The Oregon Ducks are the unanimous No. 1 team in the country according to the AP Top 25 Poll. College football analyst Joel Klatt also has Oregon at the top of his rankings. 

Joel Klatt on Oregon Ducks: “The Most Complete Team in the Country”

The Oregon Ducks have a perfect 9-0 record in the 2024 season. The Ducks had a slow start to the season, barely beating Idaho and Boise State at home, but have since kicked it into full gear. Joel Klatt views Oregon as the best team in the country.

“They (Oregon) are No. 1 in my top ten. I think they are the most complete team in the country,” Klatt said. “They are the team that has answered the most questions…They can beat you in several different ways.”

Klatt has been especially impressed with Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel. 

“Dillon Gabriel continues to get better and better and better,” Klatt said. “If I had to label my five Heisman finalists, he’s certainly going to be one of those with the way that he is playing. He seems more comfortable every single game that I watch him play under Will Stein’s offense.”

Another reason for Oregon’s undefeated record is their wide receiver room. The Ducks are loaded with weapons.

“I look at the combination of Evan Stewart, Traeshon Holden, and I know the injury is there with Tez Johnson. The catches that these guys make, the speed that they carry on the outside,” Klatt continued. “It is so difficult to defend these guys. They are ridiculous on the outside.”

Additionally, the Oregon offensive line, which struggled early on, has found a rhythm. All of this together makes them an extremely dangerous team that has its sights set on a national championship. 

“Their offensive line is playing well. Gabriel is a point guard,” Klatt said. “This is a great team folks.”

Oregon 9-0 for First Time Since 2012

Coach Dan Lanning and his Oregon Ducks are 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time since 2012. The Ducks have a golden opportunity to get into the College Football playoff for the first time since the inaugural playoff in 2015. Now, with the 12-team playoff, it would take a complete collapse down the stretch in the final three regular-season games to miss out.

Oregon will look to improve their record to 10-0 on Saturday when they host the Maryland Terrapins. Kickoff is set for 4 pm PST on the Big Ten Network at Autzen Stadium.

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Groundhog Day arrived early in Pennsylvania, where Punxsutawney James (Franklin) saw his shadow, which means another long winter for Penn State after again losing to Ohio State.

The Nittany Lions, who have not defeated the Buckeyes since 2016, dropped behind OSU and Indiana after Saturday’s 20-13 loss. Oregon remains No. 1. The biggest stress points are in Lincoln and Madison, where Nebraska and Wisconsin suddenly are in jeopardy of missing bowl season. 

1. Oregon (9-0)

Last week: 1 

This week: vs. Maryland

What to know: The Ducks’ voyage to regular-season perfection is smooth sailing with only Maryland, Wisconsin and rival Washington left to play. 

2. Ohio State (7-1)

Last week: 4

This week: vs. Purdue

What to know: With their season at a crossroads, the Buckeyes looked both ways against Penn State and then late in the game looked good both ways, on offense and defense.

3. Indiana (9-0)

Last week: 3

This week: vs. Michigan

What to know: Hand the conference coach of the year honor to Curt Cignetti now. No reason to wait. The Hoosiers are 9-0 for the first time in program history.

4. Penn State (7-1)

Last week: 2

This week: vs. Washington 

What to know: : Penn State no longer controls its own destiny in the race to make the Big Ten title game, but the playoff remains probable, even if a deep playoff run does not.

5. Iowa (6-3)

Last week: 5

This week: at UCLA (Friday)

What to know: We’re not sure if the Hawkeyes are sneaky good or sneaky bad, but we’re willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.  

6. Minnesota (6-3)

Last week: 9

This week: at Rutgers.

What to know: A true test to see if the Golden Gophers are as good as their record. We think not, but Rutgers won’t prove us right.  

7. Illinois (6-3)

Last week: 6

This week: idle

What to know: Once upon a time this season, Illinois surprised people. We’re no longer surprised. We figured the Illini eventually would fold like a cheap lawn chair..

8. Washington (5-4)

Last week: 11

This week: at Penn State

What to know: The Huskies can take heart in a hopeful stat: Since 2017, Penn State is 3-3 the game after losing to Ohio State. 

9. Michigan (5-4)

Last week: 10

This week: at Indiana

What to know: Michigan optimism: Nobody really knows if IU is that good. Michigan reality: Everybody knows the Wolverines aren’t that good.. 

10. Wisconsin (5-4)

Last week: 8

This week: idle

What to know: The last time the Badgers finished with a losing record (2001), Barry Alvarez still had hair. Don’t look now but a sub-.500 season remains a possibility.

11. Michigan State (4-5)

Last week: 12

This week: idle

What to know: Green. White. Green. White. The chant you hear when Sparty waves the surrender flag on the field.  

12. UCLA (3-5)

Last week: 16

This week: vs. Iowa (Friday)

What to know: News flash: UCLA is not awful. Still bad, yes, but not awful. Just ask Nebraska.

13. USC (4-5)

Last week: 13

This week: idle 

What to know: Sitting here wondering if Lincoln Riley wishes he were back in Oklahoma. We hear the L.A. media wish he were. 

14. Nebraska (5-4)

Last week: 7

This week: idle

What to know: We’re not saying Nebraska is regressing into the Nebraska of Scott Frost, but we’re not not saying it, either.   

15. Northwestern (4-5)

Last week: 15 

This week: idle

What to know: The Wildcats get a week off to celebrate their overtime win against Purdue. The party deserves to last 30 seconds. 

16. Maryland (4-4)

Last week: 14

This week: at Oregon

What to know: The Terps always disappear in late fall, like a golf ball hiding under autumn. 

17. Rutgers (4-4)

Last week: 17

This week: Minnesota

What to know: Upset special: the Scarlet Knights are due. The Golden Gophers are doo-doo.

18. Purdue (1-7)

Last week: 18

This week: at Ohio State 

What to know: What hurts more? Having to play Ohio State or being 18th in the first year of Big Ten expansion when rival Indiana is 9-0? 

roller@dispatch.com

@rollerCD

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EUGENE — We are live from Matthew Knight Arena for tonight’s season opener between Oregon and UC Riverside.

The Ducks are favored by 16.5 or 17 points at all listed sportsbooks and the over/under is 144.5, according to Action Network.

Oregon is without forward Supreme Cook and guards Dezdrick Lindsay (shoulder) and Oleksandr Kobzystyi tonight.

Refresh this page to follow live updates from tonight’s game (7:30 p.m., B1G+)

HALFTIME: OREGON 51, UC RIVERSIDE 36

— Scoring: Evans 12, Angel, Bamba and Bittle 9 each, Shelstad and Tracey 5 each, Moss 2 | 10-0 UO on fast break, 24-8 UO in paint

— 9-0 Oregon run thanks to 4 UC Riverside turnovers

— UC Riverside racking up fouls in the closing minutes as Oregon picks up press defense

— Three-point play by Nate Bittle make it 47-34

— Kaleb Smith’s third foul with 2:45 to half

— Mookie Cook enters with 3:40 to go, leaving only freshman Jamari Phillips yet to play for UO

— 38-31 Oregon (U4: 3:53): Ducks up to 20-8 advantage in the paint

— Jackson Shelstad with 2 fouls at 5:13. Oregon with 3 fouls in less than 1:00. UC Riverside with two offensive rebounds off missed free throws.

— 8 Oregon players with 1 foul each at 5:26 to half

— 8-0 Oregon run, 34-28 UO. UC Riverside timeout (6:37)

— Tied at 28 (U8: 7:19): UC Riverside 5 of 10 from three. Oregon with 14-6 edge in paint.

— Oregon with a clear size advantage that Nate Bittle and Brandon Angel are exploiting

— Nate Bittle’s first basket of the season is a dunk off a pass from Jackson Shelstad. Snapped 0 for 4 start for Bittle.

— 16-15 Oregon (U12: 12:00): Ducks with 9-6 rebounding edge, 3-0 on offensive boards, but no second-chance points

— 10-9 Oregon (U16: 15:07): Kwame Evans Jr. with 7. Both teams shooting 50% from three early

— Oregon wins the tip

— Oregon starters: Jackson Shelstad, TJ Bamba, Brandon Angel, Kwame Evans Jr., Nate Bittle