A Clash of Titans: Nick Saban and Urban Meyer Square Off Again

Tyler Robinson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When Alabama and Ohio State square off in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, it will feature two of college football’s most colossal figures. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer are directly responsible for five of the last nine national championship teams and six of the last 12. This will hardly mark the first time that Meyer and Saban have met …

Rose Bowl Countdown: FSU, Oregon Coaches Compared

Randy Morse FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Is Oregon Ducks head football coach Mark Helfrich a boy among men? There he sat on Thursday, blinking out at the lights, cameras and a crowd of jaundiced national sports writers at the press conference featuring the four men who’ve led their teams to the brink of the first ever college football playoff championship, looking for all the world like a …

Ducks Playoff Bound, Historic Season Continues

Omar Garibay FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After 15 hard-fought weeks, the day that many college football fans had been waiting for has finally arrived. The college football selection committee announced the final four teams that will participate in the inaugural college football playoffs. Oregon was presented as the No. 2 team in the country, and the Ducks are set to take on the No. 3 Florida …

The Top Three Teams That Threaten the Ducks’ Championship Chances

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Let it be said that a team is not going to beat the Ducks by being defensively-oriented. Stanford, the second best defense in the country at the time, lost to Oregon by 29. The Ducks beat the best and the second-best pass rushing teams by a combined 49 points. An opponent simply can’t just have a good defense and expect to beat the Ducks, it’s not …

Could Injuries Affect Oregon’s Hopes of Reaching the National Championship?

Austin Willhoft FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

During last Saturday’s game against Utah, the Ducks suffered some significant injuries to some key players. Cornerback Ifo-Ekpre Olomu left early in the game with a bad toe injury, while center Hroniss Grasu went down with a devastating knee injury late in the game. However, the most serious injury that occurred was that to tight end Pharaoh Brown, who was eventually …

College Football Nation Rundown: Upsets and Near Misses

Tyler Robinson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Another one bites the dust … Well, sort of. The Mississippi State Bulldogs aren’t going to be the No. 1 team in the country come Monday morning. Dak Prescott and Co. went into Tuscaloosa, and for the first time this season they didn’t come out victorious, as No. 5 Alabama defeated (former) No. 1 MSU, 25-20, Saturday. Alabama boasts what is …

“SuperMariota” favorite for the Heisman Trophy

Austin Willhoft FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After a fantastic week 11 in the 2014 College Football season, the Heisman Trophy competition has never been more intense. Teams such as Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida State, and Oregon try to remain or rise up in the College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings and the country’s most outstanding players are attempting to push up their stock in order to …

College Playoff Update: Wait and See

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There was no movement at the top of the polls, but that doesn’t mean there was a shortage of drama. The playoff picture underwent some serious changes as teams saw their playoff dreams dashed while others now find themselves in control of their own destinies. Mississippi State Bulldogs The top ranked team in the nation didn’t have too much of …

An Irreverent Guide to the College Football Playoffs

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Here’s what you need to know about the top eight contenders for the four spots in the College Football Playoff: Mississippi State University Mascot: Now called the Bulldogs. MSU players were formerly known as the Maroons. Fun Fact: MSU denies that the famous Bugs Bunny phrase, “What a Maroon,” referred to Coach Jackie Sherrill who had his team witness the …

The Heisman is Marcus Mariota’s to Lose

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that not everyone gets to see Marcus Mariota play for their college team when they go to home games. I know that may seem obvious but honestly, all Duck fans are spoiled. Mariota is a rare talent whom the Ducks have ridden to what will hopefully be a birth in the first ever College Football Playoff. …

Can Oregon’s Dynamic Offense Continue to Flourish?

Omar Garibay FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Offense is fun, offense is exciting. We want to see the big plays. We want to see Royce Freeman bulldoze his way to the end zone. We want to see Marcus Mariota drop back and complete a 50 yard pass, and we want to see the Ducks light up the score board. There is one problem, however. Can you rely solely on offense if …