The initial rankings of the College Football Playoff Committee came out Tuesday night, and the first seeding and Top 12 carried a strong implied message for the Ducks: Prove it.
At No. 9, 7-1 Oregon is in danger of falling out of the playoff field. A loss could drop them to 11 or 12 or lower. The top five conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams make the tournament. Seeds 5-8 earn a home playoff game in the first round.
Committee Mack Rhodes, the Baylor athletic director, explained Oregon's ranking. "Oregon, when you look at them in the top 10, are lowest ranked in terms of record strength.