2021 Recap: I was high on them entering 2021. They won a huge game on the road in Columbus at the shoe against Ohio State in week two. Throughout the year, I kept saying the Oregon Ducks had the best all-around player in college football and that was Kayvon Thibodeaux. As an offense, they had no issues when it came to scoring. They averaged 31 points per game. Oregon won the Pac-12 North and made the conference title game before falling short to the Utah Utes. They ended their season with a loss in the Alamo Bowl to Oklahoma.
Key Departures: Head Coach Mario Cristobal & DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
2022 Prediction: The fall will mark a new chapter for Oregon football. Mario Cristobal returned to his alma mater at Miami and accepted their head coaching position. The university has now turned to former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning as their new head coach. Quite frankly, he comes into a really good situation for a first-year coach. I’m picking Oregon to win the North once again. They return 14 starters from a year ago. Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix will be under center for the Ducks this year. I expect Lanning to help improve a defense that gave up 27 points per game a year ago. Although Kayvon is gone, the cupboard isn’t bare. Linebacker Noah Sewell will become the leader of this defense. The Ducks begin the year against the defending champion Georgia Bulldogs.
