College Football Preview: Oregon getting ducks in row for 2014 season

Last season the Oregon Ducks (11-2, 7-2 Pac-12) hinted a championship run would be in store for this season with Oregon coach Mark Helfrich optimistic his second season leading the team will be memorable.

Helfrich said, “I think anytime you go through something more than once you better be more efficient and better from your end of things. There are always adjustments and that’s kind of the fun thing about this. Your roster changes so much from year to year in college football. The leadership, the vibe, and that’s where you fall back on your culture and how we’ve done things for a long time.”

The good news for the Ducks is the team returns 14 starters, the biggest of which is quarterback Marcus Mariota, who naturally will be in the race for the Heisman. The question is who will be catching his passes with a new crop of wide receivers taking over in the offense that last year averaged 45.5 points per game.

The good news for Mariota is Pac-12 top running back Byron Marshall returns, with speedster Thomas Tyner joining the backfield. The defense has five returning starters, including stud cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.

It really all comes down to senior Mariota, who is on the clock and has the Ducks aiming straight for the first ever College Football Playoff.

ODDS to win the National Championship: 9/1