Can Oregon Pull off a Shocker at the Shoe?
Oregon beating Ohio State this fall wouldnt be David beating Goliath. Both teams will likely be ranked in the top 15 heading into the matchup, and both are the preseason favorites to win their respective conferences, after all. But dont get it twisted, an Oregon victory in week two would undoubtedly be a shocker. Although the Ducks are serious playoff contenders and are more talented than ever, Ohio State is on another level. Over the past five years, the Buckeyes have recruited better than everyone not named Alabama or Georgia, assembling a roster that is one of the best in America. But as we know, recruiting isnt everything; getting elite talent to produce is what counts. Its safe to say that, with a 20-2 record over the past two seasons (with both of those losses coming in the Playoff), Ryan Day and his staff have done just that. Ohio State will have another loaded squad in 2021, fielding arguably the top two receivers in the country  Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson  a pair of elite offensive tackles, and plenty of future pros on the defensive line. At quarterback, the Buckeyes lose one of their top signal callers in program history, but theyll likely have CJ Stroud, one of the fastest risers and top quarterback prospects in the 2020 recruiting class, replacing him. From Twitter  In Columbus, theres no rebuilding  just reloading. Unfortunately, the Ducks dont quite have the horses up front that the Buckeyes do. That is, with one notable exception: Kayvon Thibodeaux. The pass rush extraordinaire will be the best player on the field in the early season matchup, and hell have to be at his best to slow down what should be a potent and multi-faceted Ohio State offense. Oregon also features a talented secondary, with proven playmakers like Mykael Wright and Verone McKinley III, that could make life hard on Stroud, given it will only be his second collegiate game. Offensively, it might be hard for the Ducks to find room to run against a fierce front seven and an Ohio State defensive scheme that is predicated on loading the box. But Oregons new and improved stable of long, athletic receivers could have some success against a maligned Buckeye defensive backfield. Oregon is certainly capable of pulling off a shocker in its biggest game of the season. Ohio State isnt an easy out to say the least, but this is a bigger, stronger and more complete Oregon team than the one the Buckeyes last saw in the Playoff a few years ago. Joshua Whitted  Morgantown, West Virginia  Top Photo by Tom Corno