Lamichael James

The first time Todd Denlinger saw the Oregon offense on film, it left him a bit queasy. "You watch and you wonder what you can do against them," the Ohio State defensive lineman said. "They blew by everybody." Until Friday. That's when the Pacific 10 Conference's unstoppable force ran into Ohio State's immovable object. It wasn't much of a collision, with the Buckeyes' defense thoroughly dominating seventh-ranked Oregon in a 26-17 Rose Bowl victory. Consider: Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who came in averaging 248 yards in total offense per game, got 90 on Friday.

The Chip Kelly era at Oregon has featured conference championships, multiple 10-win seasons, cutting-edge pyrotechnic offenses - even space-age uniforms that have made the Ducks the talk of college football. The only thing missing was a victory in a Bowl Championship Series game. And though Kelly and his players downplayed that fact throughout the week leading up to the 98th Rose Bowl, the jubilant scene on the field after a 45-38 victory over Wisconsin on Monday said otherwise.

Oregon is without its starting quarterback and tailback — and it doesn't seem to matter much. Against Colorado, freshman quarterback Bryan Bennett threw for a pair of touchdowns while stepping in for Darron Thomas , who sat out because of an injured knee. Junior Kenjon Barner rushed for a pair of touchdowns in place of LaMichael James , who missed his second game because of an elbow injury. That left Colorado Coach Jon Embree with his mouth agape following his team's 45-2 loss to the Ducks.

Been there, done that. Oregon and Wisconsin were anything but awed as they prepared for the 98th Rose Bowl. Oregon played in the game two years ago, Wisconsin last year. So the events leading up to Monday's game have been entirely familiar. Players, coaches and the teams' fans hope the outcome is not. Oregon lost to Ohio State in 2010 and has yet to win a Bowl Championship Series game under Coach Chip Kelly. Wisconsin lost to Texas Christian, so Coach Bret Bielema's biggest postseason victory to date is a win over Miami in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl.

Duck. Duck. Whoosh. Those bright flashes dancing through Arroyo Seco this afternoon will not be the traditional winter sun, but Oregon kids on the run. That chill whipping through the Pasadena trees will not be the familiar winter breeze, but Ohio kids on their knees. Cover up, bundle up, heads up, the Rose Bowl is about to become Ohhhs Bowl, thousands of mouths open in wonder, shaped like the letter that symbolizes the team about to capture breaths and steal hearts and make the battered Pacific 10 Conference whole again.

LaMichael James, the nation's leading rusher, already has run his way into Oregon's record book. Star freshman De'Anthony Thomas appears well on his way to doing the same. Then there's Kenjon Barner, Oregon's selfless multiple-purpose man in the middle. The junior running back from Riverside has combined with his more heralded teammates to give the No. 8 Ducks one of college football's fastest and most dynamic offensive trios. "He's every bit as explosive," UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

The Heisman Trophy that seemed to be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck's to lose may be lost Saturday night to a Baylor quarterback. Momentum in recent days has shifted swiftly and favorably toward Robert Griffin III. Heismanpundit.com, an Internet site run by former USC assistant sports information director Chris Huston that tracks college football's most coveted award, has predicted a victory for Griffin. In a final survey of 13 Heisman voters, Griffin received eight first-place votes to four for Luck.

Reporting from Glendale, Ariz. Dramatic comebacks were Auburn's calling card this season. The Tigers overcame double-digit deficits four times as they won the Southeastern Conference title. But Auburn saved its best for last. Facing possible overtime against second-ranked Oregon, the top-ranked Tigers drove down the field and Wes Byrum kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired for a 22-19 victory in the Bowl Championship Series national championship game Monday night at University of Phoenix Stadium.

. -- Kyle Whittingham wishes that Utah's ride would have gone on forever. The Ducks were more than happy to bring it to a screeching halt. LaMichael James rushed for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown, and Oregon overcame four turnovers and an abysmal performance by quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to beat the No. 18 Utes, 31-24, and snap the nation's longest winning streak. Utah (2-1) had won 16 straight games, including its stunning 31-17 upset of heavily favored Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last January.

LaMichael James ran for 134 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown, in his first game back after a one-game suspension and No. 7 Oregon scored 45 consecutive points to beat Tennessee, 48-13, on Saturday night. James had only 27 yards at halftime after being targeted by the Volunteers' defense for the entire first half. He started picking up momentum after the break, rushing for 25 yards in five carries in the Oregon's first second-half drive. He broke several tackles on the 72-yard touchdown run on the first play of the subsequent drive for the Ducks (2-0)

A photograph of LaMichael James went viral this week, the shot of the Oregon star cowering on a Disneyland thrill ride literally zooming across social media platforms. Reaction to the photo -- and his terror-filled expression -- surprised and amused James. "I guess I'm on a lot of people's minds," he said. It didn't seem that way during the latter half of the college football season. The 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist mostly fell out of discussion for this season's award despite leading the nation in rushing yards per game.

The Heisman Trophy that seemed to be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck's to lose may be lost Saturday night to a Baylor quarterback. Momentum in recent days has shifted swiftly and favorably toward Robert Griffin III. Heismanpundit.com, an Internet site run by former USC assistant sports information director Chris Huston that tracks college football's most coveted award, has predicted a victory for Griffin. In a final survey of 13 Heisman voters, Griffin received eight first-place votes to four for Luck.

As parting gifts go, perhaps the only thing UCLA players could have done better was pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Or make it a bit closer at the end. That did not happen Friday night at Autzen Stadium, but the Bruins sent fired Coach Rick Neuheisel off with an effort worth remembering in the inaugural Pac-12 Conference title game. The Bruins, 31-point underdogs, hung with No. 9 Oregon through part of the third quarter before losing, 49-31.

UCLA, coming off a 50-0 loss to USC, attempts to regroup under fired Coach Rick Neuheisel, pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football history and earn a berth in the Rose Bowl. Oregon is playing for its second trip to the Rose Bowl in three years. Staff writer Gary Klein examines the game's issues and matchups: Blueprint for success No one in Westwood probably wants to acknowledge it, but USC provided a blueprint for success against the Ducks. The formula: Take a quarterback on a late-season surge into the Heisman Trophy discussion, throw in a couple of future NFL receivers, build a 24-point lead and then hold on for dear life.

LaMichael James, the nation's leading rusher, already has run his way into Oregon's record book. Star freshman De'Anthony Thomas appears well on his way to doing the same. Then there's Kenjon Barner, Oregon's selfless multiple-purpose man in the middle. The junior running back from Riverside has combined with his more heralded teammates to give the No. 8 Ducks one of college football's fastest and most dynamic offensive trios. "He's every bit as explosive," UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

UCLA players closed Coach Rick Neuheisel's last practice by carrying him off the field, singing the UCLA fight song Wednesday. Neuheisel, fired Monday, led the team in the UCLA chant. He will coach the Bruins for the last time against Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference championship game Friday. Asked whether he could have received a better tribute, Neuheisel said, "It's tough to imagine. It's meaningful when you work to create relationships. You want the best for them. You want them to achieve what they are capable of achieving.

On to Oregon. With his team preparing to face what he described as "the hottest team in the country right now," USC Coach Lane Kiffin on Sunday did not field many questions from reporters about the Trojans' 40-17 victory over Washington. Instead, the topic was an Oregon team that routed Stanford, 53-30, and moved up to No. 4 in the Associated Press media poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings. USC remained No. 18 in the AP poll. The Trojans travel to Autzen Stadium to play the Ducks on Saturday.

UCLA players closed Coach Rick Neuheisel's last practice by carrying him off the field, singing the UCLA fight song Wednesday. Neuheisel, fired Monday, led the team in the UCLA chant. He will coach the Bruins for the last time against Oregon in the Pac-12 Conference championship game Friday. Asked whether he could have received a better tribute, Neuheisel said, "It's tough to imagine. It's meaningful when you work to create relationships. You want the best for them. You want them to achieve what they are capable of achieving.

USC seeks to end a five-game slide in the state of Oregon. The Ducks are trying to return to the Bowl Championship Series title game. Staff writer Gary Klein examines the game's issues and matchups: -- Leading men With Stanford's Andrew Luck having failed to solve the Oregon Ducks, USC quarterback Matt Barkley has an opportunity to show that he is worthy of Heisman Trophy discussion. Barkley has passed for 29 touchdowns and had six passes intercepted, but he won't have all of his weapons at full strength against the Ducks.