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When I came up with the title, I thought to myself, "I bet Charles will like this one!" haha

Yes, might as well as start the playoff sooner. The traditions of the bowl season are all but gone anyway, let's do what's best for the sport.

Yes, need to match the mid-game adjustments of our opponents as you mentioned in some of Oregon's losses. That's coaching. Hopefully, the coach's have grown.

It will be interesting as the playoff expands, that if we will begin to see coaches rest starters the final week of the season. Might have to stop scheduling rivalry games as the last games on the schedule, and schedule non-conference cup cakes.... but i'm getting way ahead of myself.

Hi Kamikaze, Here’s the guide showing the stripe out and video:

Yes, very Portland Trail Blazers-esc for sure. Something in the Oregon water, haha.

Thanks. The days of having a "bend but don't break" defense are in the distant past. We are at the next level.

Nebraska's "slide" started with the final implementation of scholarship reductions in the mid-1990's. 1997 was their last National Championship. (And, coincides with the rise of programs like Oregon) In earlier years, it was estimated they had as many as 150 on scholarship. Then, they shifted to a very active "walk-on" program as schollie reductions took hold. Kids were still interested in walking on due to then recent Nebraska history. As the W-L records waned, and recruiting became more national with other programs vying for players Nebraska had attracted, the Huskers began losing some built in advantages. Good players who previously were walk-on decisions, started being offered scholarships elsewhere. Their only 10-win season in the Big Ten is 2012. They were 10-4 in their second B1G season. There is more than just Texas and Oklahoma to worry about now. But, the REAL reason they have fallen is God's Punishment. In the 2001 season they were awarded the BCS national championship slot instead of Oregon, and were crushed by Miami in the Rose Bowl. They have been .500 or less in 11 of the 24 seasons since. 4 times with 10 wins.

I am already planning a rant about how bad our defense is when Montana runs for 2 yards on their first play! 😄

I remember OBD going to Nebraska in the 80's and just getting pounded, coming home battered, bruised and dejected. I'm sooo glad those days are over!

Never discount the Shucking Power beaming from a Hope Diamond-sized engagement ring. Rumor has it that Swifty left early to beat the traffic, leading to a late miracle INT. 😁 Cincinnati will not be a B12 bottom feeder in 2025. Especially, with Don Corleone on the Bearcats defense. Cincy makes the list of CFB guru Phil Steele's 2025 (pleasant) Surprise Teams. CFB fans overreacting to an opening game? Never happens, right 🤪? However, until proven otherwise, all of the above questions and criticisms of Nebraska should be The Rhule. AP NewsTravis Kelce and Taylor Swift attend Nebraska-Cincinnati...Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift have made their first public appearance since announcing their engagement.

Well said. Dante Moore and our defense will determine how far we go this year.

Thanks Drake. Go Ducks!

50/50…but, even sections are yellow

Ducks - 38-13 Bobcats - 2 TOs Sacks - 4 Pass Yds - 250

I’ve heard that this game is a stripe out but I don’t know which section is which color. Can any Duck buddies out their pass along this crucial information?

Thanks, Darren, terrific article on the cusp of the 2025 kickoff. Dan's three-year record in Eugene is not dissimilar to Kirby Smart's at Georgia. It took Kirby six seasons and top recruiting classes season after season, and a couple of heartbreaking PO losses before UGA captured in 1st title in over 40 years. Oregon set NFL draft records for the number of players drafted in 2024; from 2021 through 2025, thirty Georgia Dawg D-players were drafted. The Jimmies and Joes have and always will matter. Dan's opening game spanking at the hands of Kirby and the first game of 2025 hurt, no doubt. But so did some guy named Tua coming off the bench for Bama, and after taking a sack, making a terrific throw into the end zone for a walk-off Natty and depression for the Dawgs. As Kirby said after the opening Ducks dusting, 'Dan knows we have better players.' You also need luck on the way to a title. Dyer's knee was down. The PO seeding last season was so egregious, even conferences that benefited, like the Mountain West and B12, voted to go to straight seeding in 2025-26. You lose a conference champ game and benefit from the loss? That's some bad ju-ju. Before UGA blew out TCU on the way to a title, Ohio State, behind the receiving wizardry of Marv Harrison, was lighting up the Georgia D. Marv went down on a play where the Georgia DB could have been called for targeting, and Georgia gutted out a close win, leaving Ryan Day to be criticized for not winning the big games. Dan's winning percentage of 81.5% has him in fifth place behind the '4-losses to Michigan - Fire the Guy!, No. 1 winner at 87.5%, Ryan Day. All good points made regarding Dan and the Ducks in the article, no doubt. Perhaps with the easiest schedule the Ducks have from 2024 through 2028, Oregon, with four returning starters, will win it all? If so, it would be a Herculean accomplishment. Thanks again for another terrific article. Let's start 1-0 with a bagging of Bobcats!

35-21 Ducks 4 TO's 4 Sacks 260 yards passing

I'm sure Boise is currently scrambling to see if they can schedule Oregon on their schedule as soon as possible right now. Whenever they play us in the early season they have a good season.

33-13 DUCKS! 3 T.O. 3 SACKS 213 YDS PASSING See a run heavy game with "safe" passing plays for the QB's that get to play. Fairly vanilla offense with the focus on execution. See how much pressure the reloaded Duck Defense can exert at all three levels. GO DUCKKKKS!

DUCKS WIN! 31-14 two two 245 yards

Four B1G games to date, four one-score games. Zero B1G covers. If you are going to schedule an opening victory, be certain to bake enough cups into the cake. Ohio U - 2024 MAC Champ. Miami-Ohio 2024 MAC runner-up. Buffalo Bulls - MAC 3rd place, 9-4 in 2024. Cincinnati, a Phil Steele surprise contender for the B12 title this season. Hats off to the MAC teams. With NIL, largely unregulated 'college free agency,' and little or no control over tampering, it's a credit to these G5 teams and their coaches to go down swinging, if they go down. A long way to go in a too-short season, but I think Wisconsin and Minnesota will have a tough time winning in Autzen, and the same for Rutgers on the road. Bob the Cats!

Darren....I really enjoy your style of writing. Your title made me LOL as, "that is so Darren." Great fun, great thoughts, and THANKS.

First misunderstanding from not reading the posts carefully! --You cannot take shots at those who disagree with you, just like in the forum during the week. (I can feel it....in trying to give others an outlet for frustration--it is going to create more hassle for me)

This is great. I can’t wait to confront the negative Nancies!🫢