Oregon (10-2) vs Texas (8-4) looked like a potential BCS matchup before the season started. Instead, the two teams meet in San Antonio for one final game before an offseason of significant change. After spending most of the season ranked in the top 2, the Ducks limp into the game after losing two of their final four games. Texas was mauled by Baylor in the de facto Big XII championship game after starting the season with a wet fart, which included giving up 550 yards rushing to the Fightin' Mormons of BYU in the second game of the season.
But, hey, at least there are storylines aplenty in the 2013 Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas' longtime coach Mack Brown is stepping down following wild rumors of the Longhorns throwing money at Alabama coach Nick Saban. On the other sideline, Nick Aliotti, Oregon's defensive coordinator-for-life, is retiring after an eternity on the Ducks' staff. This could very well be Oregon star—and frequent provider of bulletin board material—De'Anthony Thomas' final game with the Fightin' Ducks. Texas is also the school rumored to be responsible for blowing the whistle on Oregon's relationship with Will Lyles' recruiting service in the Lone Star State. At least one prominent Texan on the Oregon roster has strong feelings about the Longhorns as well.
âWin one for the Nickerâ vs. âWin one for the Mackerâ
Mariotaâs knee â
That run defense tho â
Underachieving Ducks, meet the masters of underachieving â
WWeek 2015