Oregon's in potential trouble. So is the Big Ten's quest to stockpile CFP bids. That's the message sent in these first rankings.

Oregon beat Penn State. Big deal. Metrics are lacking for No. 9 Ducks.

Could Big 12 get as many bids as Big Ten? Not off the table.

The Ducks might be a quack, wearing fancy jerseys with a swoosh.

That’s the message the College Football Playoff committee sent by stiffing Oregon with the No. 9 spot in its initial rankings .

Or, at least, the committee paid attention to strength of record and strength of schedule metrics that say Oregon possesses flimsier credentials than any of the SEC ’s one-loss teams.

The committee nailed it.

What’s Oregon done? Beat Penn State. Get in line. So did Northwestern and UCLA.

Thanks for nothing, Big Game James. The

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