Mario Cristobal

The University of Oregon and head football coach Mario Cristobal agreed to a six-year, $27.3 million contract extension Thursday, according to Tyson Alger of The Athletic.

Per Matt Prehm of 247Sports, the extension will run through the 2026 season and was officially approved by the University of Oregon Board of Trustees.

Prior to the extension, Cristobal was named by AL.com's Tom Green, Matt Zenitz and John Talty as a candidate for the Auburn head coaching job. AL.com reported that Cristobal was interested in the Auburn opening following the firing of Gus Malzahn.

Cristobal is in the midst of his third full season as head coach at Oregon. Overall, he has accrued a 24-9 record, and he led the Ducks to bowl games in both 2018 and 2019.

Oregon is just 3-2 this season while playing a shortened Pac-12 schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the modest record, the Ducks will face undefeated USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday.

The Ducks are a replacement for Washington, which cannot play for the Pac-12 title because of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the program.

Last season, Oregon posted its best record under Cristobal and its best overall record since 2014. With current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert under center, the Ducks went 12-2 and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

Prior to his time at Oregon, Cristobal was head coach at Florida International for six seasons from 2007-12.

The Panthers went just 1-11 in their first season under Cristobal, but they steadily improved and finished with a winning record and appeared in bowl games in both 2010 and 2011.

Cristobal was then assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Alabama from 2013-16 before becoming offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2017.

After Willie Taggart was fired as head coach at Oregon, Cristobal was named interim head coach and coached one game under that tag before getting promoted to the full-time gig.

Oregon experienced a bit of a downturn for a couple of years, but the 50-year-old Cristobal has the Ducks back in the mix as perennial Pac-12 title contenders.

Oregon head football coach Mario Cristobal said Monday that Auburn hasn't directly contacted him about its head coaching vacancy.

"We seem to get a lot of rumors at this time of the year," Cristobal told reporters. "This is what I can say: I can say that I haven't been contacted, but I don't know if my agent's been contacted, and I talk to him every single day."

Cristobal is one of several coaches who has been linked to Auburn since it fired Gus Malzahn on Sunday.

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze, Louisiana head coach Billy Napier, UAB head coach Bill Clark, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn are among the other outside names being speculated upon.

That said, interim coach Kevin Steele, who's served as the Tigers' defensive coordinator since 2016, has emerged as the early favorite to fill the roll full time, per John Talty and Matt Zenitz of AL.com.

Although Cristobal didn't confirm any contact with Auburn as of Monday, he did note talks about a Ducks contract extension are ongoing:

"I trust Phil Knight, I trust Rob Mullens, I trust our administration, and I trust the people here at Oregon. As you guys know, we've been working on something when the pandemic first hit, then things kind of stalled, and things have picked back up. So, I've always been transparent with every single one of you, and I will continue to do that, so hopefully the next couple of days we'll have some more stuff to talk about as it relates to that. So, hopefully I can explain to you exactly where things are with me."

Cristobal has guided Oregon to a 24-9 record across three-plus seasons. The Ducks went 12-2 during the 2019 season, including a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

They finished second in the Pac-12 North this year but will still appear in the conference title game against USC on Friday night after Washington had to withdraw because of COVID-19 concerns.

The Oregon football team canceled Saturday activities after five individuals within the program tested positive for COVID-19, per James Crepea of The Oregonian.

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal provided comments on the results:

"They're all asymptomatic, as normal as can be and they're all in isolation and working with the medical staff and local health to make sure that all protocol is followed. It has been to the 'T' since the beginning; it's the first time we've had positive antigen tests in our program. Also working with local health and our medical team with the contact tracing stuff, which is a little bit more thorough and I know they take a deeper dive into that."

Cristobal also told reporters that the entire Ducks team will be tested Sunday per the university's medical policy. The five individuals who tested positive will then undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test before further decisions are made following those results.

Per Crepea, it is unclear whether the five individuals are players, staff members or a mix of both.

The Ducks were scheduled to hold their 14th fall camp practice and second fall scrimmage game.

Oregon is scheduled to play a six-game Pac-12 slate beginning Nov. 7 at home versus Stanford. The Pac-12 originally decided to postpone fall sports until the 2021 calendar year because of the COVID-19 pandemic but changed course and opted to go with a shortened, conference-only schedule in the late fall.

Other athletic conferences have forged ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused numerous cancellations and postponements. Per the World Health Organization, a total of 72,342 new cases were confirmed in the United States on Saturday.

The Ducks are looking to continue the momentum built off last year's successful season that included a Pac-12 title, a Rose Bowl win and a No. 5 ranking in the final Associated Press poll to cap a 12-2 campaign.

Oregon is the top-ranked Pac-12 representative in this year's AP poll at No. 13.

Winning a national championship helped pad Ed Orgeron's bank account as the LSU head coach earned the most bonus money among FBS coaches this season. 

According to USA Today's Steve Berkowitz, Orgeron earned $1.775 million from the Tigers' playoff run, which culminated in a 42-25 win over Clemson on Monday night. Oregon's Mario Cristobal was the next-highest earner, making $1.175 million after the Ducks beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

Berkowitz provided a detailed breakdown of Orgeron's bonus structure:

• $25,000: Sixth win, eligible for non-CFP bowl game
• $250,000: 10th regular-season win
• $100,000: 11th regular-season win
• $100,000: Win SEC division title
• $150,000: 12th regular-season win
• $200,000: Win SEC championship
• $225,000: Team plays in College Football Playoff semifinals
• $25,000: SEC coach of the year by AP
• $75,000: National coach of the year by ESPN/Home Depot
• $150,000: Win College Football Playoff semifinal
• $500,000: Win College Football Playoff championship

Orgeron can probably expect a pay raise in the near future. His $4 million base salary tied for 28th-highest in FBS and put him on equal footing with Chad Morris, who was fired by Arkansas after 10 games. Granted, his salary and contract incentives combined to offer him more money than all but five other coaches.

Orgeron most recently agreed to an extension last March.

At the time, some questions remained as to whether the Tigers could break into college football's elite under his watch. The team had 19 wins in his first two full seasons, but Ole Miss' 10-25 record with the 58-year-old at the helm hadn't been forgotten.

Orgeron obviously answered those doubts Monday.

Unlike with other prominent coaches, LSU shouldn't have to worry about Orgeron bolting for another job. It's hard to imagine the Louisiana native voluntarily working anywhere else.

But at some point Orgeron will presumably seek renewed contract terms more commensurate with his contributions. Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger already reported Tigers passing game coordinator Joe Brady had agreed to a deal that "is expected to more than double his current earnings of $410,000."

Touted NFL prospect Justin Herbert and All-American running back Jonathan Taylor will wrap up their college careers when Oregon takes on Wisconsin in the 2020 Rose Bowl.

Herbert led Oregon to an 11-2 record and helped the Ducks secure the Pac-12 championship. The senior, who could be a top-10 draft pick, enters the Rose Bowl with 32 touchdown passes to only five interceptions this season.

Taylor hasn't officially declared for the NFL draft, but he's likely to announce that decision soon after the bowl. He's already topped 900 career carries at Wisconsin and recently became the first player to ever rush for 6,000 yards in three years.

The Rose Bowl is scheduled for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff on New Year's Day, and Wisconsin is a three-point favorite, per Caesars.

Key Stats

Oregon

• 33.3 opponent red-zone touchdown percentage (leads FBS)
  19 interceptions (tied for second)
• 22.03 yards allowed per kick return (94th)
• 64.8 penalty yards per game (111th)

Wisconsin

• 27.1 third-down conversion rate allowed (leads FBS)
• 50 percent third-down conversion rate (seventh)
• 39.6-yard punting average (103rd)
• 14 fumbles lost (tied for 127th)

Numbers from CFBstats.com

Matchups to Watch

Oregon LT Penei Sewell vs. Wisconsin LB Zack Baun

For decades, football fans simply had no access to quantitative measures of offensive linemen. Fortunately for us in 2019, we can understand exactly how dominant Penei Sewell has played.

According to Pro Football Focus, the sophomore left tackle has surrendered only seven pressures in 466 pass-blocking snaps.

Sewell's next challenge is stopping Wisconsin star Zack Baun, who ranks tied for eighth nationally in sacks (12.5) and seventh in tackles for loss (19.5). The senior has racked up 52 total quarterback pressures, per PFF, and also forced two fumbles.

"I think winning the line of scrimmage [is the X-factor of the Rose Bowl]," Baun recently told reporters. "They play a physical brand of football and so do we. So whoever gets pushed on that line is going to most likely be the victor."

And if Baun manages to beat Sewell a few times, that's an enormous advantage in favor of the Badgers.

Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor vs. Oregon Defense

When Taylor has the ball, Oregon had better wrap up. Otherwise, a familiar sight will appear once again.

The junior has consistently diced opposing defenses, surpassing the 100-yard mark in 10 of Wisconsin's 13 games this season. The only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision with more 10-yard runs than Taylor is Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry.

"You have to be at your very best, and you have to play with great effort [to contain Taylor], Oregon coach Mario Cristobal told reporters. "And that's the best way to describe it. He's that kind of a player. He's a game-changer.

Oregon is capable of containing Taylor, though.

Entering the Rose Bowl, the Ducks have allowed only 43 carries of 10-plus yards. That ranks  tied for 11th nationally, and the defense holds top-20 rankings at every 10-yard increment.

Freshman defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux leads Oregon with 14 tackles for loss, but the Troy Dye-led linebacker corps will be critical pieces in limiting Taylor's impact.

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR

The Wisconsin Badgers are known for their rushing attack, led by Jonathan Taylor, but it could be their ground defense that makes the difference in the Rose Bowl.

The Big Ten side is going up against an Oregon Ducks offense that has provided support for quarterback Justin Herbert on plenty of occasions, including the Pac-12 Championship Game.

If the Badgers can take away one dimension of the Pac-12 champion's offense, the Big Ten could come away with its second straight win in Pasadena, California.

Oregon can also pave a path to victory by taking away a secondary aspect of the Wisconsin offense that found success in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Rose Bowl Individual Matchups to Watch

Oregon RB CJ Verdell vs. Wisconsin LBs Chris Orr & Zack Baun 

Oregon running back CJ Verdell is coming off a 208-yard, three-score performance in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Not only did that showing produce momentum going into the Rose Bowl, but it also proved the Ducks could challenge Wisconsin's top 10 rushing defense.

The Utah Utes possess the best ground defense in the FBS, as they concede 70.3 yards per game. Oregon put up 239 ground yards December 6 at Levi's Stadium.

Wisconsin is one of three Big Ten programs that rank in the top eight in rushing defense, and it has an impressive collection of linebackers capable of silencing Verdell.

Chris Orr and Zack Baun are two of three Badgers linebackers with more than 70 tackles. Both players have a pair of forced fumbles and more than 10 sacks. If Orr and Baun crowd the backfield, it could lead to a handful of long third-down situations for the Ducks, or it may force them to turn away from the run and throw in early-drive scenarios.

Wisconsin's defense may prefer to force Justin Herbert to throw, as he has not completed more than 60 percent of his passes in the previous three contests.

In addition to halting Verdell, Wisconsin's backfield pressure could also control Herbert's movement in the pocket. This is the formula the Badgers followed in their 38-17 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In that game, they held their top rival to 76 rushing yards and Baun and Orr combined for four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus vs. Oregon CB Verone McKinley III 

Wisconsin achieved some success through the air in the Big Ten Championship Game thanks to the connection between quarterback Jack Coan and wide receiver Quintez Cephus.

Cephus hauled in seven balls for 122 yards on the first Saturday of December, handing the junior back-to-back triple-digit outings.

Since the start of November, Cephus has at least five catches in four of five games, and he brought in three touchdown receptions. Expect Coan to pick out his top wide out in order to provide balance with the focus on Taylor.

Freshman defensive back Verone McKinley III is one of a few Oregon players who will be tasked with shutting down Cephus. McKinley is tied for the Ducks' lead with four interceptions, and he owns a pair of passes defended.

He does not have to record a pick or deflect a pass to make an impact, as smothering coverage could be enough to halt Wisconsin's progress.

If Cephus is shut down, Coan will be forced to rely on his depth, which is not terrific. The second-best Wisconsin wideout has 479 fewer receiving yards than Cephus, and only Taylor has more than three scoring catches out of the remaining group of targets.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.

The Clemson Tigers have dominated the recruiting trail for the class of 2020. 

Dabo Swinney's team already has commitments from two of the top three prospects in the 247Sports composite rankings, and it may add another key signature during the early signing period. 

The window, which lasts from Wednesday through Friday, will feature the two best uncommitted players making decisions about their respective futures. 

Plenty of other players will make their pledges in December as well, but only a few could change the complexion of the team rankings.

Early Signing Day Predictions

Justin Flowe, LB, Upland HS (Upland, CA) 

The top uncommitted player in the class of 2020 could stay in the Pacific time zone. 

Justin Flowe, who will announce his decision Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET, listed Clemson and the Oregon Ducks in his group of finalists this year. 

However, the Tigers may be out of the mix after earning the commitment of 5-star linebacker Trenton Simpson in the last week. Clemson now has seven of the top 30 recruits as part of its haul. 

Since the Tigers have potentially closed up their recruiting at the position, Oregon and the USC Trojans may be the most likely destinations. 

Rivals' Adam Gorney believes Oregon is the favorite to land Flowe, despite a recent visit to USC. 

"He visited USC this past weekend, met the president of the university and had a great time. I still think, though, that Oregon is the team to beat here," Gorney said. 

If he prefers to stay on the West Coast, the 5-star prospect may be better off at Oregon, who already earned the pledge of linebacker Noah Sewell. 

If Flowe, Sewell and Kayvon Thibodeaux combine forces next season, the Ducks could have one of the best defenses in the nation. 

USC currently sits 81st in the team rankings behind a handful of Group of Five schools. Bringing in Flowe would be the best news Clay Helton receives for the class of 2020, but it is unlikely.

Prediction: Oregon 

Jordan Burch, DE, Hammond School (Columbia, SC) 

The No. 5 overall recruit is one of the more mysterious figures in the class of 2020. 

Unlike other prospects, Jordan Burch has not done many interviews about his future. He is scheduled to make his choice Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. 

According to 247Sports' Brad Crawford, there is no lean on where Burch will land. 

"Where Burch is leaning in the final 72 hours prior to his announcement remains a mystery," Crawford wrote. "He has played his recruitment close to the vest, doesn't give interviews and hasn't dropped any clues on social media outside of the ordinary Snapchat posts during visits this season." 

The Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks are among the programs in the mix with Clemson. 

Burch took a recent visit to Georgia, which ranks sixth with two top-20 prospects. They could gain ground since they are in the mix for two other top-10 players. 

If he commits to LSU, the Tigers would have four 5-star players, which would be second-best in this recruiting cycle behind Clemson.

If South Carolina secures Burch, it may improve its standing from No. 18 and get a cornerstone for the incoming freshman class. Helping the Gamecocks' cause is that he is a teammate of South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp's son.

Clemson could swoop in and earn his signature as well, which would hand the Tigers three of the top five overall players and the best three defensive linemen. No. 1 prospect and defensive tackle Bryan Breese is already pledged to the ACC side, as has No. 3 overall and top defensive end Myles Murphy.

Prediction: Clemson 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Recruiting information obtained from 247Sports.

In most years, the Rose Bowl is not viewed as a consolation prize for its participants. 

However, that is exactly what it is for the Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks and Big Ten runner-up Wisconsin Badgers. 

Both programs were in the College Football Playoff discussion at some point, but defeats prior to championship weekend cast them into the New Year's Six. 

Oregon, who is the lone power-five champion not in the playoff, is back in Pasadena, California, for the first time since its playoff meeting with Florida State in 2015. 

This is Wisconsin's first Rose Bowl berth since its three-year run as the Big Ten representative from 2011-2013. 

In 2012, the two sides met for a high-scoring affair that the Ducks won through 10 fourth-quarter points. 

Rose Bowl Information

Date: Wednesday, January 1

Start Time: 5 p.m. ET 

TV: ESPN 

Odds (via Vegas Insider): Wisconsin (-3); Over/Under: 49.5

Preview

Oregon enters as the higher-ranked side after vaulting seven positions in the final College Football Playoff rankings. 

After losing to Arizona State, the Ducks were banished beneath the Top 10, but their Pac-12 Championship Game triumph over Utah impressed the committee enough to move it up to No. 6. 

Wisconsin's first-half performance in the Big Ten Championship Game likely did enough to keep it at No. 8, which allowed it to remain ahead of Penn State in the race for the conference's Rose Bowl berth. 

Both offenses could struggle to figure out the opposing defenses since Oregon is ninth in scoring defense with 15.7 points allowed per game and Wisconsin sits 10th with 16.1.

The two teams also boast similar rushing defense numbers, as Wisconsin is eighth and Oregon is 10th. 

That could pose a challenge for the talented running backs on each roster, but they proved on championship weekend they can thrive versus top defensive units.

CJ Verdell ran all over Utah's top-rated rushing defense, with 208 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. 

That was the second 200-yard, three-score outing for the sophomore, who posted similar numbers against Washington State October 26. 

Jonathan Taylor, the FBS' second-leading rusher, ran for 148 yards and a score versus Ohio State's seventh-ranked rushing defense Saturday. 

In November and December, the junior produced 900 rushing yards and six scores, and he has 10 triple-digit ground performances. 

The only defensive difference is Wisconsin's better passing defense that conceded 191.2 yards per game, while Oregon allowed 222.8 passing yards per contest. 

Mario Cristobal's team can make up for that gap through Justin Herbert, who has 792 more passing yards and 15 more passing scores than Jack Coan. 

If the Rose Bowl comes down to quarterback play, the Oregon senior has the edge, as he has four 300-yard outings compared to one from his counterpart. 

Predictions

Oregon (+3) and Over 49.5

The Ducks and Badgers have a low bar to clear to hit the over, and both sides should be able to hit 20-25 points. 

If you apply the over/under of 49.5 to the last five Rose Bowls, the over would hit on every occasion.

Oregon's difference-makers could be Johnny Johnson III and Juwan Johnson, who hauled in eight of Herbert's 14 completions vs. Utah. 

Johnny Johnson III has a four-game touchdown streak, and Juwan Johnson has become more of a threat since returning from injury, with 25 receptions for 401 yards in seven contests. 

If the Pac-12 champion can hurt Wisconsin's secondary, it will finish the campaign with back-to-back wins over Top 10 defenses. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.

The Pac-12's College Football Playoff hopes rest on the Utah Utes.

While other top programs have shined in the spotlight, Utah ran rampant through its conference schedule to earn a spot in Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon.

Head coach Kyle Whittingham's team is looking to become the second Pac-12 South team to win the title clash and, in the process, impress enough members of the selection committee to earn the No. 4 seed in the final playoff rankings.

Two weeks ago, Oregon was in line for a playoff spot, but its loss to Arizona State relegated it to spoiler.

Even if it can't qualify for the final four, head coach Mario Cristobal's squad still has plenty to play for with the conference title likely assuring it of a Rose Bowl berth.

Pac-12 Championship Game Info

Date: Friday, December 6

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: ABC

Preview

Since suffering a defeat to USC on September 20, Utah has been one of the most dominant programs in the FBS.

During their eight-game winning streak, the Utes outscored opponents 308-76 and held five foes to single digits.

However, that may not be enough to create separation between them and Oklahoma because of their lack of Top 25 victories.

That is why a commanding performance versus a Top 15 team on a national stage is so important to Utah's playoff hopes.

Tyler Huntley and Zack Moss are more than capable of gashing holes through an Oregon defense that allowed 41 points over the last two weeks.

Huntley completed 75 percent of his passes in each of the last four contests, and he enters Levi's Stadium with 2,773 passing yards, 255 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.

Moss, a player who does not get enough national attention as he deserves, earned at least 85 rushing yards in every October and November outing.

Before running for 88 yards against Colorado on Saturday, the senior put together four straight triple-digit performances.

Utah's defense ranks third behind Ohio State and Clemson in yards allowed per game, and it leads the FBS in rushing yards conceded per contest at 56.3.

The weakness, if you want to even call it that, in the Utes defense is the 14th-best passing defense that allows 185.3 passing yards per game.

The pass rush is led by Bradlee Anae, who has 12.5 sacks, and eight members of the secondary have an interception.

If the Pac-12 South champion continues to play at a high level, Justin Herbert may not have time to settle into a rhythm.

The Oregon senior has 31 touchdown passes, but four of his five interceptions and nine of his 21 sacks suffered have come in the last month.

If Anae and Co. pick apart the Ducks offensive line, Oregon may not be able to establish a rushing attack through CJ Verdell and Travis Dye.

Limiting Oregon's output would allow the Utah offense to pile on the points against a defense that held one opponent to single digits since October 19.

Prediction

Utah 31, Oregon 13

While Utah flexed its muscle to conclude Pac-12 play, Oregon displayed flaws in its loss to Arizona State that can be exposed Friday.

In that game, the Ducks were 4-of-10 on third down, turned the ball over twice and had possession for 13 fewer minutes than the Sun Devils.

If Utah forces Oregon into long-yardage third-down situations, it could pressure Herbert and set up opportunities for Huntley, Moss and Co.

Even if they are up big in the fourth quarter, the Utes could pile on the score in order to impress the selection committee as much as possible.

Earning a dominant win in a conference championship game would allow the Utes the best chance to compare to Oklahoma, if the Sooners down Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.