RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesPopular College Football Playoff contender Oregon could get upended by rebuilding program originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Oregon Ducks return a slew of talent amid heightened expectations to guide coach Dan Lanning toward a national title berth , with the added potential of leaving Las Vegas next January having won it all.
Sometimes, though, it's as much about the journey as it is about the destination. For the Ducks, one analyst sees them on cruise control for much of the season (even with their game looming in Columbus against Ohio State Nov. 7) in their quest for a perfect season.
Before it can become reality, though, one game sticks out to CBS Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford: a new-look Michigan State Spartans team led by returning Big Ten coach Pat Fitzgerald.
The Spartans aren't expected to make a big splash under Fitzgerald immediately. However, if there is a program due for a culture-changing win early in Fitzgerald's tenure, it's the Spartans, Crawford wrote.
The game takes place Friday, Nov. 20, as the Ducks have won five of the eight all-time matchups dating to 1979.
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"We're expecting the Spartans to struggle during Pat Fitzgerald's first season, but this is an ugly setup for the Ducks," Crawford wrote. "Playing for the seventh consecutive week before the regular-season finale, Oregon travels to East Lansing on a Friday after slugfests with Ohio State and Michigan. Michigan State will have nothing to lose. Once a season, Dan Lanning's team plays with its food against an inferior opponent. This could be it."
For the Spartans, finding four or five wins in Fitzgerald's first year may be tough, but as the Indiana Hoosiers may end up finding out in difficult fashion , late-season upsets might go a long way in a crowded Big Ten race.
By November, the landscape will be much different, which could make the late-season game massive or a complete nothing-burger. We'll find out before long.
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