The win keeps the Ducks undefeated, 7-0 in the Pac-12 North Division, and sends them to 9-1 overall, interestingly enough the same record the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide are sporting heading into Week 12.
Both Oregon and Alabama lost to No. 1 LSU this season, but the Tide's loss to the Tigers came just last weekend at home in Tuscaloosa.
The 9-6 nail-biter raised questions about a potential BCS title game rematch, but the same question can be asked of an Oregon rematch.
If No. 2 Oklahoma State loses before season's end, the two teams in waiting would be two of LSU's previous victims, either No. 3 Alabama or No. 3 Oregon, so which one deserves a shot at redemption for all the marbles.
The Oregon Ducks deserve the shot and that's why they must be ranked ahead of the one-loss Alabama Crimson Tide when the new BCS standings are revealed.
Making The Case
Oregon opened 2011 with a 40-27 loss to LSU on a neutral field in Texas. The Ducks were every bit in the game in the first half but looked mightily overmatched in the final two quarters.
If Alabama deserves a shot at a rematch based on playing a closer game against the Tigers, than Oregon deserves it for not having lost at home to LSU.
Too Much SEC
The SEC is by far the toughest conference in college football, but that by no means warrants two of its teams to meet for the "national" championship. That's why there is a SEC Championship Game every December, to settle the best team in the Southeast.
Oregon proved it belongs on the big game stage last season against Auburn, as did Alabama two years ago against Texas. The Ducks came within three points of topping Cam Newton and the SEC-best Tigers last January.
A rematch with LSU would pit the SEC's best against the Pac-12's best, a true national championship game.
What a Difference Four Months Make
Oregon has won nine-straight games since losing to LSU last September while Alabama has won just one game since losing to LSU.
Alabama had national championship effort and preparation leading up to the Game of the Century last week. Oregon hadn't played a game all season before losing to the Tigers at Cowboys Stadium.
Both Oregon and LSU are completely different teams now then they were on Sept. 3, just look at what the Ducks did to undefeated Stanford on the road. The Cardinal is not as well-rounded a ballclub as the Tide but Oregon dismantled the No. 4-ranked team in the nation in a hostile environment.
Two Champions
How can Alabama play for a national championship when they haven't even won their conference championship. As Pac-12 champions the Ducks deserve a shot at the big game before the Tide.
If Oregon finishes 12-1 and conference champion, then they automatically leap 11-1 Alabama in my mind.
SEC champ LSU against Pac-12 champ Oregon presents the perfect clash of high-powered offense and dominant defense and special teams.
Case rested.
