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Yep, hopefully that early media rat poison has worn off. There is no way the Ducks don't get in the playoffs at 11-1 and almost certainly at 10-2 unless the second loss is a bad one. As I mentioned in an earlier post, a spanking at home by Indiana should have been a giant eye-opener and I can't wait to see how the Ducks respond when faced with significant upcoming adversity. Knowing the head man, I suspect that they will tighten their chin straps and handle it just fine. Sometimes it helps not to be the new media darlings on the block. I think this may be one of those times. I guarantee that people who know this game best haven't forgotten who Oregon has become and are unlikely to underestimate them.

Every carrier has this happen periodically, there’s no perfect answer I know of. Free trial of Fubo over the weekend would probably work though.

So what’s the best alternative to YouTube tv?

Also.. just wanted to share this video. Run vs Pass and some game theory. It gives a little insight I feel if we apply it to Lanning's defense as well. Try and stop both but a bit more emphasis on stopping the pass. I'd argue that until this year our biggest defensive weakness has been our secondary.

I feel like Oregon's run defense is very hot or cold. When it's hot it's a freaking wall. When it's cold we get gashed for chunk yards. That can probably be said about every run defense and defense in general. We ask a TON from our linebackers for sure and if they are out of position then it can really hurt.

If we were in a static universe where no one else ever lost we might be in trouble. Last year, after conference championship week there was a whopping 4 teams with 1 loss or less in the top 15, no reason to expect it to be any different this year. We’re a shoe in at 11-1, and it would be very surprising, imo, not to get in at 10-2. About the only way we don’t get in at 10-2 is if we have a bunch of squeakers and then get shelled by the fuskies to end the year.

WW, Believe OBDs must play their _sses off every game, accented by some of the season's savviest and most aggressive coaching OBD have ever experienced and seen. If they - the entire coaching staff and team - do not do this, our team and fan base can kiss this season goodbye. Every coach and team we play next wants to beat OBD badly! They all have just enough motivation, skill, and emotion to do it, too. VR, KCDuck1

What if, and what is: the two sides of the sports coin. If we play just half as hard as the media thinks, we win the rest of our games.

To compete with the big boys, a HC needs recruiting chops, top notch assistants, and a big bag of NIL money. If it was me, I would probably stay with Oregon for a few more years to see if I could get a National Championship as OC. Having a Natty on a resume guarantees a level of financial success that few people can attain. Although, it doesn’t guarantee that you will be a good HC. I think some coaches reach for the brass ring before they are truly ready.

It’s the first of November heading into the grind of the football season. Head coaches have already been fired with 4-5 weeks remaining in the conference season and the new 12-team format playoffs is looming after the conference championship games. High profile programs are conducting head coach searches mid season. Will Stein’s name is being mentioned and surely his agent is fielding some calls. This puts Stein in an interesting position. As Oregon’s OC he is already at an elite football program with talent, facilities, resources, competing for a national title. Most opportunities would be a step up in title and money, but would be a step back program-wise. Coach Lanning noted that, “The grass is damn green in Eugene”. There is truth in his words. Should the Ducks continue winning the season will continue into January. By then some of the top jobs will likely be filled. A principle reason that some teams dismissed their coaches was to get a jump start on hiring while the field is wide open. Will Stein has a contract with Oregon containing clauses and stipulations as its terms. Coach Stein has an Offense of players to which he has responsibilities. There exists a relationship with the university, the coaches and the community of fans and supporters. It will be interesting to see the career path of Will Stein reveal itself. Surely the speculations about it will continue.. There are many snaps ahead in the 2025 season. How will they play out?

B1G Bubble Teams to the Playoff. The Ducks Will be a B1G Target. Saturday TraditionBreaking down the Playoff paths for those Big Ten bubble...Breaking down the bevy of Big Ten bubble teams' paths to a possible College Football Playoff berth despite each having 2 losses.

Need USC and the dirty dogs to win out, obviously except the Ducks

He took an old sales motto to heart. Fake it(success), til you make it.

Mike! what a great post. thank you for taking the time and effort. very cool and hope to see your work as future featured articles.

They aren't going to leave out a power two team at 11-1 period. The big 12 is over rated at this point and is eating up a lot of the rankings when they don't really deserve it.

Thanks Mike, and great effort and observations. But I look at it from a bigger perspective; you are going to get gnashed by offensive teams, and in the Big-10...you are going to give up rush yards because running the ball is this conference. But in the end...we only gave up one touchdown, set up by a fluky throw downfield where Thieneman fell down before a routine pass-deflection. Seven points is nothing, and we should have had at least 35 points in this game on offense, where it not for our own penalties. It reminds me of the Purdue game last year; they rushed for over 200 yards on us, but Purdue lost 35-0, in the stat that counts. Yes, we can improve, but it is not as glaring a weakness as pass-protection by the offensive tackles, or the inexperience at QB against Simulated Pressures, IMHO.

Major: Disappointment...

Bryan Bennett Marcus Mariotta Jake Rodrigues Jeff Lockie Damion Hobbs Morgan Mahalak Travis Jonsen Tristen Wallace Terry Wilson Justin Herbert Much has been written about Mariotta finding his way to Oregon; and, it certainly was helpful having Herbert playing football right down the road from Autzen; but, those QBs brought in otherwise? QB is of course notoriously a tough spot to evaluate; but, I would say still safe to question the "great evaluator" tag? Among Rodrigues, Mahalak, and Jonsen, really important spot to whiff. Even in the Herbert year, flipping Tristen Wallace from Ohio State was the bigger splash after Seth Green decommitted to Minnesota (himself an eventual QB washout who ended up as a sort of hybrid WR/RB at UM). Wallace of course quickly ends up in some hot water and turns into a WR at Prairie View A&M. [ If one wants to throw in Daryle Hawkins and Green, you find five recruits brought in for a look at QB who ultimately ended up college WRs, TEs, or hybrid ball carriers (Hawkins, Hobbs, Jonsen, Wallace, and Green). 5 out of 12 QB recruits (42%) turning in college receivers just seems an odd number in evaluating how well someone has done recruiting QBs ] Without VA, it is quite possible Helfrich struggles to even make it to 2016. "Penthouse to the outhouse" style collapse in a single season doesn't appear to have been impossible. 🫤

I sort miss the days of being the perennial UnderDuck, with a chip on it's shoulder...

Chip was staring down the barrel of a Show Cause. He needed to be away from college football for a while.

Completely agree. I am hoping for a 8 - 10 finish in the FIRST reveal Tuesday to light that fire.

There is a fair chance our lackluster performance vs Indiana was partially due to two weeks of the young team absorbing the hype we got after beating Penn State. So, yeah definitely less risk with us being undervalued vs.the alternative glowing adulation.

I believe if OBD wins out and finishes the regular season at 11-1 we will be in the playoffs. I refuse to worry about the idiot pundits that are associated with ESPN.