After much speculation and talk, Oregon has fired football coach Mark Helfrich after a disappointing 4-8 season, and just two years after getting the Ducks within one win of the school’s first Title. Ducks Athletic Director Rob Mullens made the announcement late last night. (Bite :17)

Helfrich was an Assistant Coach for 4 seasons prior to being head coach the past four years leading the team to the first College Football Playoff championship game in 2014 and a Rose Bowl victory.

But Oregon fell hard this season with a five-game losing streak and finished at the bottom of the Pac-12 North with just two league wins. It’s the Ducks' worst season since 1991 and marks the first time since 2004 that they won't appear in a bowl game.

Helfrich, whose contract with Oregon includes an $11.6 million buyout, was 37-16 as head coach and is the first Duck coach to be fired since Don Read in 1976.

Meantime…the College Football Playoff Committee announced its second to last rating of the season, and the Washington Huskies are ranked 4th with its 11-1 record. Alabama remains number one with Ohio State 2nd, and Clemson third. The final poll and National Championship semifinal matchups will be announced Sunday.