The Oregon Ducks are nearly perfect through the season's first 12 weeks, with their lone loss coming against the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) currently sit at No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings, while the Ducks (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) are No. 7 with two games remaining.
The Ducks host their former Pac-12-turned-Big-Ten rival, the USC Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten), this Saturday, with playoff implications galore at stake. Although the Trojans have more to play for with one more conference loss, the Ducks are fighting for an outside track to reach the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis (scenario here).
But, according to former Michigan Wolverines tight end and current Big Ten football analyst Jake Butt, the Ducks should be concerned about "respect" from the CFP committee by securing a huge home win against a team that, in all likelihood, won't make the field with three losses.
"As they should," Butt said of the committee. "[Oregon has] a chance this weekend at home against the Trojans to earn more respect and then on the road [in Week 14] against rival Washington to earn more respect."
Butt said the Ducks should shoot to try to control their own destiny to host a home playoff game in the opening round of the CFP rather than chase a first-round bye.
"They would need some hope," Butt said regarding a bye week. "It's a non-zero chance that they could maybe get a bye as well. But, I think for the Ducks, even getting into that fifth [playoff] spot would mean a home playoff game at Autzen [Stadium] hosting the Group of Five team, which would be a favorable matchup."
For now, though, the Ducks need to control their end of the bargain by continuing to win consistently down the stretch.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.