It took five games and a bye for the Oregon Ducks football team to climb back into the top 10.
Thanks to USC’s 43-42 loss at Utah and Penn State getting smashed at Michigan, Oregon is now No. 9 in the nation, according to the most recent USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Coincidentally, the Ducks’ next opponent, a 6-0 UCLA team, also had a bye and is the beneficiary of the miseries of the Trojans and Nittany Lions. The Bruins are now ranked No. 10.
It’s perfect timing for both the Ducks and the Bruins: ESPN “College GameDay” will be at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 22. The matchup turns out to be a game of the Pac-12 two best teams and might be Game 1 between these two powerhouses.
Win or lose, both teams control their own paths to the Pac-12 title game in Vegas. Utah is coming to Eugene later in the season, and UCLA has to play the Trojans.
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