Jordan Rodgers: Oregon has the best chance of making CFP title run among First Round teams

Oregon enters the College Football Playoff with both momentum and opportunity. According to ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers, no team in the first round is better positioned to make a legitimate championship run than the Ducks.

Appearing on Get Up on Friday, Rodgers pointed to Oregon’s favorable draw, impressive roster and upside at quarterback. He feels those are the key factors separating the Ducks from the rest of the first-round field.

“I think it’s Oregon. Partly because of the path,” Rodgers said, regarding which team playing this weekend could make a run at the title. “They start out with JMU. Their quarterfinal game would be Texas Tech. Of the teams that are there sitting waiting with a bye, I think you’d want to play Texas Tech.”

As Rodgers mentioned, the path begins this weekend. Oregon hosts James Madison in Eugene. The Dukes arrived as the Sun Belt champion after a dominant 12-1 season that included 11 consecutive wins and a conference title victory over Troy. 

James Madison’s lone loss came early in the year against Louisville. All in all, the Dukes have been one of the most consistent Group of Five teams in the country since September.

Still, Rodgers believes Oregon’s overall makeup gives the Ducks a clear edge. Not only in the opening round, but beyond.

“They’re elite on defense. They’re elite running the football. They’ve got two or three guys that can tote the rock,” Rodgers added.

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Moreover, Oregon finished the regular season 11-1, with its only loss coming against No. 1 Indiana. The Ducks narrowly missed the Big Ten Championship Game, but they still secured the No. 5 seed in the Playoff, earning the right to host a first-round matchup. 

A year after winning the Big Ten but falling in their first CFP appearance, Oregon is hoping this postseason run looks much different. Much of that optimism centers on quarterback Dante Moore, whom Rodgers described as having the highest ceiling of any signal-caller in the field.

“Dante Moore is probably the most talented guy in the entire College Football Playoff at quarterback with the most upside,” Rodgers explained. “If he puts it together, this team, I think, is devoid of weakness more than any other team.”

If Oregon handles business against James Madison, a quarterfinal matchup with Big 12 champion Texas Tech would await. The Red Raiders earned the No. 4 seed after winning the conference, but Rodgers noted that among the bye teams, Texas Tech represents the most favorable matchup.

With balance on both sides of the ball, depth all over the field and a quarterback capable of raising the ceiling, Oregon appears positioned not just to advance but to threaten the entire CFP field.