Good Luck Ducks: Rose Bowl 2020

More like Piss-consin. 

The new year is the time to reflect on what happened in the past 365 days, but for college football any bowl game is a time to reflect on what happened during the season and how the team got here. I feel that I've been a bit tempered in my enthusiasm with this Ducks team in this space, but this has to be acknowledged: it was a really good year for the Oregon Ducks football team. Short of making the somewhat farcical College Football Playoffs, the Rose Bowl has always been the goal of the Pac-(12) conference teams, and it still feels sweet despite the what-could've-beens.

This will be the final game for QB Justin Herbert, a Eugene native whose childhood photo wearing a Joey Harrington jersey will likely be shown once again at some point during today's broadcast. Herbert was thrown to the wolves immediately and suffered a 70-21 defeat to a bitter rival in his first start. He had nowhere to go but up from there, and he certainly climbed. He won't enter the pro game with the credentials that Marcus Mariota earned, but considering Mariota's current NFL standing, that might not even matter.

The Ducks face off against a very good Wisconsin team, who likewise are ranked in the top ten despite three losses this season. Oregon last faced the Badgers in 2012 in, you guessed it, the Rose Bowl. Some dudes in green uniforms and silver helmets beat some Russell Wilson guy to earn the right to put stems of roses in their mouths. Oregon gains a bit of health today by getting talented freshman receive Mycah Pittman back. After steamrolling Utah and putting some doubts to rest about their offensive scheme, Marcus Arroyo will be in the offensive coordinator position for the last time as he is set to become UNLV's head coach for 2020.

• The Last Game: Oregon thoroughly dominated the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 Championship despite being considered an underdog. Let's just say it was satisfying. Okay, it was super satisfying.
• Know Your Opponent: Badgers fans are still hung up on some sort of fumble from the 2012 game. Hmm.
• The Unis!: In a nod to the Rose Bowl from 8 years ago, the Ducks are going with nightmare green and silver helmets. Close enough, I guess?
• Mario Cristobal's "Crystal Ball" prediction: "I think anything regarding a bowl, an opportunity postseason-wise is always an opportunity to build tremendous momentum." Signs point to yes. 

• Luke Skyywalker's Crystal Balls say: Well, it's more than a bit of a stretch, but 2 Live Crew once sampled a classic Guns 'n Roses song and... well, I'm probably done with this gimmick forever. That's where it's at!

Game time is 2:00 PST on ESPN. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are on the call. Go Ducks!

But wait, there's more! Loyal friend of the blog Dennis of Too Many Manninghams has many reasons to root against Wisconsin, being a Michigan Man. Dennis has provided many of the cards featured here in the Good Luck Ducks posts over the years, including the awesome Jalen Jelks autographed card shown here today. This "bonus" Badgers card was defaced with the best of intentions, and I feel honored to show it off here.

Yessssss, indeed! Quack, quack, quack!