Ducks Digest

CFB Analyst Projects Oregon to Win Pac-12, Make Playoff Run in 2023

Oregon hasn't been to the playoff since it started back in 2014, but Josh Pate thinks the Ducks can pull it off this year.

Max Torres

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It's no secret that expectations are high for Oregon Football this season. They should be.

With a Heisman-contending quarterback in Bo Nix and a surging young head coach in Dan Lanning, the Ducks should be able to at least replicate the success they had in 2022 when they went 10-3.

However, Josh Pate, host of the Late Kick Podcast, has higher expectations than most of the national media. Earlier this week he projected Oregon to not only win the Pac-12, but return to the College Football Playoff as the No. 3 seed.

The other three teams in Pate's projection are Ohio State (1), Alabama (2) and Penn State (4).

"I'm really high on Oregon," he said on a recent episode of the Late Kick Podcast. "And so not only do I think the Oregon Ducks are going to win the Pac-12, I think Oregon is going to be a team that surges. 

"I think Bo Nix is gonna have a tremendous year. Not just because of the poster in New York City. I think Oregon's gonna make the playoff and I think they're gonna be the three seed."

If Oregon wants to win the Pac-12 they're going to have to get through teams like the Utah Utes, the Washington Huskies and the USC Trojans. All three teams have elite quarterbacks, but if history repeats itself the defending conference champion Utes will be the most well-rounded of the trio. 

The Ducks draw just one of those teams at home in USC, and will be even further tested by road games in Seattle and Salt Lake City. 

Winning the Pac-12 and making a return to the playoff won't be easy, but Oregon has the firepower to be in the conversation as one of college football's elite provided their defense makes significant strides and the offense continues to score at a high clip.

READ MORE: Travis Hunter responds to Dan Lanning's comments on Colorado leaving the Pac-12

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Max Torres
MAX TORRES

Max Torres is the publisher and lead editor of Ducks Digest. He's covered the Oregon football and recruiting beats for four years. He's based out of Long Beach, CA and travels around Southern California and the country covering top high school football prospects.

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