in Missouri the last time Oregon went undefeated and played for the national title in 2010.
Resume
No. 1 in the polls for the past two months, Oregon controlled the Big Ten in its inaugural season and posted wins over three College Football Playoff teams — No. 8 Ohio State, No. 3 Boise State and No. 6 Penn State, whom the Ducks defeated Saturday in the Big Ten championship game.
Postseason history
A four-time Pac-12 championship game winner in six tries, the Ducks bagged the Big Ten title and are on the hunt for their first national title game appearance since 2015. Ohio State defeated Oregon in that CFP championship 42-20.
The road to Atlanta
Oregon’s regular-season success and postseason crown affords the Ducks a bye on opening weekend of the playoff Dec. 20-21. The luxury gives Lanning and his coaching staff three weeks to break down their quarterfinal opponent. It could be a rematch of their epic 32-31 win over Ohio State on Oct. 12.
The semifinals bring potential opponents Texas, Clemson or Arizona State.
Names to know
QB Dillon Gabriel
A sixth-year senior by way of Oklahoma and UCF, the all-time leader in total touchdowns and starts (62, breaking a tie with former Ducks QB Bo Nix on Saturday), Gabriel is the engine of the Oregon offense. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year is deadly accurate and can move in the open field. But Lanning said his cool under fire and experience are the difference-makers for the Ducks.
“Just the ability for Dillon to be calm within the chaos that exists in a football game, and being a great decision-maker and understanding the scheme,” Lanning said of his elite qualities.
DT Derrick Harmon
The top-ranked draft prospect on the roster, Harmon is strong and can cause havoc on passing downs. The defensive line is a major strength for the Ducks, especially given the recent rise in production from sophomore Matayo Uiagalelei.
RB Jordan James
Averaging 5.5 yards per carry entering the playoffs, James rushed for 1,253 yards and has 32 career TDs.
WR Tez Johnson
Johnson put on a show in the Big Ten Championship with 11 receptions for 181 yards and a TD. Oregon’s strength and conditioning staff put Johnson in the sub-4.4 range in the 40 and we’re not doubting the blur can put a 4.3 on stopwatches.
–Field Level Media