Oregon, ranked number 10 in the BCS, finished the regular season with a record of 10–2 (7–2 Pac-12), co-champions of the Pac-12 North Division.
Oregon was selected to represent the Pac-12 after a 10–2 regular season, finishing second overall in the conference.
In their first season with new head coach Mark Helfrich after Chip Kelly's departure to the NFL, they started the season ranked third in both major polls, and won their first eight games over Nicholls State, Virginia, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Washington, Washington State and UCLA.
Going into November sitting at 8–0 and contending for the a slot in the BCS National Championship Game they finished the season 2–2 with road losses to Stanford and Arizona and home wins against Utah and arch-rival Oregon State finishing the season ranked tenth in the AP and BCS polls.
Starting the season ranked 15th in both major polls, Texas would start the season disappointingly by going 1–2 against non-conference opponents with a win over New Mexico State and losses to BYU and Ole Miss.