2012 Rose Bowl: 5 Reasons Why It'll Be the Most Important Game in Oregon History

January 2nd, 2012.

D-Day for the Oregon Ducks—the day they storm the Rose Bowl and establish a beachhead to a much larger BCS prominence.

Their third BCS Bowl in as many seasons, Oregon's matchup between the Wisconsin Badgers is going to be the most important game in Oregon history.

Forget every Civil War. Forget last year's BCS title game.

This is it.

So much is riding on this game, that the Ducks HAVE to win.

Sending LaMichael James out with a Bang

All indications are pointing to the fact that LaMichael James will most likely declare for the 2012 NFL Draft, meaning the Rose Bowl will be his last game in an Oregon uniform.

James, possibly the greatest player in Duck history, could be called a bust if the Rose Bowl does not go well.

Just take a look at the stats, in big games, James just hasn't been there.

Game	Carries	Yards	Touchdowns
2010 Rose Bowl	15	70	0
2011 BCS NCG	13	49	0
LSU 2011	18	54	1
USC 2011	20	78	1

I rest my case.

Recruiting Implications

If Oregon wins the Rose Bowl, it would be absolutely huge for recruiting.

Last year, they struck gold with their recruiting class featuring De'Anthony Thomas, but they went to the national championship game last year too.

And now, the conference is starting to catch up.

• USC is coming off a two-year bowl ban.
• UCLA hired Jim L. Mora, who immediately snagged a Duck recruit, Marcus Rios.
• Washington State hired Mike Leach and will start to light up the conference with the Air Raid.
• Steve Sarkisian is steadily improving arch-rival Washington.
• Rich Rodriguez is in Arizona and will soon start to electrify the Pac-12 South.
• Stanford is doing great in recruiting and will continue to do well post-Luck.

If the Ducks win the Rose Bowl, they prove they're truly an elite team and will continue to bring in top recruits to continue dominating the conference.

Getting over the Hump

In Chip Kelly's two bowl games, he has gone 0-2.

Granted those two games were the Rose Bowl against a very good Ohio State team and the BCS title game against a great Auburn squad, but the Ducks need to get over the hump when it comes to bowl games, especially BCS games.

The 2012 Rose Bowl will prove that Oregon can play well against good, physical teams and get Oregon to doing some great things.

Show Conference Dominance

For the past three years, the Ducks have ruled the Pac-12.

In those three seasons, they've only lost two games to conference opponents, first to Stanford in 2009 and then USC this year off a missed field goal.

But as said earlier in the slideshow, the Pac-12 is catching up.

Jim Mora is changing the dynamic at UCLA, and USC is back on the rise. Mike Leach will make the Pac-12 North even more competitive than it already was so Oregon needs to prepared for a fight year in and year out.

A Rose Bowl victory would send a message to the rest of the Pac-12 showing that Oregon is the top dog out west.

Momentum Heading into Next Season

The Ducks figure to be a Top 10 team next year even if LaMichael James leaves.

Florida State, Michigan, Virginia Tech and LSU all figure to be in the title hunt next year with the Ducks, but USC will be a Top Five team next year with Matt Barkley announcing he's coming back next year.

Oregon will need to send a message to the rest of the nation with a Rose Bowl victory that they intend to compete with the rest of the nation next year.

That momentum is needed for a good title run.