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2014 Oregon Ducks football
CFP National Championship finalist
Pac-12 champion
Pac-12 North Division champion
Rose Bowl champion
Pac-12 Championship Game, W 51–13 vs. Arizona
Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
W 59–20 vs. Florida State
CFP National Championship, L 20–42 vs. Ohio State
ConferencePac-12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
2014 record13–2 (8–1 Pac-12)
Head coachMark Helfrich (2nd season)
Offensive coordinatorScott Frost (2nd season)
Offensive schemeNo-huddle spread option
Defensive coordinatorDon Pellum (1st season)
Base defenseHybrid 3–4
Home stadiumAutzen Stadium
(Capacity: 54,000)
Seasons
← 2013
2015 →

Template:2014 Pac-12 football standings The 2014 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Mark Helfrich and played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 48th straight year. They were a member of the Pac-12 Conference in the North Division.

The Oregon Ducks finished the season with 13–2 overall and 8–1 in Pac–12 play. The Ducks won the Pac-12 North Division for the second time since the division's creation in 2011, advancing to the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, where they defeated the Arizona Wildcats 51–13. The Ducks played in the inaugural College Football Playoff, netting a berth in the 2015 Rose Bowl semifinal game, where they defeated the Florida State Seminoles 59–20, advancing to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship game facing the Ohio State Buckeyes. This was Oregon's second-ever national championship game appearance (their first was the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, in which they lost to Auburn). They were defeated in the National Championship by Ohio State by a score of 42–20. The Ducks finished the season as consensus national runners-up behind the national champion Buckeyes and ahead of Peach Bowl victors TCU.

The Oregon offense was led by junior quarterback Marcus Mariota, who became the first player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy, distinguishing him as the best player in college football. Mariota led the nation in touchdowns responsible for, total yards, and passer efficiency rating.[1]

Previous season[]

Summary[]

The Ducks had high hopes coming off of a 12–1 (8–1) season a victory in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl; many considered them a contender for the BCS national championship game the following year.[2] However, these hopes were thrown into question shortly after their Fiesta Bowl victory, on January 16, 2013. Head coach Chip Kelly announced that he had agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles to become their new head coach after several disappointing seasons under Andy Reid; Kelly brought Oregon defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro along with him to Philadelphia.[3][4]

As they have done in every case of hiring a new head coach since 1995, the Ducks hired from within and promoted fourth-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Helfrich to the head coach position. Along with the head coach change, wide receivers coach Scott Frost was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and Duke wide receivers coach Matt Lubick and Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach Ron Aiken were hired to fill their respective positions on Oregon’s staff.[5][6][7]

Oregon started the season ranked[8] third behind Ohio State and Alabama, and rose to second after their first game, a 66–3 win over Nicholls State in Week 1. They continued their winning ways, posting double-digit wins over Virginia, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Washington, Washington State and UCLA, and eventually found themselves in a duel with Florida State over the number 2 spot in the BCS poll, with Alabama at number 1. The wheels came off though,[clarification needed] as they did the year previously, against Stanford, losing 26–20 on the road. The Ducks would rebound with a home win over Utah, but lose again at home to Arizona, the Ducks’ first loss to an unranked foe since 2009.

Sitting at 9–2 (7–2) and out of the BCS bowl picture for the first time in four years, Oregon had the Civil War left to play. Both Oregon and Oregon State were coming off of losses and had no major spoils to play for. Oregon came from behind in a back-and-forth fourth quarter and scored a touchdown (and failed to convert the two-point attempt) with 29 seconds left to win, 36–35.

Finishing the regular season at 10–2 (7–2) Oregon had extended winning streaks in two major rivalries, making it 10 years in a row against Washington, and six years in a row against Oregon State, as well as achieving a sixth consecutive 10-win season and an undefeated season at home for the first time in three years.

On December 8, 2013, the Ducks were invited to play in the Alamo Bowl against Texas in what would be Texas head coach Mack Brown and Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti's last games before retiring. Oregon won the Alamo bowl 30–7, tying a school record set from 1999 to 2001 for consecutive bowl wins at three, with rookie head coach Mark Helfrich becoming the first Oregon head coach to go to and win a bowl game in his rookie year (Rich Brooks won his first bowl game, after 12 years as head coach at Oregon, Mike Belloti and Chip Kelly each went to and lost a bowl game in their first years). Oregon finished the season at 11–2, only their fifth season with 11 or more wins in 118 years of football.[9][10][11][12]

Departing players[]

Following the 2013 season there was a whirlwind of speculation in Eugene about the futures of several star players eligible to leave early for the NFL. The first announcements came from starting quarterback Marcus Mariota (RSo.) and starting center Hroniss Grasu (Jr.), declaring that they would stay at Oregon in order to finish their degrees.[13] Later in the week, defensive leaders Tony Washington (RJr.) and Derrick Malone (Jr.) announced that they too would be staying in Eugene to finish their education.

The first Duck to declare that he would be leaving school early and pursuing a career in the NFL was starting cornerback Terrance Mitchell (Jr.), many considered it to be a poor decision, and that another year in college would boost his potential draft status. Nonetheless he was drafted in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys and did not end up making the final roster, he was signed by the Chicago Bears as a member of their practice squad prior to the 2014 NFL season.[14]

Following the surprise announcement from Terrance Mitchell, the most anticipated announcement finally came from star running back De'Anthony Thomas (Jr.), declaring that he will forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft. Few people were surprised by this decision after recording three solid years as a featured part of the ducks offense, setting records in the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. He would go on to be drafted in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs and would make the final 53-man roster, showing off his value to the team in his first NFL appearance, returning a punt 80-yards for a touchdown.[15]

The final announcement came from Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (Jr.) declaring that he would stay at Oregon in order to earn his degree and hone his skills as a cornerback.[16]

Other notable departures due to graduation included record breaking receiver Josh Huff who would be drafted by Oregon's former head coach Chip Kelly to be a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as three starting defensive tackles Taylor Hart, Ricky Havili-Heimuli and Wade Keliikipi.

[17]

Num Player Position Starter Class Drafted Round Pick Team Notes
 1 Josh Huff WR Y SR Y 3 86 Philadelphia Eagles
 6 De'Anthony Thomas RB Y JR Y 4 124 Kansas City Chiefs
12 Brian Jackson DB Y SR N      
14 Dustin Haines QB N SR N      
15 Colt Lyerla TE Y† JR N       UFAGreen Bay Packers
16 Daryle Hawkins WR N SR N       UFA - Chicago Bears
25 Boseko Lokombo LB Y SR N      
26 Ben Butterfield DB N SR N      
27 Terrance Mitchell DB Y JR Y 7 254 Dallas Cowboys
21 Avery Patterson DB Y SR N       UFA – Baltimore Ravens
37 Jordan Thompson RB N SR N      
39 Drew Howell LS Y SR N      
50 Ryan Hagen DT N SR N      
63 Mana Greig OL Y SR N      
65 Brian Teague OL N SR N      
66 Taylor Hart DT Y SR Y 5 141 Philadelphia Eagles
71 Everett Benyard OL Y SR N      
78 Karrington Armstrong OL N SR N      
84 Chad Delaney WR N SR N      
90 Ricky Havili-Heimuli DT Y SR N       UFA – Jacksonville Jaguars
92 Wade Keliikipi DT Y SR N       UFA – Philadelphia Eagles

† - Colt Lyerla left the team in September 2013 after missing game time due to suspension and illness. After leaving the team Lyerla was arrested for use and possession of cocaine. After the season Lyerla participated in the NFL Combine as well as Oregon's Pro Day.

[18][19]

Before the season[]

Returning starters[]

Offense

No. Player Class Position
8 Marcus Mariota Redshirt Junior Quarterback
9 Byron Marshall Junior Runningback
54 Hamani Stevens Redshirt Senior Right Guard
55 Hroniss Grasu Redshirt Senior Center
72 Andre Yruretagoyena Redshirt Junior Left Guard
75 Jake Fisher Senior Right Tackle
83 Johnny Mundt Sophomore Tight End
Reference:[20]

Defense

No. Player Class Position
9 Arik Armstead Junior Defensive Tackle
14 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu Senior Cornerback
22 Derrick Malone Redshirt Senior Outside Linebacker
48 Rodney Hardrick Redshirt Junior Inside Linebacker
91 Tony Washington Redshirt Senior Defensive End
Reference:[20]

Special teams

No. Player Class Position
49 Matt Wogan Sophomore Place Kicker
Reference:[20]

[21]

Recruiting[]

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