Oregon Stars Suspended For 2015 College Football Championship Game Against Ohio State; Can Marcus Mariota & Ducks Still Win?

Two Oregon Ducks stars have been suspended for tonight's first ever College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The 2015 NCAA championship game showdown between quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Cardale Jones will take place tonight from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but the Oregon Ducks will be without one of Heisman Trophy winner Mariota's favorite weapons, wide receiver Darren Carrington, who reportedly tested positive for marijuana and has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA. An Oregon appeal against the ruling has already been heard and dismissed according to reports. Also not suiting up for the Ducks will be back up running back Ayele Forde and injured receiver Devon Allen.  

Oregon WR Darren Carrington (37 rec, 704 yds) will miss championship due to failed drug test. https://t.co/S77vAnNSQH pic.twitter.com/VZkRJngmSJ

— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) January 10, 2015

Carrington will miss the National College Football Championship game and has not made the trip to Arlington, reports CSN North West's Aaron Fentress, after failing an NCAA drug test. Carrington "tested positive for marijuana, according to sources," says Fentress.

It's a huge blow for Oregon, as Carrington was coming off his two best performances of the season in the Rose Bowl and Pac-12 title game. As Fentress points out, Carrington "caught seven passes for a season-high 165 yards and two touchdowns," against FSU, after"seven catches for 126 yards during UO's 51-13 win over Arizona in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 5 in Santa Clara, Calif."

According to ESPN's Mark Schiabach, "Ducks spokesman Dave Williford confirmed that Carrington did not make the trip for the championship game."

But Oregon coach Mark Helfrich believes that the Ducks will be ok without Carrington, and that "it won't be a distraction," according CBS Sports's Jon Solomon.

Mark Helfrich on no Darren Carrington: "It won't be a distraction."

— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) January 10, 2015

Carrington's being ruled ineligible has already been appealed and denied, reports Fox Sports's Bruce Feldman.

SOURCE: #Oregon had already appealed Darren Carrington being ruled ineligible for the positive NCAA drug test. It was heard and denied.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 10, 2015

Forde was also left home for failing a drug test, reports NBC College Football Talk's Kevin McGuire, who said that "The senior running back played a role on special teams but was left home due to a failed drug test."

According to McGuire, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich "did not state which substance his running back and special teams player failed the drug test for."

So how does this impact Oregon? Says CSN's Fentress, it won't impact them as much as you might think, as "Oregon does not rely on a go-to receiver. The Ducks simply run their system and quarterback Marcus Mariota goes through his reads until he finds the open guy. He doesn't zero in on a particular player."

What do you think? Will Oregon going from their usual rotation of six receivers to four be a stretch too far? Or will their system prevail over Ohio State? And really? We're still suspending players for failed marijuana tests? Take it away, ESPN's Steven A Smith.

Did I just read correctly that Carrington for Oregon is suspended for the Nat'l Title Game b/c he failed a DAMN DRUG TEST? Really?#GoodLord

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 10, 2015