Survey Reveals Duck Fans Split Between Hate-Watching and Ignoring National Championship

Survey Reveals Duck Fans Split Between Hate-Watching and Ignoring National Championship

 

Notre Dame will face Ohio State in the college football national championship on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. EST from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN, following hours of pregame analysis and commentary. The Buckeyes enter as 8.5-point favorites after their 28-14 semifinal win over Texas, which drew an audience of 20.6 million viewers.

 

 

 

However, a poll of 100 studio audience members suggests that Oregon fans remain divided—44% plan to hate-watch the game, while 32% would rather reorganize their sock drawer. The remaining respondents were evenly split, with 12% planning to watch neutrally and another 12% supporting the Big Ten. While the poll isn’t scientifically rigorous, it reflects the lingering frustration from Oregon’s crushing 41-21 loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, which dashed their hopes for a first national title.

 

 

National championship game is Monday night on ESPN, 4:30 p.m. PST. Duck fans, do you:

— Dale Bliss (@Athlon_Bliss) January 19, 2025

 

 

Oregon has had its share of heartbreak on the big stage. The Ducks have reached the national championship game twice, falling to Auburn 22-19 in the 2010 season and suffering a 42-20 defeat to Ohio State in 2014 during Marcus Mariota’s Heisman-winning year. Despite their success—307 wins over the past 35 years, 10 conference titles since 1994, and three Rose Bowl victories since 2011—winning it all remains elusive, much to the delight of rival fans from USC and Washington.

 

 

 

Optimism remains high, though, with head coach Dan Lanning’s strong recruiting efforts. His last three classes have ranked 5th, 3rd, and 9th nationally, after pulling together a 13th-ranked class shortly after taking over in December 2021. Oregon believes that championship success starts with top-tier talent, something Ohio State has in abundance.

 

 

This year’s Buckeyes are loaded with talent, featuring standout transfers such as senior quarterback Will Howard, star running back Quinshon Judkins, and elite Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs. They join a core of key returners like defensive stars Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, who postponed their NFL dreams for another shot at a championship. Ohio State represents the last of the so-called “super teams,” as future rosters will likely be impacted by NIL deals, unrestricted transfers, and early departures for the NFL.

 

 

 

This changing landscape has already affected powerhouses like Georgia, where head coach Kirby Smart has only one remaining player from his highly-ranked 2021 recruiting class. Attrition through the transfer portal and draft contributed to the Bulldogs falling short this season.

On the other hand, underdog Notre Dame enters the championship with a disciplined, defense-first approach. Their key to victory lies in slowing down Ohio State’s explosive offense by controlling the pace and keeping the game physical. Running back Jeremiyah Love, who has racked up 1,122 rushing yards this season while battling a knee injury, was instrumental in their semifinal win over Penn State. His two-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter helped secure a dramatic 27-24 victory with a game-winning 41-yard field goal as time expired.

As the stage is set for the title showdown, all eyes will be on whether Ohio State’s firepower prevails or if Notre Dame’s resilience can deliver an upset.