The Oregon Ducks will enter the 2010 CFB season as the #11 ranked team according to the Sporting News. If they still had Jeremiah Masoli as their QB we would probably be talking about this team as a top five team, about to embark on a run at the BCS title. Without him there are too many questions about this team to justify that. However they look capable of winning a depleted Pac 10. USC is out, and if enough things go their way the Ducks could win this conference.
The key date on their schedule is the Civil War on December 4th against rival Oregon State. This game has become the best rivalry game in the Pac 10, and the 2010 version should not disappoint. Oregon won this game by four points last year. The Sporting News is picking them to win the Pac 10 and go to the Rose Bowl. Given the weakness of the Pac 10 this year that may indeed come true.
The big question about this team is how the tumultuous off season will affect the team in the fall. Many College Football pundits think that championships are won in January to July when off season conditioning and chemistry are established. This is a team that has been embarrassed in the news with arrests, court appearances, and season long suspensions. Either that drives them together or it rips them apart.
Either Darron Thomas or Nate Costa will have to step up and lead this team. Their next big thing may just be RB Kenjon Barner. He has a lot of potential and this team will need help for their unproven QB situation.
