Oregon survived a scare against Boise State in Week 1, overcoming an upset to open the season with a win.
A week later at Oklahoma State, Oregon found itself in a similar position — only this time Dan Lanning's squad couldn't deliver the same ending: Oklahoma State defeated No. 6 Oregon 39-31 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Ducks fought all the way back and briefly took a 31-30 lead when Dante Moore connected with Evan Stewart for a 38-yard touchdown. But Oklahoma State answered right back, as quarterback Drew Mestemaker scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown to permanently put the Cowboys back in front.
Oregon
then made a bold decision with 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, going for it on fourth-and-8 from its own 33-yard line. The gamble did not pay off, as Moore's pass to Dierre Hill Jr. on the right side fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs. The failed conversion gave Oklahoma State prime field position and put the Ducks' comeback hopes in serious jeopardy when the Cowboys tacked on a 31-yard field goal from Sam Keltner.
Oklahoma State sealed the win with a fumble recovery on Oregon's final drive of the day, followed by a pivotal first down to kneel out the clock. So, where will Oregon fall in the next batch of college football rankings? Here's where they may land:
Oregon football rankings: Where will Ducks drop after Oklahoma State loss?
The Ducks slipped a few spots in the rankings after their closer-than-expected win over Boise State in Week 1. Following a loss this week, however, they can expect a much steeper drop.
The extent of that fall remains unclear, with plenty of football still to be played across the country. But it will almost certainly be more significant than the modest slide Oregon experienced after last week's victory. What should help the Ducks' favor in the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 is the fact that No. 10 Oklahoma fell to No. 24 Michigan on the road earlier in the day in Ann Arbor.
Alabama, Texas Tech and Arizona are the only other teams in the No. 10-to-No. 15 range of the Coaches Poll that are playing a Power Four opponent, meaning that depending on how those games end up, the Ducks could very well find themselves comfortable in that range.
Here's how the rest of the top 15 is faring in Week 2, and how those games might affect the Ducks' rankings:
- No. 1 Ohio State: vs. No. 3 Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 2 Georgia: In progress against Western Kentucky
- No. 3 Texas: vs. No. 1 Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 4 Notre Dame: In progress against Rice
- No. 5 Indiana: Beat Howard
- No. 6 Oregon: Lost to Oklahoma State
- No. 7 Miami: Beat Florida A&M
- No. 8 LSU: vs. LA Tech at 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 9 Texas A&M: Beat Arizona State
- No. 10 Oklahoma: Lost to No. 24 Michigan
- No. 11 Mississippi: vs. Charlotte at 7:45 p.m. ET
- No. 12 Alabama: In progress vs. Kentucky
- No. 13 Texas Tech: vs. Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 14 Southern California: vs. Louisiana at 11 p.m. ET
- No. 15 BYU: In progress vs. Arizona
Final projection for Oregon: No. 15
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon football rankings: Where will Ducks fall after Oklahoma State upset loss?
