Lane County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday. Spencer Webb He was 22 years old. According to the sheriff’s office, Webb fell and struck his head just a short distance from Triangle Lake, a location popular for cliff jumping and natural rock waterslides that is near Eugene, Oregon. “So full of life in every moment of the day,” Ducks coach Dan Lanning posted to Twitter on Wednesday night. “Your smile and energy will be missed Spencer. I love you!”
The sheriff’s office said bystanders and responding paramedics were unable to revive Webb, who was about 100 yards down a steep trail, and Lane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel assisted with bringing him back to the roadway.
Authorities said his death appeared to be accidental
Webb, from Sacramento, was set to begin his fifth season at Oregon. He played in all 14 games last season, catching 13 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. In 2019, he had 18 receptions for 208 yards and three TDs. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Spencer Webb,” said a statement issued Thursday by Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens and Lanning. “Our hearts go out to his family, teammates, and friends at such a difficult time. We will miss Spencer greatly.” Webb attended Christian Brothers High School and was the No. 1-ranked tight end in California.
Why the latest College Football Playoff ranking matters
The College Football Playoff selection committee might not even break a sweat this weekend. No lengthy debates, no Tylenol needed and early hotel checkouts all around. No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 TCU and No. 4 USC appear one conference championship win away from locking up those coveted four spots. This will be the first time since 2017 there won’t be a top-five matchup during championship weekend, as TCU is the only team facing a top-10 CFP opponent in No. 10 Kansas State. USC has a tricky game against No. 11 Utah, Spencer Webb but Michigan is playing unranked, four-loss Purdue. Georgia is a heavy favorite against three-loss No. 14 LSU. A win in their respective conference title games would punctuate their résumés with one of the tiebreakers used to separate them from the likes of No. 5 Ohio State (11-1) and No. 6 Alabama (10-2). Even with a loss, both Georgia and Michigan seem on solid footing for a top-four finish, barring absolute meltdowns. The committee would have to balance Michigan’s win against Ohio State — arguably the best in the country — with the worst loss of any contender. It would still own the head-to-head, though against Ohio State.
North Carolina to win the ACC
The CFP is on the brink of a field that doesn’t include Ohio State, Alabama or Clemson. Let that sink in for a minute: Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have claimed 17 of the 32 playoff spots. This season, Ohio State and Alabama didn’t win their respective divisions. Their résumés are complete. At No. 9, two-loss Clemson is a playoff afterthought following its home loss to South Carolina, even if it beats three-loss North Carolina to win the ACC. Spencer Webb
Instead of two — or three! — SEC teams, four different Power 5 conferences could be represented, with TCU and USC in position to finish in the top four for the first time in the CFP era. With USC facing Utah on Friday night, the Pac-12 will have the spotlight to itself for the one time the selection committee watches the games in-person together. Undefeated TCU will try to beat K-State for the second time this season, while USC has a chance to redeem itself from a regular-season loss to the Utes. For the Buckeyes or Tide to creep back into the conversation, they’re going to need some help — and history says they could get it. According to ESPN’s Stats & Information research, 26 of the previous 32 teams in the top four in the second-to-last ranking have made the CFP. Five of the six that didn’t make it lost in the final weekend.
