The Oregon Ducks are one of the four teams in the inaugural College Football Playoff, along with Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State. Michigan State is the only team to have faced multiple playoff teams this season, having lost to both Oregon (46-27 on Sept. 6) and Ohio State (49-37 on Nov. 8).

Given that he had seen Oregon and Ohio State up close, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook was asked Monday on BTN Live which team he felt was the better of the two. Though some might have expected him to show some conference allegiance and side with the Buckeyes, Cook said the Ducks were the toughest team they faced this season.

"Oregon was a great great opponent, great offense, great defense, they had the uptempo offense that was pretty hard to stop," Cook said, according to MLive.com. "They have a great defense with a great front seven, talented DBs, and playing in Autzen (Stadium) was very difficult as well.''

Oregon plays Florida State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. PT. The other semifinal matchup pits Alabama against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The two winners will play for the National Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington (Texas) on Jan. 12.