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While the past several weeks have been extremely eventful in the news sense of things, the Oregon Ducks will finally get back to business on Wednesday night and take the field for the final time this season, facing off against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
It isn’t the glamorous bowl that many were hoping for at the start of the year, nor the glamorous matchup. At one point a few months ago, predicting a bowl game between the Sooners and Ducks would have signified a New Year’s Six game at the very least. Instead, we’re getting a matchup between two interim coaching staffs with a litany of players opting out or having transferred already.
In a sense, it’s a glorified exhibition game where a lot of young players will be given the chance to make a name for themselves on the big stage. As was the case during every week of the season, the managing editor of Ducks Wire, Zachary Neel, will convene with staff writers Don Smalley and Andy Patton to preview the game, set expectations, and ultimately make a final prediction.
Here’s what Ducks Wire thinks about the game against Oklahoma:
Most Impactful Opt-Out
Question: There have been a lot of departures and opt-outs for the Ducks ahead of this bowl game. Which one do you think will end up being the most impactful?
Zachary Neel: I think that Kayvon is certainly the most ready-made answer here, but I think that CB Mykael Wright’s decision to opt-out is going to play the biggest role in the Ducks’ game plan, simply because it leaves the defensive secondary incredibly thin. With DJ James also entering the transfer portal, Oregon will now have to rely on a number of players who have very little experience as starting DBs.
Don Smalley: Kayvon Thibodeaux is the obvious answer, but I’m going with Devon Williams. The receiving group was already depleted with him and now that he’s gone, it’s slim pickings. Kris Hutson and his 25 catches are Oregon’s remaining leading receiver.
Andy Patton: Don is right that Thibodeaux is the obvious answer, but there’s a reason for that. When healthy he was one of the most impactful individual players in the entire country, and not having him against Oklahoma will be a huge loss. The rest of this defense, particularly along the defensive line, will need to step up in a big way on Wednesday.