Can Oregon overcome their recruiting and win a National Championship?

[GoSooners]

This is the million dollar question for me. It's not that the Ducks don't have plenty of talent. But they aren't yet considered a Blueblood of college football with 4 and 5 star talent scattered over every position. The champions in the BCS era have all had one thing in common, they were top 10 recruiting programs that season and at least the 2 years prior to playing for the NC. The last team to finish out of the top 10 in recruiting and not qualify for this trend, but still win the NC game was the Oklahoma Sooners way back in 2000. Here is how these two programs break down for the last 3 years of recruiting between 2012-14.

Based on Rivals Recruiting class rankings:


Ohio State

2014-#3
2013 #2
2012 #4



Oregon

2014-#26
2013-#22
2012-#16


The one difference under this Playoff format is instead of these Blueblood teams getting 5 weeks to prepare for their opponents, they now just get a little over a week to prepare for their second game. If there is such a thing as a system that favors the inferior recruiting team, it's probably this playoff format. So it will be interesting to see if somebody can break this trend. I hope they do. I think it would be good for college football going forward.

 

[REDEYE]

We're getting the players we want GS so the answer is yes.

 

[GoSooners]

We're getting the players we want GS so the answer is yes.

Boise State also gets the players they want. It doesn't mean they can win a national championship. That has proven to be a different animal than winning a conference. We'll see. I'm pulling for you guys to win tonight. But not by too much if you know what I mean.

 

[REDEYE]

This game is a toss up in my mind.with that being said, since we are in a toss up National Championship game as the favorite, you pretty much have the answer

 

[Bigtomdawg]

wtf you talking about boise and oregon are no where in the same ballpark

 

[GoSooners]

This game is a toss up in my mind.with that being said, since we are in a toss up National Championship game as the favorite, you pretty much have the answer

I give Oregon a slight edge based on Mariotta. In games like this it usually favors the team with the superstar difference making player. And I'm not sure Ohio State really has that. They are superior on both of their lines, but I'm not sure that is going to be enough. Everything depends on if OSU can get their running game going early. If there is a weakness Oregon has always had it's that they don't have a great track record of developing defensive linemen for the pros. So we'll see if they've made improvements up front. This has been the main difference over the last decade that has seperated the SEC and the other bluebloods of college football from the rest of the pack.

 

[Romanowski]

wtf you talking about boise and oregon are no where in the same ballpark

actually when petersen got his QB they dominated Kelly twice

point I think was Boise at their height also only ranked top 25 in recruiting as does Oregon

also though should be noted Oregon does get who they want for their system, except in the case of manziel and braxton miller

 

[1osubucks]

interesting angle but i think if anyone can do it its oregon.. they may not stack up with those numbers because of the player they go after to fit their system. Not ever kid is built for that offense, some may pas out if nothing else !

 

[GoSooners]

interesting angle but i think if anyone can do it its oregon.. they may not stack up with those numbers because of the player they go after to fit their system. Not ever kid is built for that offense, some may pas out if nothing else !

I agree, if there is anybody who can break this long standing trend it's Oregon. They've kind of been building up to this game. Plus special college players like Mariotta don't come around very often. It gives them a punchers chance against anybody they play.

 

[REDEYE]

This isn't close to our best team thisyear..to bad we didn't have Marcus back in 2010

 

[8ate]

Hey; it's the qb from HAW; that's the key..!!

 

[GoSooners]

By the way I like the under 37.5 for the first half. The Oregon defense is a little better than public perception. And the UO defense will show OSU some different looks than Bama did. I think they'll take away their long ball and make Jones have to throw some short touch passes to players coming out of the backfield. Not easy to do sometimes with a young QB with a big arm. Plus the OSU defense has played very well in the first half having held 4 of their last 5 opponents to 14 first half points or fewer. I expect the scoring to open up more in the second half.

 

[GoSooners]

It looks like the question was answered again tonight. No, Oregon couldn't overcome their recruiting. It's just very tough to beat these bluebloods in the big games. Oregon needs a serious upgrade in both of their lines. Especially their defensive line. This kind of physicality is what usually separates the men from the boys in these kinds of games.

 

[Albatross]

It looks like the question was answered again tonight. No, Oregon couldn't overcome their recruiting. It's just very tough to beat these bluebloods in the big games. Oregon needs a serious upgrade in both of their lines. Especially their defensive line. This kind of physicality is what usually separates the men from the boys in these kinds of games.

Plus the LBs were getting knocked backwards by Jones & Elliot like they were CBs

 

[GoSooners]

Plus the LBs were getting knocked backwards by Jones & Elliot like they were CBs

A lot of Elliott's success had to do just as much with the OL technique as anything else. The Ohio State blocking is so clean and precise. They pull and pin guys with ease, and know how to trap block very well... And that can kill a speedy front. I love the way they scheme their running game. They are so good that they really don't even need to show you misdirection, but they still do. Really a lot of credit goes to Meyer's coaching staff. This offense looked much better and improved in leaps and bounds over earlier in the season. That's all about great coaching and understanding your personnel..

 

[fishmustdie]

It looks like the question was answered again tonight. No, Oregon couldn't overcome their recruiting. It's just very tough to beat these bluebloods in the big games. Oregon needs a serious upgrade in both of their lines. Especially their defensive line. This kind of physicality is what usually separates the men from the boys in these kinds of games.

This is why USC, now that the rediculous NZAA sanctions are over will reassume a position in the 4 team playoff. Young team and gets the top recruits= Playing for championśhips. Oregon probably choked their best chance tonight at even getting one NC. Bummer posers!!!

 

[GoSooners]

This is why USC, now that the rediculous NZAA sanctions are over will reassume a position in the 4 team playoff. Young team and gets the top recruits= Playing for championśhips. Oregon probably choked their best chance tonight at even getting one NC. Bummer posers!!!

I agree about USC. But I still think they are a year or two away from really competing at as high of a level as the other Bluebloods of college football. I would say given their surprising recruiting classes in 2 out of the last 3 years that Stanford is their closest competition. And UCLA is also close, but not quite a consistent top 10 recruiting program yet. The others are well behind USC.

 

[DrJimmy]

Sooners,


Great commentary through this thread and spot on. I think in retrospect the Pac 12 was a tad overrated as their bowl wins came against shit teams even though they had a good record.

 

[REDEYE]

I still think we are not that far off...we'll keep upgrading and eventually get it done... this wasn't our best team...

 

[sdf]

This is why USC, now that the rediculous NZAA sanctions are over will reassume a position in the 4 team playoff. Young team and gets the top recruits= Playing for championśhips. Oregon probably choked their best chance tonight at even getting one NC. Bummer posers!!!

Pete Carroll is coming back to coach U$C?

I dont see your current staff getting to the final 4 IMO.