Georgia vs. Texas Game's College Football Playoff Implications on No. 2 Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks shut out the Purdue Boilermakers 35-0 Friday night in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Ducks now can sit back on Saturday and get an extra day of rest while fans watch Texas face Georgia.

Oct 18, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Noah Whittington (6) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Smiley Bradford (6) during the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks get to enjoy a stress-free Saturday of college football after they took care of business on the road against Purdue Friday night. The Ducks blanked the Boilermakers 35-0. There are some big games that Oregon should keep an eye on. 

Georgia vs. Texas in a Top-Five Showdown

Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; ESPN's College Game Day at the University of Texas on the South Mall, before a game between the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images / Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The game of the week in college football is between the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. The Bulldogs come into the game with a 5-1 record. They cannot afford to drop a second game this early in the year. Georgia lost at Alabama earlier in the year. Texas comes into Saturday’s game as the top-ranked team in the country with a perfect 6-0 record. 

Georgia beat Texas 30-15, meaning Oregon will likely move up to the No. 1 spot. Oregon hasn’t been ranked No. 1 in the country since the 2012 season.

In 2012, Oregon was 10-0 and ranked No. 1 heading into a Week 12 game vs. Stanford. No need to go into detail about what happened in that game. Oregon fans know it all too well. The Ducks ended that season with a Fiesta Bow victory over Kansas State.

No. 24 Michigan vs. No. 22 Illinois 

Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema leads his team into the stadium before kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Illinois comes to Eugene on Oct. 26, and the Ducks will travel to Michigan on Nov. 2. Since one of these teams has to lose when they play, Oregon should root for Illinois to win. Illinois could move to the top 20 for next week's games against Oregon. Michigan is currently 4-2 while Illinois is 5-1.

Surprisingly, the road Wolverines, who have a worse record and are ranked lower than the Fighting Illini, are 4-point favorites over Illinois.  

Illinois beat Michigan 21-7, most likely knocking the Wolverines out of the top 25. The Fighting Illini have almost guaranteed a a top-20 matchup in Autzen Stadium for Saturday.

Ducks Can’t Look Ahead

For Oregon fans, there’s no harm in looking ahead in the schedule. However, for the team, they must remain focused on the next opponent. Coach Dan Lanning has the Ducks in a great spot with a 7-0 start and the win Ohio State under their belt.

The Ducks don’t need to worry about rankings or a game way down the road. Focus on your business one week at a time. Judging off of what Ducks players and coaches have said after practices, they know this too.

Oregon has a straight path to the Big Ten Championship Game, but with Georgia's win over Texas, they have an extra target on their backs as the potential No. 1 team in the country. Should the Ducks continue to win, a top-four seed in the College Football Playoff is in reach.

MORE: What Purdue Boilermakers Coach Ryan Walters Said After Loss to Oregon Ducks 

MORE: What Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning Said After Beating Purdue: 'We Need To Tackle Better' 

MORE: Oregon Ducks 'Great Chance' To Land 5-Star Recruit Jahkeem Stewart Over LSU, USC, Ohio State?

MORE: Oregon Ducks Injury Update: Terrance Ferguson Appendix Removed, Timeline For Return?

MORE: Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning: Internal Discipline For Traeshon Holden's Ejection?

MORE: Questionable Officiating In Oregon Ducks, Purdue Boilermakers: Jordan James Touchdown

MORE: Oregon Ducks Crush Purdue Boilermakers, 35-0: First Shutout in Decades

MORE: Kirk Herbstreit Ranks Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning After Beating Ohio State