Oregon Climbs Higher in the AP Poll After Buckeye Beatdown

After the first quarter of the game on Saturday night, it was all Ducks as they dismantled the Ohio State Buckeyes. They ripped off 38 unanswered points inside Ohio Stadium against the previously No. 11-ranked Buckeyes.

The final score was 41-28, and the Ducks flew back west with one of the biggest wins in their entire program's history. They needed it for several reasons; chief amongst them was the fact that their season-long disaster still had life in it. 

Last week, they squeaked back into the back end of the AP Poll, and more importantly, they were ranked at No. 23 in the first College Football Playoff ranking. 

They were given life by the pollsters, and the message was sent that if they go to Ohio State and win, they have a chance at the postseason.

Well, the Ducks heard the message loud and clear and capitalized on it. They came out in a really tough environment and thrived in a major way.

Now, they have a finishing stretch that begins with games against Michigan, Michigan State and their rival the Washington Huskies to end the year. 

They will not get any benefit of the doubt by defeating any of these opponents because, frankly, they are all pretty bad. Michigan might be in a worse position than they were last year; Michigan State is one of the worst programs in the Big Ten, and Washington is average or slightly better. 

None of that matters; it was very clear what the message is to this Oregon team and how they are approaching the end of this season. They are playing with the belief that they have nothing to lose, and they are carrying that mentality into each week.

It's a mentality like that that makes them a really dangerous team to play; Ohio State learned that lesson on Saturday night. When you have that mentality as a program, you throw caution to the wind and take a bunch of risks.

Hence, how they could afford to run the fake punt and how they could afford to go for it right before halftime. It is plays like that in situations like those that change games but are often not utilized. 

The Ducks kept their season alive, and because of it, they have climbed up the rankings i the AP Poll. College Football Playoff rankings come out on Tuesday night.