Oregon Football: Ducks' BCS Future Crippled with Loss to LSU

The matchup between the No. 3 Oregon Ducks and No. 4 LSU Tigers was the biggest game of college football's opening week because it basically determined who would drop out of the picture for the BCS Championship Game.

Given the Ducks went to the title game last season and the Tigers had an inexperienced quarterback taking over for the suspended Jordan Jefferson, it figured to be a tough affair for Les Miles' squad on Saturday.

Well, "tough" may have not been the most appropriate word on Saturday given the Tigers' 40-27 win. More like a "challenge" that turned out to be a "runaway victory."

What Happened?

Yes, the line probably most used in Eugene on Saturday: "What happened?"

With 5:16 remaining in the second quarter on Saturday, the Ducks were leading the Tigers, 13-9, following the inevitable LaMichael James touchdown run. But the Ducks didn't score the rest of the half, and LSU headed into halftime with a 16-13 lead after Jarrett Lee threw a 10-yard touchdown to star receiver Rueben Randle.

That momentum appeared to carry over, as the Tigers scored 17 unanswered points to start off the second half before Darron Thomas thew an 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Huff. But by then it was too late, the Ducks trailing, 33-20, with 9:14 remaining in the game.

The Ducks had four turnovers, compared to one for the Tigers, as they fumbled the ball three times. One of the fumbles was returned for a touchdown.

Who's the Goat?

It's hard to pick just one person to blame after such a thorough defeat on Saturday, but the biggest scapegoat may have been a player who didn't even take the field. Star cornerback/punt returner Cliff Harris was seen as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft headed into this season, the biggest difference-maker for the Ducks' defense.

Instead, he was suspended indefinitely by coach Chip Kelly after driving 118 mph with a suspended license in the offseason.That's not how you expect your leader on defense to behave. You can't believe the Ducks would have allowed as many points with Harris in the lineup.

Running back De'Anthony Thomas could also make a case here, who fumbled on consecutive touches, once as a running back and once as a returner.

How Far Will They Fall?

While it's difficult to see Oregon making it to the BCS Championship Game after such a big loss, it's equally as difficult to see them not making a BCS bowl game. The Ducks are just too talented not to make a BCS bowl game, and I don't expect them to play this poorly the rest of the season.

Quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James are always fun to watch. I expect them to bounce back and look to exact their revenge on ranked opponents Stanford and USC down the line.

Who Benefits the Most?

The LSU Tigers, who I picked to disappoint this season given I didn't believe in Jordan Jefferson under center, have completely flipped the script. They've changed the story, going from "The End" to an introduction as to how their season may play out.

The Tigers have started things off right. But it's not over yet. They still face No. 20 Mississippi State, No. 24 West Virginia, No. 22 Florida, No. 23 Auburn, No. 2 Alabama and No. 15 Arkansas.

That's like running the gauntlet. But they likely just took a major player out of the BCS Championship picture.

Conference or National Implications

The implications of Oregon's loss to LSU could be far-reaching. Not only does it likely drop them out of the BCS Championship Game, it also gives No. 7 Stanford the chance to capture the Pac-12.

Stanford may be without coach Jim Harbaugh and some of their top receivers from last season, but they still have Andrew Luck, who led the Cardinal to a 57-3 win against San Jose State on Saturday.

Stanford certainly has what it needs to beat Oregon. Their matchup on Nov. 12 could be the difference between who wins and comes in second in the Pac-12.

Next Game

The Ducks face the Nevada Wolfpack next. Yes, the same Nevada that finished 13-1 and ended Boise State's winning streak last season.

But Nevada isn't the same team this season. They lost some big players, including quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua (who set a record for most career rushing yards by a pair of teammates), defensive end Dontay Moch, tight end Virgil Green and offensive tackle John Bender.

All five were first-team All-WAC in 2010. I don't expect it to be easy, but I think the Ducks will rebound in a big way on Sept. 10.

Can Oregon Rebound in the Polls?

Ah yes, the all-important polls. The same polls that determine a team's destiny. The Ducks are undoubtedly going to drop after this loss, but it's what they do after this game that will determine their final ranking.

They still have chances to get back in voters' good graces with wins against Stanford and USC. One loss against the No. 4 team in the country won't cripple them. But they better start playing some football now.