Through rainy conditions and stiff winds, the Oregon Ducks are your 2019 Pac-12 Champions.

Indeed, the wet weather accompanying Friday’s Pac-12 Championship title tilt couldn’t come close to dampening the mood of Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal and his team in the aftermath of the Ducks’ 37-15 win over the 5th-ranked Utah Utes.

After receiving not one, but two, Gatorade baths from his players, Cristobal stood triumphantly on the championship podium holding the Pac-12 Championship trophy aloft. With his team celebrating around him and confetti falling from the sky, a wide grin sat on the face of the second-year coach. It was a look of ultimate satisfaction. A look of unbridled excitement. A look that reflected the joy of Duck fans who wondered what the future might have in store once the chapter emphatically closed on a golden era of Oregon football with the end of the 2016 season.

Three years later, it’s safe to say the future looks awfully bright, as the Ducks clinched their first Pac-12 title, and consequently, their first Rose Bowl berth since 2014 with their convincing win over the Utes.

As the celebration rages on in Eugene, WFOD examines the biggest takeaways from the Ducks’ most significant win in half a decade.

1. Ducks dominate in the trenches

It was emphasized all week leading up to Friday night: The team who won the battle at the line of scrimmage would win this game. Against arguably their most formidable opponent of the season, the Oregon offensive line and defensive line didn’t just win the battle up front, they utterly dominated the matchup for all four quarters.

On offense, the Ducks’ veteran-laded offensive line – aside from a handful of costly false start penalties – delivered its most impressive performance to date, as the five-man band consisting of sophomore Penei Sewell and seniors Shane Lemieux, Jake Hanson, Dallas Warmack, and Calvin Throckmorton completely bullied a Utah defensive front that ranked first in the nation in stopping the run entering the day. The message was sent early in the game, as the Ducks eclipsed Utah’s per game average for rushing yards allowed (56.25) and total yards allowed (241.6) by halftime, rushing for 85 yards and gaining 263 yards as a team. Much of that had to with the big guys in the trenches, who ultimately paved the way for CJ Verdell’s 208 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries en route to Verdell winning Pac-12 Championship Game MVP. The group would help Verdell deliver the backbreaker midway through the fourth quarter, as Lemieux, Hanson, and Warmack cleared the way on a crucial 3rd and 1 to spring the redshirt sophomore for a 70-yard score that effectively put the game out of reach.

Defensively, Oregon performed for much of the game as the group that was hailed as one of the nation’s best. Similar to the Ducks’ offensive line, the Oregon defense sent an early message when they stuffed Utah running back Zack Moss on 4th and 1 from the Oregon 33 on the Utes’ first possession of the game. From that point forward, the Ducks dictated the terms of the contest to Utah. Though Moss would eclipse the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this season, 75 of Moss’ 113 yards came on two of his 19 carries, as the senior often found himself swarmed at the line of scrimmage by an attacking Oregon defense. The Ducks also succeeded in flustering Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley. The Pac-12’s most accurate and highest rated passer was under duress often Friday night, as Oregon tallied two interceptions and notched six sacks against a Utah offensive line that had surrendered just 15 sacks all year – the best mark in the Pac-12. If that weren’t enough, the Ducks also forced the Utes to go 0-for-4 on fourth down, while limiting Utah – the conference’s best team on third down this season – to just 4-of-14 on third downs.

2. Kayvon Thibodeaux is as good as advertised

As impressive as Kayvon Thibodeaux had been through 12 games this season, it felt like we still hadn’t seen the very best of what the no. 2-ranked overall recruit in the 2019 class had to offer. That’s no longer the case, as the true freshman sensation put together – hands down – the most complete game of his young career to date. The Utes simply had no answer for Thibodeaux, who was seen routinely whipping his man at the point of attack with speed and an array of devastating pass rushing moves. He would finish the game with five tackles, two and a half sacks, and a blocked punt, effectively putting the Pac-12, if not the nation, on notice for years to come. In a game where the Oregon defense had a handful of brilliant individual performances, Thibodeaux’s star shined brightest, as the Los Angeles native was the catalyst for much of the pressure the Ducks were able to generate to the chagrin of Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley. With Oregon now heading into bowl season, Thibodeaux has a chance at finishing his debut year with double-digit sack totals, as his nine sacks through 13 games leads all Oregon defenders by a substantial margin.

My goodness. Kayvon Thibodeaux is a freak of nature. pic.twitter.com/do99CjtxYi

— Rob Paul (@RobPaulNFL) December 7, 2019

3. A banner day for Brady Breeze

Even with the outstanding individual performance from Kayvon Thibodeaux, the uber-talented true freshman was forced to share the spotlight Friday night with a seasoned veteran who also turned in the best performance of his career. In fact, if not for Thibodeaux, redshirt junior safety Brady Breeze would have earned defensive player of the game honors in a landslide. Against Utah, the Lake Oswego native served as the one who sparked the defense’s dominant play, leading the Ducks with nine tackles, a pass breakup, and a fantastic leaping interception in first quarter that prevented the Utes from cutting into Oregon’s 10-0 lead. Though Breeze has shared playing time with fellow boundary safety Nick Pickett for much of the year, it has quietly been a breakout season for the four-year player, who now ranks fifth on the team in tackles (51) in addition to leading the Ducks in fumble recoveries (3). For Breeze, who grew up rooting for the Ducks as the nephew of former Oregon great Chad Cota, Friday’s performance has a bit of a storybook element, as it was 25 years ago that his uncle helped lead the Ducks to a conference title and berth in the Rose Bowl.

4. Senior leaders cap off illustrious careers in style

The celebration that took place on the field inside Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara was a well-deserved one, particularly for members of Oregon’s senior class. For a group that weathered a dismal 4-8 season as freshmen, two coaching changes, and carried the heavy burden of restoring glory to the Oregon football program, a 22-point win over a top five opponent to capture a Pac-12 Championship and punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl had to taste unimaginably sweet. Particularly so for Justin Herbert and Troy Dye, who have long served as the enduring faces of the program. In his final Pac-12 game, Dye was tremendous, recording eight tackles, one tackle for loss (including half a sack), and one interception. He, along with Thibodeaux, are two players Utah’s Tyler Huntley will be seeing in his nightmares the next few nights, as both were in the face of the Utes quarterback for much of the game. Herbert was perhaps less spectacular, but performed at a much higher level than what was seen the previous two weeks. Though he would finish the game 14-of-26 for 193 yards and one touchdown, drops by receivers took away from some of the gaudier numbers Herbert could have put up. In all, however, it was a strong performance from a player who needed to prove he could lead this team to a championship finish.

Until this year, the careers of Herbert and Dye had been largely filled with disappointment, as individual accomplishments were often overshadowed by painful losses and upheaval within the program. But the rocky road traveled has ultimately led the pair, plus 15 of their fellow seniors, to some of the loftiest heights in Oregon history, serving as testament to their dedication to their teammates and the program at large.

5. Shout out Blake Maimone!

My goodness, what a game it was for walk-on punter Blake Maimone. The redshirt senior from Thousand Oaks (Calif.) has been one of the more unheralded players for the Ducks this season, though has proven integral to helping Oregon win field position battles throughout the year. However, as terrific as Maimone has been for much of the season, he, like many of his teammates, was at his best Friday night vs. Utah. Averaging over 50 yards per punt (including a long of 62), Maimone played a critical role in helping flip the field for the defense, particularly in the second half when the Ducks’ offense began to stall. The highlight for Maimone in this game may have came following what appeared to be a momentum-shifting play when center Jake Hanson’s errant snap pinned Oregon on their own one-yard line. Yet, with Utah selling out to block the punt, Maimone booted a 57-yard kick that forced the Utes to start from their own 42. Four plays later, the Ducks forced a turnover on downs which then led to a field goal to give Oregon a 23-7 lead in the third quarter. Exchanges like this won’t garner headlines, but they’re key moments that help add up to wins, and Maimone factored into this victory in a significant way.

Items of note:

• With the win over Utah, the Ducks have won the Pac-12 Championship Game for the third time, matching Stanford for the most Pac-12 Championship Game wins (3). The win also marks Oregon’s 12th conference title in school history.
• Oregon has also clinched its eighth Rose Bowl Game appearance in program history, while also securing its seventh 11-win season in program history
• The win gives the Ducks a win over a top five team for the first time since topping Florida State in the 2015 Rose Bowl
• The Ducks are on a five-game winning streak in games in California
• Oregon’s 15.7 points allowed per game is the lowest in school history since 1966 and the fewest in a season with at least 12 games dating back to 1988. The Ducks have also held 12 of its 13 opponents under their season scoring average.
• The 19 interceptions on the year are the most Oregon has had since 2012 and are currently tied for the national lead
• Oregon tied a season-high and set a Pac-12 Championship Game record with six sacks.
• The Ducks held their opponent scoreless in the first half for the second time this year and without a touchdown for the eighth time
• Oregon broke off four plays of over 40 yards vs. Utah. The Utes allowed just four 40-yard plays all season coming into the game.
• The 85 rushing yards in the first half were more than Utah allowed in 10 of its 12 games coming in. Oregon’s 263 yards of offense in the first half was also more than Utah has given up in six games this year.
• Kayvon Thibodeaux’s 2.5 sacks are a Pac-12 Championship Game record. Thibodeaux has also set an Oregon freshman record with 9.0 sacks this season. He’s the first Duck with 9.0 sacks in a season since DeForest Buckner in 2015.
• Thibodeaux registered the first blocked punt in Pac-12 Championship Game history
• CJ Verdell’s 208 rushing yards are the most by an individual against Utah since 2014, and just the fourth 200-yard game against the Utes since 2000
• Verdell’s rushing total is the second-most in Pac-12 Championship Game history (LaMichael James – 219 in 2011). He’s also the fourth different Oregon player to run for 170 yards in three games in a season (LaMichael James – twice, Kenjon Barner, Royce Freeman).
• Justin Herbert’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Johnson in the second quarter moved him into sixth place in conference history with 95 career touchdown passes
• Herbert has thrown for the fourth-most yards in a single season in school history with 3,333. He’s also tied for third in Oregon history in single-season touchdown passes with 32.

Top Photo: Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal raises his hat in celebration. Oregon Ducks football takes on Utah for the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Dec. 6, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)