The 12 Team Playoff Should Be The Expectation For Oregon Next Season

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, right, gets doused with Gatorade by Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers, left, and Oregon offensive lineman Steven Jones, second from left, during the closing moments of the second half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Liberty Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. Oregon won 45-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME

Monday signals the final 4 team College Football Playoff. Meaning next season expectations for a lot of schools are going to change.

Expectations for Ducks fans was always to compete and have a shot to make the 4 team field. Now that the field is moving to 12. Should Ducks fans expectations change, and should the Ducks be expected to make the playoff?

Spencer McLaughlin from the Locked on Ducks and the Locked on Pac-12 podcast joined the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano and discussed what it’s going to take for the Ducks to make the new 12 team playoff.

McLaughlin says that a lot of it will rely on new transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel. McLaughlin thinks Gabriel can be similar to past Oregon transfer quarterbacks.

“I think he’s (Dillon Gabriel) going to be his own guy. I think somewhere between Anthony Brown and Bo Nix is where I expect him to be. Maybe in the Vernon Adams camp. I think that’s what he can be. ”

Even though Gabriel has been an elite player at UCF and Oklahoma at times. McLaughlin says he doesn’t expect Gabriel to be as good as Bo Nix. But Gabriel has the skills to do what needs to be done in the Oregon offense.

“A guy who can make big plays. Do a little bit with his legs and push the ball down the field. Execute the offense and utilize the weapons that are around him. I think Will Stein’s got a guy who can do what he needs him to do to put up points, but I don’t expect him to be a Heisman candidate like Bo Nix.”

Now that Oregon has their quarterback for next season. Should the expectation be to make the 12 team playoff? McLaughlin says expectations should be large for Ducks fans.

“I think all of those goals are right there in front of the Ducks starting in year one. I think that should be the expectation for Ducks fans. For them to be in the conversation, and in the 12 team playoff Oregon should be able to get in next year with the amount of talent they do have, the talent they brought in the transfer portal, and where the coaching staff is at. I think everything lines up for Oregon to be one of the top 12 teams.”

Listen to the entire interview with Spencer McLaughlin by clicking the podcast below. Catch the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano weekdays 3-6 p.m. in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game.