Ayele Forde to Miss Title Game Due To Suspension

The hits keep coming for the Oregon Ducks, as another member of their offense is suspended and will not be able to participate in the National Championship game.

Fox Sports reported Saturday morning that running back Ayele Forde will be riding pine during Monday’s title game after testing positive for marijuana in an NCAA administered drug test.

Forde is the second Duck to be sidelined from Monday’s game within the last 48 hours. Wide receiver Darren Carrington also tested positive, however the results from his test were made available earlier in the week, keeping the redshirt freshman from accompanying the rest of the team to Dallas for the big game.

The loss of Forde puts another kink in the Ducks’ offense, further limiting the artillery for Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota to work with. In addition to the two suspended players, they will be also missing receiver Devon Allen and tight end Pharaoh Brown, both of whom sustained season-ending injuries.

Despite the drama, Oregon’s coaching staff is keeping their game face on. “We’ve had stuff happen all year long where a guy’s missed and the guy has jumped in there and done a great job,” receivers coach Matt Lubick told Fox Sports. “Our guys are going to be fine.”

The Ducks are looking to win their first national championship in school history. They have won the Pac-12 championship twelve times but have failed to win the big one. In 2010, Oregon reached the title game but fell to Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers.

Oregon will face their toughest test yet in the Buckeyes and it will be interesting to see who will step up in place of Carrington and Forde.

*Section Photo credit to Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images;Featured Photo (above) credit to Doug Beghtel,The Oregonian.

Oregon Receives Less Practice Time Than Ohio State
Oregon Receives Less Practice Time Than Ohio State