Our Oregon Ducks football program will finish the season on New Year’s Day next week.
Bo Nix will lead the team in his final game with Oregon, as well as several other veteran Ducks closing out their collegiate careers in the Fiesta Bowl at 10 a.m. PST. While several players have opted out ahead of the NFL Draft, the Ducks have proven time and time again that they’re deep at almost every position on the roster.
Hopefully, with an Oregon-favored game script, we can see Austin Novosad and others work into the mix toward the end of the game and get at least a handful of meaningful reps in live action. With how Oregon’s looked all year, I predict that’s a pretty likely outcome with my projected score.
De’Anthony Thomas led an Oregon offense a decade ago in the Fiesta Bowl – Photo From the Fiesta Bowl Game Photography
Final Score Prediction: 34-13 Ducks
Despite missing a few key pieces on their roster, this game shouldn’t be too close. The Flames have earned the right to be there, and they’ve had a great undefeated season. Oregon’s just better. The Ducks have had ample time off to nurse nagging injuries and get healthy, preparing them well to close out the season strong against a massively under-recruited program in the Liberty Flames.
We should see plenty of new faces on both offense and defense, and perhaps a few more penalties due to the lack of experience. Still, the Ducks are primed for an all-Oregon day in 2024, kickstarting their offseason preparation with a bang. After a low-scoring first half, expect the Ducks to pull away in the third quarter as a sound rushing attack and stifling defense really get their footing, and new players offer the same type of dominant play.
Beyond this game, though, the Ducks had a great year. The Fiesta Bowl isn’t the game we wanted our Ducks to end up in, but a win still bodes well for the future of a Lanning-led Oregon squad. While others might think of this as a “must-win“ game for Lanning, they’re largely right. However, I just want to see the Ducks play the same way they did all year. Dominate the ground game, air it out deep, spread the ball around to whichever playmakers end up being available, and play sound in the trenches on defense. If Oregon’s able to win decisively, I think we can all agree that this was a great second season for Lanning and his staff.
But anyway, enough from me, Oregon fans. How do you think the Ducks will fair in their last game of the season? Which depth chart changes are you most excited to watch? Which new faces are going to step up in the last game of the year? Let us know in the FishDuck Forum with decorum.
Go Ducks!
Alex Heining
Los Angeles, California
Top Photo By: Craig Strobeck
Alex Heining is an Oregon alumni from the graduate class of 2021. After studying sports business and media studies, he has moved into the field of digital marketing as a copywriter and content manager in the Los Angeles area. Still, he loves his Ducks and goes to local high school games all over the Los Angeles and Orange County area to check out new recruits of the future (and a SoFi game or two with the pros). On any given Saturday, expect to find him doing martial arts, playing the guitar, or screaming at the tv over a missed holding penalty.