Mario Cristobal

A slew of changes to the college football rankings are expected Sunday after Oregon and Penn State suffered Week 13 defeats.

Oregon's tumble will be more significant since the Ducks were on the edge of the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings. Penn State's defeat to Ohio State should keep it out of the New Year's Six since it is jockeying for position with a handful of other two-loss squads.

Those setbacks opened the door for Oklahoma to inch closer to Alabama and Utah in its quest to receive a playoff invitation. Lincoln Riley's side is expected to move up at least two spots, and it could benefit from more shortcomings in the next two weeks.

                        

Biggest Movers in Week 14 Polls

Oregon 

The Ducks could be staring at a drop outside the top 10.

Their first loss since Week 1 came to an Arizona State side that lost four consecutive games before Saturday. Until the fourth-quarter comeback attempt, Oregon did not show many signs of life offensively, which could lead to less confidence from voters to keep it in the top 10.

Utah, Oklahoma and Minnesota, all of whom have one loss, should be ahead of Mario Cristobal's team on most, if not all, ballots.

The question pollsters have to ask themselves is how do the Ducks compare to other two-loss programs, such as Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan.

The Gators are 9-2, with their only two defeats coming to LSU and Georgia. Oregon's losses are to Auburn at a neutral site and the five-loss Arizona State. Because of their strength of schedule, Florida can stake a claim as the nation's best two-loss squad.

Michigan has won four in a row, while Wisconsin holds a three-game winning streak, and both have a pair of Top 25 victories.

The resumes of the Badgers and Wolverines, combined with the manner of Oregon's loss, could persuade voters to drop the Ducks at least six positions.

The fall could be steeper if one-loss Baylor, coming off a 24-10 win over Texas, is deemed a better team than the Pac-12 North winner. However, the Bears have been devalued in most polls all season and may not receive a ton of credit for beating a five-loss Longhorns side they were expected to take down.

                   

Penn State

The case could be made to park Penn State in front of Oregon on some ballots because of how it avoided a humiliating loss to Ohio State.

James Franklin's Nittany Lions were the first team to stay within 20 points of the Buckeyes this season. Falling by 11 with a backup quarterback on the field may also resonate with voters when deciding Penn State's position.

If pollsters value head-to-head matchups, Penn State could slide behind Oklahoma, Minnesota and Florida but ahead of Michigan. But if that is not taken into consideration, it could tumble beneath Wisconsin and Michigan. However, the order of those programs may not matter in two weeks.

Penn State's final contest is at home versus Rutgers in Week 14, while the Wolverines host Ohio State and the Badgers visit Minnesota.

Since those sides could each lose an additional game, and the Minnesota-Wisconsin victor may fall in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions are still in decent shape.

                     

Oklahoma

The Sooners were Week 13's biggest winner.

Moving up one spot through Penn State's loss was massive in itself for Oklahoma's playoff hopes, but it received an extra jolt from Arizona State's upset of Oregon. That puts Jalen Hurts and Co. no lower than No. 7 going into Bedlam against Oklahoma State and the Big 12 Championship Game versus Baylor.

Oklahoma still needs LSU to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and Oregon to upset Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game to stake its claim to No. 4, but it has taken steps in the right direction.

In their best-case scenario, the Sooners would be compared to Alabama for the fourth playoff position. That is where unconvincing home wins over Iowa State and TCU could come into the picture. The Sooners held on to beat the Cyclones by one point and committed some fourth-quarter errors to keep the Horned Frogs around Saturday.

But for now, voters can justify placing them at No. 7 with two games left to prove they are worthy of a higher jump.

                      

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

The top of the College Football Playoff rankings should not change after Week 12.

LSU, Ohio State and Clemson were three of nine top-10 teams to come out victorious Saturday.

The top three squads have used dominant performances to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in recent weeks.

Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Utah headline the competition for the No. 4 seed. The field of contenders for that position was trimmed because of the losses Baylor and Minnesota suffered.

But those defeats should have more of an impact on the New Year's Six teams than the final four.

                              

College Football Playoff Predictions

Peach Bowl (December 28): No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oregon

Fiesta Bowl (December 28): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson

The top three teams in the country should remain in those positions for another week.

LSU torched Ole Miss for 714 total yards, with Joe Burrow producing 489 passing yards and five touchdowns in the 58-37 victory.

Burrow added to his Heisman Trophy resume by setting the program's single-season passing yards record, per the team's official Twitter account.

JaMarr Chase and Justin Jefferson combined for 17 receptions, 339 receiving yards and five scores, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 172 yards and a score. But the offense's performance was not the top takeaway from Saturday. The Tigers' defense was gashed for 614 total yards by an Ole Miss squad that had lost four of its past five games.

Four-hundred and two of those yards came on the ground. That may be a concern in the next two SEC clashes against Arkansas and Texas A&M. Arkansas' Rakeem Boyd is coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games, and the Aggies had two players hit triple digits in Week 12 against South Carolina.

But if LSU continues to outscore opponents, the struggles of the rushing defense may not come into the picture until the SEC Championship Game against Georgia.

A clash with the Georgia defense that gave up its first rushing touchdown Saturday will be the ultimate test for the LSU offense to pass. While the Bulldogs have looked dominant in stretches, three of their five highest point concessions were against ranked foes, and they appeared to ease up during Auburn's fourth-quarter comeback.

LSU's offense looks like a machine that can't be stopped, and because of that, the Tigers would land the No. 1 overall seed and the right to choose which national semifinal site to play at.

We did not learn anything new about Ohio State in Week 12, as it breezed through Rutgers. The Buckeyes have two opportunities to prove their worth in big games, with Penn State coming to Ohio Stadium in Week 13 and a trip to Michigan a week later.

Chase Young's return from a two-game suspension should boost Ohio State's defense. 

The junior defensive end could change the games by himself by sacking Sean Clifford and Shea Patterson. In his most recent appearance, Young made four sacks versus then-No. 13 Wisconsin at home.

If Ohio State runs through the rest of its schedule, it would have three straight wins over Top 25 foes, including the Big Ten West champion. In that scenario, Ryan Day's side would be ranked no lower than No. 2, and it should force a debate for the No. 1 seed with LSU.

In the six games since its scare against North Carolina, Clemson has outscored opponents 315-58. Trevor Lawrence has five consecutive 200-yard performances, and Travis Etienne eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the last six games.

Even if Dabo Swinney's team wins out, its lack of Top 25 wins will prevent it from challenging LSU and Ohio State for the top seed. Clemson closes with a road trip to South Carolina, which has four losses in its past five games, and a matchup with either Virginia, Virginia Tech or Pittsburgh, all of whom sit at 7-3.

Oregon extended its winning streak to nine games by controlling Saturday's contest with Arizona. Mario Cristobal's team may be in better position to eclipse Georgia and Alabama than Utah because it has not lost since Week 1, and its lone defeat came to Auburn at a neutral site.

If it finishes the season with a 12-game winning run and a Pac-12 championship, Oregon could be the best fit for the No. 4 seed over one-loss Alabama and Big 12 winner Oklahoma. If that comes to fruition, Oregon would be the first Pac-12 team to reach the playoff in three seasons.

                          

New Year's Six

Cotton Bowl (December 28): Memphis vs. Florida 

Orange Bowl (December 30): Georgia vs. Wake Forest

Rose Bowl (January 1): Minnesota vs. Utah

Sugar Bowl (January 1): Alabama vs. Oklahoma

Baylor's loss to Oklahoma likely cost it a New Year's Six position for the time being.

The Bears still have a chance to enact revenge against the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game, but their scoreless second half does not inspire much confidence in that happening.

If Oklahoma lands the Big 12 title, it will head to the Sugar Bowl, where Jalen Hurts could face his former team, Alabama.

However, Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending injury may affect that potential matchup. Alabama still has to get by Auburn to finish with one loss. The good news for the Crimson Tide is they will face an Auburn side that has produced more than 20 points once in four Top 25 matchups in SEC play.

One-loss Alabama could get the Sugar Bowl nod over two-loss Georgia, which would slip into an at-large berth with a SEC Championship Game defeat to LSU.

Florida could be the biggest beneficiary of Baylor's loss, as it is in position to finish in the top 10 and earn the final at-large spot in the New Year's Six. Dan Mullen's team is 9-2, with its only defeats coming to LSU and Georgia. All it has to do is beat Florida State in Week 14, and it should be the fourth SEC team in the New Year's Six.

Despite losing to Iowa, Minnesota still has a chance to qualify for the Big Ten Championship Game by beating Northwestern and Wisconsin. If that occurs, the Golden Gophers could land a Rose Bowl berth, even with a loss to Ohio State.

Penn State and Wisconsin would be contention for a trip to Pasadena, California, but P.J. Fleck's side would have head-to-head wins over both.

Utah is the second-best Pac-12 team in the rankings, but it could change that by beating Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Utes will enter the first week of December beneath the Ducks because they carry a worse loss. Utah fell to USC, while Oregon lost to Auburn.

Memphis and Cincinnati are still fighting for the Group of Five berth, but the former have looked much better in recent weeks. The Tigers have four straight wins, including a 54-48 victory over SMU. They beat Houston by 18 on the road Saturday.

Cincinnati has won two of its past three games by three points. In Week 12, it needed a last-second field goal to down South Florida.

The two sides meet November 29 in Memphis and could square off again in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game to determine the top Group of Five squad.

                                

Bowl Projections

Bahamas Bowl (December 20): Charlotte vs. Buffalo 

Frisco Bowl (December 20): Temple vs. Marshall

New Mexico Bowl (December 21): Western Kentucky vs. San Diego State 

Cure Bowl (December 21): Georgia Southern vs. Liberty 

Boca Raton Bowl (December 21): Tulane vs. UAB 

Camellia Bowl (December 21): Miami (Ohio) vs. Georgia State 

Las Vegas Bowl (December 21): Washington State vs. Boise State 

New Orleans Bowl (December 21): Louisiana Tech vs. Appalachian State 

Gasparilla Bowl (December 23): UCF vs. Southern Miss 

Hawaii Bowl (December 24): BYU vs. Hawaii 

Independence Bowl (December 26): Florida State vs. SMU 

QuickLane Bowl (December 26): North Carolina vs. Michigan State 

Military Bowl (December 27): Miami vs. Navy 

Pinstripe Bowl (December 27): Pittsburgh vs. Illinois

Texas Bowl (December 27): Oklahoma State vs. Missouri 

Holiday Bowl (December 27): Iowa vs. Washington 

Cheez-It Bowl (December 27): Kansas State vs. Oregon State 

Camping World Bowl (December 28): Notre Dame vs. Texas 

First Responder Bowl (December 30): Florida Atlantic vs. TCU 

Music City Bowl (December 30): Virginia vs. Kentucky 

Redbox Bowl (December 30): Indiana vs. Arizona State 

Belk Bowl (December 31): Virginia Tech vs. Mississippi State 

Sun Bowl (December 31): Louisville vs. California 

Liberty Bowl (December 31): Iowa State vs. Cincinnati

Arizona Bowl (December 31): Wyoming vs. Arkansas State 

Alamo Bowl (December 31): Baylor vs. USC 

Citrus Bowl (January 1): Wisconsin vs. Auburn 

Outback Bowl (January 1): Penn State vs. Texas A&M 

Birmingham Bowl (January 2): Ohio vs. Nevada

Gator Bowl (January 2): Michigan vs. Tennessee

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (January 3): Central Michigan vs. Utah State 

Armed Forces Bowl (January 4): Air Force vs. Toledo 

Mobile Alabama Bowl (January 6): Western Michigan vs. Louisiana

                    

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

LSU asserted itself as the best program in the nation with its Week 11 win over Alabama. 

The 46-41 victory kept the Tigers above Ohio State at the top of the AP Top 25, and it could boost them over the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff rankings. 

Alabama landed at No. 4 in the AP poll behind LSU, Ohio State and Clemson, but there are plenty of challengers for the Crimson Tide's spot. 

Georgia and Oregon both moved up a spot, while Minnesota leaped six spots to No. 7. Utah, Penn State and Oklahoma could all make a run at the top four before the playoff field is settled. 

If the top three squads continue to win, the conversation regarding No. 4 will heat up and leave the playoff committee with a difficult decision to make. 

                         

Postseason Predictions

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl (December 28): No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oregon 

Fiesta Bowl (December 28): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Clemson 

LSU is more than deserving of the top spot in the AP poll, and there is a decent chance it leaps over Ohio State in Tuesday's College Football Playoff release. 

The Tigers have four wins over ranked sides, with their best coming Saturday over Alabama. If they win the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, they would have five victories over Top 25 foes. Ohio State could match that total if it sweeps Penn State, Michigan and the Big Ten Championship Game opponent. 

If that occurs, the two most dominant sides in college football would be the top two playoff seeds. 

Due to its low strength of schedule, Clemson would slide into No. 3 if all three programs win out. 

Clemson's ACC slate got weaker with Wake Forest dropping out of the Top 25 after losing on the road to Virginia Tech. Unless Virginia or Virginia Tech find a way into the rankings before the ACC Championship Game, Dabo Swinney's side would have a single ranked win from Week 2 over Texas A&M. 

Oregon appears to be in good position to land the No. 4 seed. If the top three teams win the rest of their contests, Georgia, Minnesota and Penn State would drop out of the picture. 

That would leave the one-loss Ducks with a potential Top 10 win in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Alabama with one defeat and no conference title, and either Oklahoma or Baylor as the Big 12 winner. 

Two years ago, the Crimson Tide entered the playoff with one defeat and without a SEC Championship Game berth. The committee could compare Alabama and Oregon in their head-to-head matchups with Auburn, but they occurred at opposite ends of the season. 

Mario Cristobal's side would have 12 straight wins with a better best victory than Alabama since Utah would be ranked higher entering the Pac-12 Championship Game than Auburn would be going into the Iron Bowl against Bama. 

Two victories over Baylor could boost Oklahoma into the conversation as well, but its road defeat to Kansas State may weigh it down in seeding discussions. 

No matter which way you present it, the committee will likely have a difficult choice to make to complete the final four. 

                      

New Year's Six 

Cotton Bowl (December 28): Memphis vs. Baylor 

Orange Bowl (December 30): Georgia vs. Wake Forest  

Rose Bowl (January 1): Minnesota vs. Utah 

Sugar Bowl (January 1): Alabama vs. Oklahoma 

If Alabama and Oklahoma miss out on the playoff, they could square off in the Sugar Bowl. 

That would place Jalen Hurts against his former side, and it may showcase two Heisman Trophy finalists with Tua Tagovailoa on the other side. 

Two-loss Georgia with a defeat to LSU would likely slide no further than No. 10, so that would put it into an at-large position. 

If Minnesota and Utah lose in their respective conference title games, they would meet in the Rose Bowl. 

The Golden Gophers still have to beat Iowa and Wisconsin to get to Lucas Oil Stadium. If it wins those games, P.J. Fleck's side should have an advantage over Penn State for the Big Ten's Rose Bowl berth. 

Baylor sits in a peculiar spot because it could still drop two games to Oklahoma. The Bears are 12th in the AP poll and would likely need one victory over the Sooners to secure a New Year's Six spot over Florida, Penn State and others. 

If Wake Forest ends up with three defeats and either Virginia or Virginia Tech loses to Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, it would be the second-best ACC team, which would earn a spot in the Orange Bowl. 

Memphis may have to beat Cincinnati twice to earn the Group of Five berth. The Tigers conclude the regular season with the Bearcats, and they could square off in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. 

Cincinnati's path got easier after UCF's loss to Tulsa. The Bearcats lead the Knights by two in the loss column in the American East, while Memphis owns head-to-head tiebreakers on Navy. SMU and Tulane in the American West. 

                       

Bowl Projections

Bahamas Bowl (December 20): Florida International vs. Buffalo 

Frisco Bowl (December 20): Temple vs. Louisiana Tech 

New Mexico Bowl (December 21): Western Kentucky vs. San Diego State 

Cure Bowl (December 21): Georgia Southern vs. Liberty 

Boca Raton Bowl (December 21): Tulane vs. Charlotte 

Camellia Bowl (December 21): Miami (Ohio) vs. Georgia State 

Las Vegas Bowl (December 21): Washington State vs. Boise State 

New Orleans Bowl (December 21): Marshall vs. Appalachian State 

Gasparilla Bowl (December 23): UCF vs. Southern Miss 

Hawaii Bowl (December 24): BYU vs. Hawaii 

Independence Bowl (December 26): Florida State vs. Florida Atlantic 

QuickLane Bowl (December 26): Boston College vs. Illinois

Military Bowl (December 27): Louisville vs. Navy 

Pinstripe Bowl (December 27): Pittsburgh vs. Michigan State 

Texas Bowl (December 27): Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State 

Holiday Bowl (December 27): Iowa vs. Washington 

Cheez-It Bowl (December 27): TCU vs. Stanford 

Camping World Bowl (December 28): Notre Dame vs. Kansas State 

First Responder Bowl (December 30): SMU vs. UAB 

Music City Bowl (December 30): Virginia vs. Tennessee 

Redbox Bowl (December 30): Indiana vs. Arizona State 

Belk Bowl (December 31): Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky 

Sun Bowl (December 31): Miami vs. California 

Liberty Bowl (December 31): Iowa State vs. Missouri 

Arizona Bowl (December 31): Wyoming vs. Arkansas State 

Alamo Bowl (December 31): Texas vs. USC 

Citrus Bowl (January 1): Wisconsin vs. Florida 

Outback Bowl (January 1): Penn State vs. Auburn 

Birmingham Bowl (January 2): Cincinnati vs. Nevada

Gator Bowl (January 2): Michigan vs. Texas A&M 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (January 3): Central Michigan vs. Utah State 

Armed Forces Bowl (January 4): Air Force vs. Toledo 

Mobile Alabama Bowl (January 6): Western Michigan vs. Louisiana 

            

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

The best one-loss FBS programs have a chance to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee in Week 10.

With LSU, Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State off and Clemson hosting Wofford, some of the most influential people in the sport can keep closer tabs on Georgia, Florida, Oregon, Utah and others.

The Bulldogs and Gators take center stage Saturday afternoon, when they square off for first place in the SEC East in a contest that serves as an elimination game for playoff contention.

After surging into the top 10, Oregon and Utah face road challenges against USC and Washington, respectively, and if one or both goes down, the Pac-12's rediscovered playoff hopes could fade away.

Group of Five powers SMU and Memphis receive a turn under the Saturday night spotlight. With Appalachian State going down Thursday, the winner of the American Athletic Conference clash could be the front-runner for a New Year's Six berth.

                             

Week 10 AP Top 25

1. LSU (8-0)

2. Alabama (8-0) 

3. Ohio State (8-0) 

4. Clemson (8-0) 

5. Penn State (8-0) 

6. Florida (7-1) 

7. Oregon (7-1) 

8. Georgia (6-1) 

9. Utah (7-1) 

10. Oklahoma (7-1) 

11. Auburn (7-1) 

12. Baylor (8-0) 

13. Minnesota (8-0) 

14. Michigan (6-2) 

15. SMU (8-0) 

16. Notre Dame (5-2) 

17. Cincinnati (6-1) 

18. Wisconsin (6-2) 

19. Iowa (6-2) 

20. Appalachian State (7-1)

21. Boise State (6-1) 

22. Kansas State (5-2) 

23. Wake Forest (6-1) 

24. Memphis (7-1) 

25. San Diego State (7-1)

                     

A spot in the SEC Championship Game is the most valuable prize up for grabs Saturday.

Georgia and Florida are far ahead of the rest of the SEC East, and it would take a few disastrous performances for the winner in Jacksonville to not land in Atlanta during the first weekend of December.

Both teams enter TIAA Bank Field off a bounce-back victory followed by an off week. The Bulldogs have played one less game and possess better defensive numbers.

Kirby Smart's team is the lone SEC side to hold opponents under 100 points. Florida owns the third-best scoring defense in the conference.

In the teams' past two meetings, Georgia limited the Gators to 24 points, and in each of the past four clashes, the losing side failed to reach 20. That suggests a double-digit victory could be in the cards for the sixth straight meeting in northern Florida.

If Georgia wins, it has to earn three more conference victories to claim a spot in Atlanta. One of those games is on the road at Auburn.

After Saturday, Florida only has Vanderbilt and Missouri left on its SEC slate, so it could earn its title game position by November 16.

Florida's status could affect where LSU ends up in the first College Football Playoff ranking Tuesday night. If the Gators defeat Georgia, the committee could value the Tigers' 42-28 triumph over Dan Mullen's side more, which could solidify LSU's grasp on No. 1.

Oregon and Utah may be the direct beneficiaries of a loss by either SEC East squad, as long as they come out on top in Week 10.

The Ducks eked out wins over Washington and Washington State, and Saturday they have to visit the Trojans, who handed Utah its only defeat.

Mario Cristobal's team could be the Pac-12's best playoff hopeful since its defeat occurred to Auburn at a neutral site.

Since falling to the Trojans, Utah has gone 3-0 at home and earned a road win over Oregon State. In those four contests, Kyle Whittingham's team conceded 23 points combined.

If the Utes beat Washington, they would like to have some help from Oregon, which could hand USC its second conference loss.

If that occurs, Utah will have an advantage over the five other squads in the Pac-12 South, and with a light schedule to finish the regular season, it could be headed for a collision with Oregon.

SMU could continue to move up the rankings by beating Memphis, but as we saw with UCF in previous years, the playoff committee may hold the Mustangs at a lower value than the AP Top 25 voters.

That is why an impressive performance on a national stage is vital for Shane Buechele and Co. If SMU dominates one of the other top Group of Five squads, it could leave an impression on the playoff voters.

At minimum, a Mustangs victory would further their case as the top Group of Five team, a competition that could be determined by the American Athletic Conference Championship Game after Appalachian State dropped its first game Thursday.

There is also always a chance for a ranked foe to unexpectedly go down, but the odds are smaller in Week 10, with five of the top 10 teams off.

                             

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

Mario Cristobal is finalizing a one-year extension with Oregon that will keep the head football coach in Eugene through the 2023 season. 

Per James Crepea of the Oregonian, Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said the extension is "almost done."

The 2018 Ducks went 9-4 and defeated Michigan State in the Redbox Bowl during Cristobal's first season in charge. The nine-win mark was the team's best since 2015. 

Cristobal, 48, previously led Florida International University from 2007-12. He took a team that went winless in 2006 to a 7-6 record and bowl victory in 2010.

A 3-9 season prompted his dismissal in 2012, but Cristobal landed on his feet with an associate head coaching gig under Nick Saban at Alabama, where he won the 2015 national championship.

He moved to Oregon as the team's co-offensive coordinator under Willie Taggart and was named the interim head coach after his boss left for Florida State before the Ducks' 2017 bowl game.

Eventually, Cristobal was given the official head-coaching gig and finished off an impressive first season that included a win over eventual Pac-12 champion Washington.

Oregon opens the 2019 season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas against the Auburn Tigers on Aug. 31. The future looks bright for Oregon: Paul Myerberg of USA Today placed the Ducks at No. 9 in an early preseason poll, citing the team's 10 returning starters including top NFL draft prospect Justin Herbert at quarterback.

Matt Prehm of 247Sports also reported that Cristobal recruited 11 top-100 prospects from Dec. 2017 to the present date, which is the same number the Ducks brought in from 2012-16.

On the surface, the Cristobal extension looks like a smart move for the Ducks, who could be headed back glory days akin to those seen under former head coach Chip Kelly.

Justin Herbert and the Oregon Ducks will wrap up early offseason workouts with the 2019 spring game at Autzen Stadium.

Considered one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2020 NFL draft, Herbert is the main attraction of the exhibition. The Ducks, though, have a 5-star freshman ready to emerge as a superstar.

Oregon has aspirations of winning the Pac-12 and competing for a national title in 2019, and the spring game will provide the first national look at the retooled roster.

           

Oregon Spring Game Information

Date: Saturday, April 20

Time: 5 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Pac-12 Network

          

Herbert Needs Receivers

Last season, the Ducks enjoyed a stellar connection between Herbert and first-team All-Pac-12 wideout Dillon Mitchell.

The NFL-bound standout piled up team-high marks across the board, tallying 75 catches for 1,184 yards and 10 touchdowns. The next-highest contributor in each category―Jaylon Redd―had 38 receptions, 433 yards and five scores.

Dillon Mitchell has made Oregon history!@DMFM1_ is now the single-season record for receiving yards, breaking Josh Huff's 1,140 yards set in 2013 #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/p5R38SFOX3

— Bri Amaranthus (@BriAmaranthus) December 31, 2018

Who will emerge as the No. 1 wide receiver in 2019?

Redd is the early favorite, given his previous production. However, 433 yards isn't a terribly high bar to clear. Johnny Johnson III and Brenden Schooler both have consecutive seasons of 200-plus yards, but their contributions actually dropped last year.

The Ducks are hoping some combination of Penn State transfer Juwan Johnson, redshirt freshman Bryan Addison and 4-star enrollees Mycah Pittman and Josh Delgado develop into key pieces. They could be valuable complements for tight ends Jacob Breeland and Cam McCormick.

While the regular season is still months away, Herbert's rapport with these players is worth monitoring.

           

Kayvon Thibodeaux To Make Unofficial Debut

Oregon fans must be eager to watch Kayvon Thibodeaux―the highest-rated recruit in program history―play in Autzen Stadium.

In what should surprise approximately no one, the 5-star defensive end quickly earned praise for his performance this spring.

"We are excited about what he is doing," defensive coordinator Andy Avalos said midway through the spring, per Steve Mims of The Register-Guard. "He has been very disruptive and productive in the run game and the passing game."

Thibodeaux intercepted a pass during the team's first scrimmage and will be looking to make a greater impact in the spring game.

As with any exhibition, the results don't mean everything. The daily workouts and practices cumulatively have a larger impact on a player's evaluation. But if Thibodeaux shines, the possibility of him being a full-time starter will only look better.

           

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR