EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon football team earned the No. 1 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings release of the season on Tuesday.
The Ducks are No. 1 in the CFP rankings for the first time in program history. Oregon’s highest CFP ranking previously was No. 2 in 2014 (five times), when the Ducks were one of four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff field.
Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) is entering its third week at No. 1 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls. The Ducks were the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP poll this week for the first time this season, ahead of their showdown with Maryland on Saturday in Autzen Stadium (4:00 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network).
UO is one of four Big Ten teams in the CFP top 10, along with No. 2 Ohio State, No. 6 Penn State and No. 8 Indiana. The Ducks own the nation’s best win with their 32-31 win over the No. 2 Buckeyes on Oct. 12, and they also have a win over No. 12 Boise State (Sept. 7).
Oregon is one of five remaining undefeated teams in the nation, and one of three at 9-0 along with No. 4 Miami and No. 8 Indiana. It is the third 9-0 start in program history, joining the 2012 and 2010 teams.
The Ducks are coming off a dominant 38-17 win at Michigan last week, their eighth straight game of 30-plus points. Oregon is one of just four teams in the nation in the top 15 for both total offense (11th, 467.4 YPG) and total defense (11th, 294.2 YPG).
UO is led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who leads the nation in completion percentage (74.8) while tying for fifth in total touchdowns (25). Gabriel enters Saturday’s game with 177 career total touchdowns, just two away from breaking Case Keenum’s all-time NCAA record of 178.
The Ducks will host Maryland on Saturday before traveling to Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Oregon will then have an off week before closing the regular season at home against Washington on Nov. 30.
College Football Playoff Top 25 – Nov. 5
1. Oregon (9-0)
2. Ohio State (7-1)
3. Georgia (7-1)
4. Miami (9-0)
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pittsburgh (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)
