12/8/09
Never, in the history of the University of Oregon, has the Ducks' football team entered the first AP poll of the season in the Top 5 (AP poll started in 1936). If they can hold on and win their second Rose Bowl, they will likely accomplish this first-time feat with the loftiest preseason expectations in school history. What pressure to land on the shoulders of second-year head coach Chip Kelly…welcome to the big time, Coach. And NationalChamps.net can honestly and confidently say, that with so many returning starters back in the fold, Top 5 status is going to happen if they beat Ohio State, and maybe even if they don't. This is certainly a Top 10 preseason team for 2010 (the Ducks last AP Top 10 preseason ranking was at No. 7 in 2001). This offense has found its groove spreading defenses out and then running with the football. The two stalwarts responsible for making the ground game go, QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James (2009 Pac Ten Freshman of the Year), are back. They will continue to slash through holes created by an offensive line that loses no one. Coach Kelly is stacked with the right props to work his magic. With nine starters set to come back, the defense should be that much stronger, especially after the secondary spent most of 2009 trying to fill holes left by injury. Keeping opponents under the 28-point barrier should be good enough with this offense. The Ducks will be heavily favored to repeat as Pac Ten Champions; with a little luck, they may be playing for more in 2010.