Ranking the remaining offenses in the College Football Playoff – Ducks Wire

With less than 100 hours to roll before the most important Oregon Ducks game in 10 years, we are officially into the nervousness and anxiety time for fans. The Ohio State team the Ducks are set to face is fantastic, and this game will be as much of a toss up as the Ducks win over the Buckeyes in October was.
This year’s College Football Playoff is a difficult situation to adjust to, because it’s the opposite of what college football has always been. But still, winners are decided by a 60 minute football game, and the best team — usually — wins.
Oregon has a fantastic defense this season, but historically the Ducks have been all about one thing: offense. During Dan Lanning’s tenure, Oregon has shifted away from being a team just with a high-flying offense, and they’ve become an elite team overall, but today we’re just focused on the offense.
All eight teams left in the College Football Playoff boast spectacular offenses, but some still rise above the rest. Below, we’ve ranked the eight remaining offenses from worst to best, giving you an idea of which offensive units are the most dangerous going forward.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) looks to throw a pass during overtime of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Scoring Offense: 31.9 ppg (30th nationally)
Total Offense: 406.9 ypg (46th nationally)
Analysis: The Georgia Bulldogs are one of the best teams left in the playoff, but their offense hasn’t been great this season. Of the remaining playoff teams, Georgia averages the fewest yards and points per game, and going forward, the Bulldogs will be without their starting quarterback Carson Beck. Instead, they’ll be led by Gunnar Stockton.

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Scoring Offense: 33.1 ppg (25th nationally)
Total Offense: 423.2 ypg (30th nationally)
Analysis: Arizona State has been on a hot streak to close the regular season, but of the remaining offenses, they aren’t among the best. If running back Cam Skattebo can dominate the way he has in big games this season, the Sun Devils will be alright, but if Skattebo isn’t on, things could go south.

Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes up the field Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Scoring Offense: 33.9 ppg (17th nationally)
Total Offense: 439.8 ypg (17th nationally)
Analysis: Penn State is another team that relies heavily on the run. Drew Allar is a capable quarterback, but he doesn’t make the Nittany Lions passing game one of the best in the playoff field. Still, Penn State is not an offense to take lightly.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates after winning the first round of the College Football Playoff 27-17 against Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.
Scoring Offense: 38.3 ppg (2nd nationally)
Total Offense: 419.2 ypg (35th nationally)
Analysis: Despite scoring the most points per game of remaining teams, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish come in near the bottom of this list. Their schedule wasn’t particularly strong, and they lived and died by the run. This is not a bad offense, but it isn’t one of the best remaining.

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Scoring Offense: 37.7 ppg (4th nationally)
Total Offense: 458.6 ypg (6th nationally)
Analysis: Despite leading the remaining playoff teams in several statistical categories, the Boise State Broncos aren’t at the top of this list. Led by Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos have been great on offense all season, but playing a Mountain West schedule, they haven’t faced the top teams. Their offense will still be competitive, but it won’t be the cream of the crop among the College Football Playoff’s final eight.

Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Scoring Offense: 33.9 ppg (17th nationally)
Total Offense: 448.8 ypg (11th nationally)
Analysis: The Texas Longhorns have had some QB struggles in recent games, but they are still one of the top offenses in the playoff. On the line of scrimmage, the Longhorns can beat just about anybody, which opens doors across the offensive play sheet. So, even though there are questions about Quinn Ewers, the Texas offense is still to be feared.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers in the second half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
Scoring Offense: 36.0 ppg (8th nationally)
Total Offense: 427.4 ypg (24th nationally)
Analysis: The Ohio State Buckeyes had played a far-from-perfect season, but they are still on of the top teams and offenses in the college football playoff. Will Howard isn’t a top quarterback, but he gets the job done, and at running back, wide receiver, and O-line, the Buckeyes have an almost perfect roster. Ohio State’s offense is a unit you truly can’t stop, and can only hope to contain.

Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Scoring Offense: 36.9 ppg (7th nationally)
Total Offense: 446.8 ypg (12th nationally)
Analysis: Although they haven’t scored the most points or generated the most total offense, the Oregon Ducks own and operate the best offense left in the College Football Playoff. In the air and on the ground, there isn’t much you can do to stop the Ducks. Dillon Gabriel has struggled to protect the ball in the red zone this season, but besides that, this unit doesn’t have many flaws.
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