Bob Chesney and James Madison football face a gargantuan challenge against fifth-seeded Oregon in the CFP first round on Saturday. Ducks Wire looked at the most highly-rated players on the Oregon roster, the players James Madison must contain:
“Some of the best players in the country are represented in the 2025 College Football Playoff, with 12 talented teams facing off in win-or-go-home situations. On Wednesday, ESPN released a ranking of the top 50 players in the CFP, with stars lining dotting the list. Six Oregon Ducks players were included, with three coming on the defensive side of the ball and three on the offensive side.
“Defensive tackle A’Mauri Washington kicked it off at No. 39 thanks to a breakout junior campaign in which he racked up 29 tackles, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries and six passes defensed. The 6-foot-3, 330-pounder earned third-team All-Big Ten honors for his impressive season. Washington’s presence on the interior gave more favorable opportunities to outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti, who came in at No. 35 on the list.
“‘The former blue-chipper was a contributor from almost day one at Oregon and has blossomed into almost the perfect outside linebacker,” ESPN’s Bill Connelly wrote. “He set career highs in TFLs (13), run stops (14), sacks (seven) and forced fumbles (two), and when he missed a tackle against Washington in the fourth quarter of Oregon’s 12th game, it was his first official miss all season.'”
You can read the Ducks Wire article to learn about the four other Oregon players ranked higher on the list. The point is clear enough: Oregon has quality and depth. James Madison’s game plan can’t focus on just one or two guys.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Bob Chesney, James Madison have to neutralize several Oregon stars
Reporting by Matt Zemek, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
