CORVALLIS -- The $11.6 million question after Oregon's 34-24 loss Saturday to Oregon State in the 120th Civil War was whether Mark Helfrich will still be the coach when his previously scheduled press conference, set for early Sunday, begins.

With UO super-booster Phil Knight, a key decision-maker in whatever course Oregon chooses, watching Ohio State's win against Michigan, Ducks players and coaches talked around the question on everybody's mind following a 34-24 loss to Oregon State that snapped UO's eight-game winning streak in the series.

UO coaches are set to leave Eugene for recruiting Sunday morning.

Helfrich has three years remaining on a five-year contract extension signed in February 2015 and his $11.6 million buyout is 29th-highest in the Football Bowl Subdivision, per USA Today's salary database.

Helfrich is 37-16 in four seasons as UO coach since his promotion from offensive coordinator, and is two years removed from leading Oregon to a Rose Bowl victory and an appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

"I'm very proud of our players," offensive coordinator Matt Lubick said. "I'm very proud of our coaching staff because there are a bunch of good people who've done a great things for this football program and I just feel fortunate to be part of it."

Helfrich said he did not have a meeting with athletic director Rob Mullens scheduled following his 4-8 season. UO finished 2-7 in Pac-12 play and finished last in the North division. A source told The Oregonian/OregonLive's John Canzano that UO lined up a search firm "weeks ago."

"Didn't win enough games," Helfrich said Saturday. "That's a fact. We have to own that part of it."

While plenty of fingers have been pointed at Helfrich, players went out of their way to own their part of it after the loss to Oregon State. Multiple players said they believed Helfrich, if given a fifth season, could return Oregon to its previous stature as a Pac-12 title contender.

"This is not all on Helfrich," cornerback Tyree Robinson said. "This is not all on Helfrich. We respect Helfrich and at the end of the day we're going to play for him. But it's more than that. It's players, it's not just the coaches.

"... My freshman year we had guys like Ifo (Ekpre-Olomu), (Erick) Dargan, Hroniss (Grasu), it was multiple leaders. I think now it's just probably like two or three guys and we can't have that because it shows. Everybody is scared to, I guess, be vocal out there and be dominant and make sure that everybody knows what they're doing and we don't have too many of those. Offseason, we want to make sure we get that fixed. I know I'm going to make sure because I know I'm not going out like this my last year."

Helfrich's ouster would put the future of his staff in jeopardy. Five assistants have coached at least the last 10 consecutive years in Eugene and the longest-tenured of the group, running backs coach Gary Campbell, told The Oregonian/OregonLive last week that he is considering retirement. Campbell, who has been at Oregon since 1983, has not made a decision whether to step away, adding that any decision would come independent of Helfrich's job security. But he added that there is a "very good chance I would retire" if Helfrich was fired.

"I can say I don't want any new coaches, but like I said, it's a business, whatever happens, happens," Robinson said.

As Oregon makes a decision on Helfrich's future, some players are weighing their own.

Receiver Darren Carrington is eligible for the NFL draft. Running back Royce Freeman has not made a decision whether to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL.

"I'm going to take a look at all my options," Freeman said. "I'm definitely going to take my time and just reflect on all of that and rely on my peer support group."

Oregon will not play in a bowl for the first time since 2004.

"It's not the way anyone envisions their senior year especially after the success we had when I first got here," senior offensive lineman Cameron Hunt said. "It's a little bit of disappointment but we've just got to continue to get better as a program and that starts with the recruiting and being able to coach these players and develop them."

-- Andrew Greif

agreif@oregonian.com

@andrewgreif