Oregon Football: Ducks Prove They're Over Season-Opening Loss to LSU

After Oregon running back LaMichael James was held out against No. 18 Arizona State on Saturday, the Ducks took another hit when quarterback Darron Thomas suffered a knee injury in the third quarter.

But despite Oregon falling behind after Thomas' injury, 24-21, they rebounded behind backup quarterback Bryan Bennett, proving they are here to stay.

The Ducks, without their star running back and after losing their star quarterback for almost an entire half, managed to bounce back against a good Arizona State team on Saturday, winning, 41-27.

Bennett was only 2-of-5 for 22 yards passing, but he rushed five times for 65 yards in leading the Ducks back from a deficit without two of their stars.

This is a Oregon team that was called out before it was even down. In the first game of the season, the Ducks lost to now-No. 1 LSU, 40-27, and their dreams of a repeat trip to the BCS Championship Game effectively went up in flames.

But Oregon isn't lying down despite such a brutal loss. On Saturday, the No. 9 Ducks proved they still have something to play for, and that's a BCS bowl game.

Who knows, maybe they could make their way into the championship game. Stranger things have happened.

But the point is, the Ducks are far from down and out, and they proved on Saturday that they will do whatever it takes to win from this point on. As disheartening as the Ducks' loss was to LSU, the fact of the matter is this team still looks like one that would be fit for the title game.

Oregon entered Saturday's game scoring 50.2 points per game, second-most in college football. Arizona State was giving up just 19.5 points per game and Oregon still dropped 41 far from full strength.

The Ducks have left their season-opening loss to LSU behind them, and they are making sure everyone knows it.