It looks like the November 3 college football matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum just lost a little star power on Saturday. Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas, who helped guide the Ducks to their first Rose Bowl victory in 95 years two weeks ago in Pasadena, has decided to reverse course and enter the 2012 NFL Draft, per Oregon Sports Information Director Andy McNamara.
↵Thomas, who threw for 33 touchdowns against just seven interceptions in his junior season, had said last month he planned to return for his senior season. Thomas was one of the reasons that Oregon, even without tailback LaMichael James, who is also turning pro, was expected to join the USC Trojans in the preseason top five in 2012.
↵USC is set to host Oregon on November 3 in Los Angeles, and the prevailing thought was that the two schools could meet again on November 30 in the Pac-12 Championship Game, as both schools would be favored in their respective divisions. Now, without Thomas, we will have to wait and see how Oregon will do. With Chip Kelly calling the shots, I'm sure they'll reload soon enough.