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FPI is based on raw talent and past results. The SP+ rankings are more accurate. They include current year performance, and expectations based on the current composite of the team. FPI is what the Sports Books use to calculate point spreads, and they are probably more reliable as the season wears on. Texas is high because they were more potent last year against the second tier level of schools (now that we have the Ohio State sample, we now know Texas struggles against elite defenses. Clemson is in the same category as the sample is out there as well -though I am not so sure about LSU yet). I haven't watched the Florida-South Florida game yet-or a number of others, so I don't have a complete feel on the group of teams outside of Ohio State that I feel are OBD's biggest challenges. I will say this about OBD: effort and depth are outstanding. I still have some concerns about the secondary, but the talent and skill level is much better than any time in the Lanning era. I still see the LBs watch the QB too much, and I do believe coverage rules are a problem more than the talent-but the LBs not taking away options (instead of trying to determine where the QB will throw the ball) is a major weakness. Lupoi absolutely needs to keep his edge defenders on the edge, somebody is going to crush it with counter runs if he keeps dragging the DEs to the middle of the box. I believe Stein recognizes he will need to drop forty on everybody, as he is employing a much more aggressive approach to the game. Stein is using some elements of Taggart's Gulf Coast offense. And he is going under center. I love that. He is actually employing elements of other offenses into his scheme. Lanning even referred to it in an interview-they are scouting other CFB teams, and maybe even looking at the NFL. Whatever it is, Stein just signaled he is going to unleash more styles than he has been employing. Somebody mentioned it, not sure who, but the WRs blocking downfield is much better. And the WR screens are now a set up for Sequential/Constraint plays downfield-the screens are a set up for fakes so Moore can throw downfield. So I believe the staff learned its lessons in January. You can't put up enough points against elite teams. You need to think its an NBA scoring fest. Like the Alabama/Clemson title games last decade. Until I see the secondary shut down elite WRs, I will not crown this defense as elite. Georgia and Ohio State have the best pass defenses in the country until proven otherwise. That is the kind of defense OBD need. If we get those kinds of defenses, then we are looking at the rest of the decade as true top shelf, tough to defeat elite teams. Like Nick Saban/Kirby Smart kind of teams. Lanning has the team on the path. I just need to see the defense tighten up some loose ends

Take this with a grain of salt since I heard it from a guy who knows a guy, who knows....well, you get the point....Novosad has a thumb injury he is dealing with on his throwing hand.

This team seems to have a incredibly high "motor" right now. From beginning to end of each play and each game. It's all out, finish the play, and we're going to come at you in waves, because we have the talent, and we're going to use it all to wear you down. Even the best teams in the playoffs last year wore down quite a bit as the tournament played on. Depth will be huge! I'm still a little concerned about our run defense when we face more talented teams. We gave up 144 quiet yards on the ground to a team sporting a 18.7 QBR this week. Three backs averaged 4.3, 4.5, and 5.2 yards per carry and I was surprised and delighted at the awful play calling from OSU when they'd abandon the run. Hopefully, there's enough tape there to patch those seams. Go Ducks!

Thank you for clarifying that fact in writing for all to see. The Cotton Bowl season was sooooo good. The catch in Seattle? Now THAT was a play.

Alex, great article as usual. Managing expectations this early in the season with a team that still has so many questions surrounding it isn’t something we’ve had to worry about for awhile. I just have to remember to breathe, and that we are just watching, while these young men are actually living this in real time. What a time to be a duck.

The depth at defensive back has been astonishing. They are all so fast, and hit hard whether they are veteran or a freshman. I actually think we have a touch faster reaction in the secondary this year, with more sure tackles in the first two games. If there is an injury--I feel much better about the backup coming in....since he is playing as much as the starter! Aaron Flowers, RS Freshman Safety

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Northwestern running back Cam Porter is being ruled out for the season after suffering an injury in last week's game against Western Illinois. Porter was the team's leading rusher through two games, carrying the ball 18 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. Northwestern Wildcats suffer major injury ahead of Oregon Ducks gam

Know the Foe: Five Northwestern Wildcat players to know The fourth-ranked Ducks will travel to the midwest to play Northwestern on Saturday at 9 AM. Here are five Wildcat players to know entering the game.

Don't bother. Remember the ad campaign for Oldsmobile "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile". Well, we are the "fathers" of these Ducks and these aren't our last century Ducks, so we earned the right to wallow in Hubris.

I lost all sympathy for them once they decided to steal 300 million from the departing 10 members... Phil did not join us until we went to the Rose Bowl and then the Cotton Bowl. We had to EARN his trust, as winners want to work with winners. Beavis has not earned it, has declined, and is worth much less now.

I'd have to imagine that every DC this year will ask the analyst about the scouting report for Oregon, then the analyst will take a really, really deep breath...."So...

Oregon Sideline Reporter Dusty Harrah On The Ducks Win Over Oklahoma St

Thomas likely he as a better command of the offense at this point that puts him higher in the pecking order than Smith, and they didn't get that far down the depth chart for Smith to play. Dan Lanning has made comments to the effect that we can play winning football with Thomas. He's more than serviceable.

Yes, I have noticed that we are gang tackling a lot more, which is a sign of great defense. Keep it up, OBD!

The bigger surprise to me is how Akili Smith Jr hasn't played yet. What's up with that?

How Lanning, Stein and Lupoi built a juggernaut in EugeneMonday morning at CBS, college football writer Matt Zenitz named the coordinators of the week in each conference. In the Big Ten, he chose Will Stein of the Oregon Ducks, and Tosh Lupoi of the Oregon Ducks. So far Stein and Lupoi have gotten maximum value out of having their highly-paid units train against each other. Josh Yourish of Saturday Blitz noted that against Oklahoma State, "The Ducks jumped out to a 41-3 halftime lead, with 472 total yards, averaging 13.37 yards per play and 14.38 yards per dropback." That's insane domination. Autzen ZooHow Lanning, Stein and Lupoi built a juggernaut in EugeneMonday morning at CBS, college football writer Matt Zenitz named the coordinators of the week in each conference.

Thanks for the link... Yeah this would have been helpful for writing the article. Jayden Limar had the MOST snaps of all runningbacks at 23! Makhi Hughes second at 15. Limar didn't have has many carries as Hughes (9) but he was in on more plays. It shows how much this staff thinks of Limar and his development that he is in the game as much as he is. He made some fantastic blocks. On the plays where there were 2 backs lined up along side Moore, Limar was always one of them and he never got the ball on those plays but he was a blocker for the runner. Incredible development and I am thrilled for Limar. Biggest surprise of the year so far I think. And anyone who says they saw this for Limar (that isn't on the team or a coach) is outright lying!

Mike Gundy learned what happens when you disrespect the Ducks

Mailbag: Could the early schedule hold Oregon back?

There's a third option... Reveal to Mess with Opponents. Oregon put some stuff on tape that now opponents have to use some of their limited time to practice against. Oregon put Sadiq in the wild-cast (or maybe QB, it kinda looked like he had the option to throw it). Now teams have to prep for that scinario. Oregon did a 2 point look... now teams have to prep for that, even if it failed against Ok State. All those runningbacks... opponents have to prepare for.

CBS has OBD Cruising to the PO. OBD reined in the Cowboys - I'm trying to rein in the Hubris before surviving a White Out.🤔 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-traffic-report-where-each-power-four-team-sits-on-road-to-cfp-ahead-of-week-3/

Power Rankings: How did the Top 25 look in Week 2?ESPN.comCollege football Power Rankings: Close wins, areas for co...As Week 2 has come to an end, what are the areas of concern for our Top 25?

I agree with you on this. That was my thought when I was seeing a much more diverse offense.

Week 2 of the college football season is in the books, and so are Joel Klatt'sweekly rankings of the Top 10 schools. Here are Klatt's top 10 rankings after another week of college football games Joel Klatt's College Football Rankings: Julian Sayin Keeps OSU at No. 1, FSU Rises

More ESPN love for OBD. Holy Pawalll! 😎 ESPN.comTrue or false? What we think we know about SEC QBs, the B...The start of the 2025 season has been a delightful mess. Bill Connelly tries to make sense of what we've seen.