Helfrich led the 2014 Ducks to a 12-1 (8-1) regular season record, winning his first Pac-12 Conference Championship as a head coach. The record season included wins over reigning Big Ten Conference and Rose Bowl champion Michigan State, and rivals Washington and Oregon State. The Ducks' sole loss came in a Thursday night home game against Arizona. Oregon rebounded with eight consecutive wins, including a dominant win in a rematch against the Wildcats in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota was voted the school's second unanimous All-American and first Heisman Trophy winner, receiving the second highest point percentage in the award's history. Mariota was also named the school's first winner of the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and Walter Camp awards.