Latest news with #CollegeFootballPlayoffs
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 8 — Jonathan Stewart
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: · No. 25 — Bucky Irving · No. 24 — TJ Ward · No. 23 — Tez Johnson · No. 22 — Troy Dye · No. 21 — Samie Parker · No. 20 — Patrick Chung · No. 19 — Kayvon Thibodeaux · No. 18 — Troy Franklin · No. 17 — Nick Reed · No. 16 — Jairus Byrd · No. 15 — Jeff Maehl · No. 14 — Walter Thurmond III · No. 13 — Bo Nix · No. 12 — Penei Sewell · No. 11 — DeForest Buckner · No. 10 — Joey Harrington · No. 9 — Dennis Dixon Today, let's continue with No. 8 —Jonathan Stewart Player Overview At a time when defensive recruits dominated the headlines for Oregon, Jonathan Stewart was the crown jewel of the offense. The Ducks landed him after a strenuous recruiting battle with other college football juggernauts, and he gave them serious return on investment. With multiple First-Team All-American selections in his three year run in Eugene, Stewart is one of the most decorated players in Ducks history. Jonathan Stewart's Career Stats 516 rushes, 2,891 yards, 31 TD Jonathan Stewart's Single Best Season 2007 — 13 Games, 280 rushes, 1,722 yards, 11 TD The star running back showed drastic improvement in each of his three seasons at Oregon, but the 2007 campaign was his magnum opus. He posted a collegiate career high in every major rushing and receiving statistic, while also earning First-Team All-American honors. To cap off the historic season, Stewart helped the Ducks win the Sun Bowl to complete one of the most impressive single seasons for any Duck in history. Jonathan Stewart's Historical Records Jonathan Stewart NFL Draft The 2007 season thrust Stewart into the national spotlight, which helped him secure an incredible draft slot as the Carolina Panthers selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Jonathan Stewart's NFL Success Stewart turned out to be a solid NFL player, but he never reached the heights he did with the Ducks. His career was plagued by injuries, he only eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark once. Jonathan Stewart's Lasting Legacy Besides a few blips on the radar last century, Oregon never had many elite running backs before Stewart. However, since his departure from the program, the team finds another star halfback seemingly every season. Stewart will forever be remembered as one of the key contributors in turning the Ducks into a prime destination for offensive stars as well. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN says Florida can compete for national championship 'if' these 4 things happen
The upcoming college football season could be among the best in recent history for the University of Florida, but several things must go right for that to happen. ESPN's Bill Connelly broke down the major title contenders with his "ifs" system — as in Florida wins the national championship if such-and-such happens. There are teams with two ifs, three ifs and four ifs. Florida is a four-if team, and a lot of the pressure falls on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway. Connelly relies on data and numbers in his writing, so it's not surprising to see him question Lagway, who is still fairly green. Still, Connelly writes that Florida wins the College Football Playoffs "if Lagway is what we think he is." The team played differently with Lagway on the field last year, but he only started and completed a handful of games as a true freshman. Beginning the year behind Graham Mertz and minor injuries have him a bit less prepared than some would like for a supposed Heisman contender. "Like Arch Manning, we're projecting success onto DJ Lagway," Connelly wrote. "The No. 8 prospect in the 2024 class went 6-1 as a starter and averaged an explosive 16.7 yards per completion. But he also threw nine interceptions with subpar efficiency, and he ranked 69th in Total QBR. That he's currently No. 6 in the Heisman odds, then, feels aggressive. Lagway has great size, a huge arm and solid mobility, but that's a lot of hype." Lagway needs some help The second stipulation for Florida to win it all is "if (Lagway) has receivers." There's a lot of unproven talent in Florida's wide receivers room ready to take the place of Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike. UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant figures to be in the mix alongside Eugene Wilson III, who is returning from injury, and speedster Aidan Mizell. "Wilson caught 61 passes as a freshman and had receptions of 85 and 40 yards early in 2024 before a season-ending injury. He's a likely star, but Lagway will also need help from others," wrote Connelly. Five-star freshmen Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson are also likely to see some action. Kahleil Jackson is a veteran presence who showed plenty of flashes before his 2024 ended early due to surgery. Sophomore Tank Hawkins, redshirt freshman TJ Abrams and true freshman Naeshaun Montgomery are all talented players who will compete for a spot in the rotation, too. Some defensive development is needed Florida dealt with a litany of injuries last season, and the underclassmen got plenty of playing time as a result. Connelly says that "last season's sophomore defenders become steely-eyed veterans" if Florida is going to win the national championship. "Of the 12 returning defenders who had 200-plus snaps, eight are now sophomores or juniors. That the Gators still jumped from 60th to 23rd in defensive SP+ was exciting, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Gators enjoyed another leap in 2025. That will require juniors such as nickel Sharif Denson and linebacker Grayson Howard to raise their games even more." Cormani McClain and Dijon Johnson are two other defensive backs who could stand to take a step forward if they're going to be regulars in the Florida secondary. In the front seven, LJ McCray and Myles Graham are two names expected to take on a bigger role this year. Depth, depth, depth Every good football team has depth at a position or two. The great ones have depth at several spots on the field. Florida plays what might be the toughest regular season schedule for the second year in a row, and it took two late-season upsets to finish 8-5 last year. Florida wins the national championship if "the Gators have the depth to survive this ridiculous schedule," according to Connelly. "Upsets of LSU and Ole Miss were exciting, but with seven more projected top-15 opponents on the schedule, a genuine title run will require even more huge wins and exceptional depth." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 9 — Dennis Dixon
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 9 — the dynamic Dennis Dixon. Player Overview Dennis Dixon is one of those players that Oregon fans will always tend to love on a deeper level than others. His stats weren't eye-popping, and he didn't leave Eugene with his name etched in the record books, but he gave Duck fans an inspiring figure to cling to who took the nation by storm for a few quick months in the fall of 2007. Unfortunately, his lasting legacy in Eugene has more to do with what didn't happen, rather than what did. A leading Heisman candidate for much of the 2007 season, Dixon left behind numerous memorable moments prior to a true sports tragedy: a torn ACL that ended his tenure at Oregon and caused issues for the rest of his football career. At 8-1 with the No. 2 ranking in the nation, Dixon saw his Heisman hopes and Oregon's national championship dreams crumble on a fateful night in Tucson. Throughout his career, Dixon captured the support of fans immediately as he played some of the best football by a Ducks quarterback we've seen, and despite the heartbreaking finish, will always be known as an Oregon legend. Dennis Dixon Career Stats 40 games — 5,129 yards, 38 TD, 21 INT, 12 rush TD Dennis Dixon's Single Best Season 2007: 10 games, 172-for-254 passing (67.7%), 2,136 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT, 583 rush yards, 9 TD Before his injury, Dixon was on an absolute tear in 2007. He was far ahead of his time with his ability to throw the ball at a high level while also being a true dual-threat with his legs. A testament to the season he had despite playing in just 10 games, Dixon finished fifth in Heisman voting and was honored as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Dennis Dixon NFL Draft After declaring for the 2008 NFL Draft, Dixon was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round with the 156th pick overall. Dennis Dixon's NFL Success Dixon was never able to establish himself as a pro, appearing in just four games and bouncing around on several teams for training camp and preseason contests after three years with the Steelers. He was responsible for just two total touchdowns. Dennis Dixon's Lasting Oregon Legacy Ever the consummate person, teammate and player during his time at Oregon, Dixon left behind a trail of excellence on and off the field. Still pouring into the community once his time with the Ducks was finished, the former Oregon passer will always be remembered for the 2007 season and one of the biggest "what-ifs" in program history. Oregon has a storied history of excellent quarterbacks, especially in this century. While Dixon's numbers may not compare to those of the top tier of passers, the legacy he left behind will live on forever. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 10 — Joey Harrington
Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century. Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft. It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely. To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way. But who is the best of the best? That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success. Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks. If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings: Today, let's continue with No. 10 — Captain Comeback, Joey Harrington Player Overview Joey Harrington was the first player the Ducks marketed on a big-time level, signifying a change in the atmosphere of Oregon athletics. He didn't disappoint. Growing up in Portland, Harrington was always a Duck fan and had wanted to be the quarterback for the Oregon Ducks for most of his life, making him easy to root for. He was nicknamed "Captain Comeback" during his tenure with multiple fourth-quarter rallies. In his senior season, Harrington led the Ducks to their best-ever single season (at the time) with a 12-1 record and a win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Harrington was also Oregon's first-ever Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in the voting in 2001. Joey Harrington Career Stats 38 games, 445-for-813 passing (54.7 percent), 6,057 yards, 52 TD, 21 INT Joey Harrington's Single Best Season 2001: 11 games, 186-for-322 passing (57.8 percent), 2,415 yards (219.5 ypg), 21 TD, 5 INT, 4th in Heisman voting Joey Harrington's Historical Stats and Records Joey Harrington NFL Draft Harrington was picked as the No. 3 selection overall by the Detroit Lions in 2002. Joey Harrington's NFL Success Unfortunately, Harrington was drafted by the Lions when they were a complete dumpster fire of a franchise. They had the No. 3 pick for a reason, but things never got better. The Lions failed to build an offensive line to protect Harrington and the Oregon legend had to play with a new offensive coordinator for every single season of his professional career. He played four seasons with the Lions, one for Miami, and one for Atlanta. Joey Harrington's Lasting Oregon Legacy Harrington is still a fan favorite 25 years later and was inducted into the Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. He was the first quarterback to lead the Ducks on the national stage and could have easily won a National Championship if the College Football Playoff existed back then, instead of the flawed system that was the BCS. Although he didn't win the Heisman, Harrington showed that a quarterback could be successful on that level for the Ducks and set the stage for Marcus Mariota a decade later. He also made the "O" sign a thing as he led the band into the fight song after every victory. Harrington was also the first Duck to be on the cover of EA Sports College Football '03. In short, he made being an Oregon Duck cool before anyone else. There have been a lot of great Oregon quarterbacks to come through Eugene over the past 25 years, but Harrington laid the groundwork for them to achieve the level of success that they did. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who could win the Big Ten title with a tight race?
Drew Dinsick and Vaughn Dalzell break down the favorites to win the Big Ten Championship this fall, picking Penn State to win it, saying "they could make some noise" in the College Football Playoffs.
