EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon Ducks football team jumped into two polls in the top 10 after their season opening crushing of New Mexico.
The Ducks parked in the No. 8 spot in the AP and USA Today college rankings on Tuesday, according to ESPN. Oregon was picked to win the Pac-10 in the preseason media poll, edging longtime favorite Southern California by three points.
Led by starting quarteback Darron Thomas, the Ducks pounded the Lobos 72-0 in Saturday's game at Autzen Stadium.
The sophomore was solid in his debut as the starter, replacing disgraced Duck Jeremiah Masoli, in Oregon's 72-0 victory over New Mexico in the opener.
Thomas completed 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He even had a tackle.
A year after the Ducks ended the Trojans' run of seven straight conference titles, the media chose coach Chip Kelly's team over USC to win it all again in the second-closest voting since the poll began in 1961.
Oregon beat USC 314-311, with 15 first-place votes to 12 for the Trojans from 35 participating members.
Oregon State was picked third with 262 points, with Stanford fourth and Arizona fifth.
