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I actually liked Bamba more than most. He drove to the rim pretty well, and he was probably our best defender. Simpkins will score more than him, but he won't offer the same defense and he's also much smaller. Bamba could get a rebound as well. He's a very different player more of a combo guard than a wing. I would like Pryor a lot more if he had a shot, but he's a pretty poor shooter, but he'll provide defense and athleticism, he might be a very good cutter to the basket. Stewart is probably the wildcard, former 5 star, very highly regarded when he arrived at Duke, he showed a stretch in the game where he bullied his way too 3 straight baskets. Could be a very good player at the 4 could also play as a small ball 5.

Yep....and that is why Oregon should always get an experienced portal QB as we did before. But...

Sure, they are known for that, but again--it makes sense with the weather and Dante being unproven that they will pack the box. Iowa lost to Indiana on a touchdown pass when it was 3rd and four and the Hawkeyes ran a "Cover-Zero" defense; no free safety, as he was covering the QB run. Thus when Seraat ran a slant and the corner slipped...he jogged in easy TD in because of no FS backing him up. So, they will run man-pass defense. On similar plays versus Oregon...I do not invision them dropping into eight man zones, when Dante has been rattled by Simulated Pressure-Blitzes recently.

Old news. This has been extensively discussed here already. He is ahead on the rehab since the June injury, and is available to play in the final four games, and the Playoff, but we do not know when he is officially returning. There have been hints on social media that it might be this game...if for only a few plays.

Before looking ahead to the Week 11 games, let's take a look at where we were ten weeks back. Coach A. "Fire the SOB, he's already lost more games to unranked opponents than the Sainted Nick. A loss to an ACC team? A team that stumbled and bumbled last season. Two years in a row without a playoff experience. Send the Yankee bum back North, where he should have stayed." Coach B. "He did it, he won an opening game, and he won it against a sure thing conference champion and a playoff team. He shut up the Dabo denizens in their phony Death Valley. All that money we, and he, spent on portal guys, Natty here we come!" Coach C. "He did it! Our QB cashed the check he wrote with his mouth and paid back the Sons of Bama that screwed us out of a playoff bid. Can't wait to punk Miami at our place, and book rooms for our champ game win in Miami." Coach A. Redeemed. Coach B. Pink Slipped. Coach C. "Can we qualify for a bowl game?" College Football - A dull moment would be kind of nice, no? Week 11 Games with a Playoff Punch - Friday - No. 19 USC vs. Northwestern - 6 PM Fox Sorry, Forum Friends, but OBD needs SC to win this game. 🤬 Tulane at Memphis - 6 PM ESPN - this is a G6 Playoff elimination game. But it's Coach Cignetti's former team, James Madison U that has the best odds to be the G6 Playoff rep. Saturday - No. 7 BYU at No. 8 Texas Tech - 9 AM ABC - Tortilla Tossing has been banned, so expect to watch some very thin Frisbees being tossed. No. 2 Indiana at Not Ranked (🤪) Penn State - 9 AM Fox - Indiana is 2-25 versus the Nittany Lions and has never won a game in Happy Valley. With a Bye after this game and finishing at Purdue, this is the last regular season test for Indiana, and it comes against a team that has yet to win a Big Ten game. Jimmy could have been Coach D above: Like Coach Kelly, He Gone! No. 1 Ohio State at Purdue - 10 AM - BTN - Those who are about to die ... No. 9 Oregon at No. 20 Iowa - 12:30 PM - CBS Compared to the Playoff Committee, the AP voters hate the Big Ten. Seven B1G teams ranked in the Committee's Top 25 is a conference record. 😁 Weather or not, here's hoping OBD shows up dissed and pissed. and ready to hand Kirk Ferentz his 90th B1G game loss. Iowa has not defeated a ranked opponent since 2021. Let's continue this streak! Other games to tune into Saturday - No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 22 Missouri - 9 AM ABC No. 4 Alabama vs. LSU - 4:30 ABC Other B1G Games - No. 24 Washington at Wisconsin - 1:30 BTN Maryland at Rutgers - 11:30 FS1 Nebraska at UCLA - 6 PM Fox Krunch Kirk! Hammer the Hawkeyes!

Oregon’s schedule this year did them no favors, nor did Penn State completely falling apart. I don’t think that we have to go 11-1 every year (although that would guarantee a playoff spot ever year, coming out of the power 2).

He could make millions and be a first round washout, like many before him. If he wants to be a successful NFL QB he needs another year (or two). If he can’t figure out pre-snap defensive disguises and zone blitzes/simulated pressures in college from the likes of Indiana (let alone Ohio State), how’s he going to handle NFL defenses. Dante has the talent but a lot to learn, which will only come with game experience.

Having this discussion in Novembers is bonkers.

I was under the impression that Iowa plays zone defense and does a great job of eliminating explosive plays making a team drive down the field. For them to come out and play man with no safety help would definitely show disrespect to Oregon’s passing game (even if it has taken a step back this year). “Iowa’s base structure is “Cover 8,” which in short is a conservative approach designed to limit big plays − with eight of the 11 defenders dropping into pass coverage. But that can easily morph into a “Cover 3” (with three defenders – typically two cornerbacks and one safety – responsible for one-third of the deep part of the field).” https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2025/06/19/iowa-football-defense-phil-parker-defensive-coordinator-kirk-ferentz-hawkeyes/84154081007/ Phil Parker has been at Iowa for 27 seasons and 14 as defensive coordinator. Iowa’s coaching stability reminds me of Oregon’s Bellotti era.

Sounds like Lanning does chew his players out as well.. he just doesn't do it in front of the cameras. There was an interview where Dante Moore says that Lanning would cuss him out over some bad passes and a lack of ball security in practice. We just didn't see it because it wasn't on camera.

The weather forecast is deteriorating for Saturday. The high is forecast at 45 and the low at 26 with rain, snow and wind. This might suggest a slugfest on the ground.

Iowa will attempt to emulate the Indiana defense right from the git-go. Blitz and attempt to rattle and sack Dante Moore. If they succeed, I would expect to see Brock Thomas much sooner than many think. Our Offensive line is going to have to start this game at full throttle and protect our QB. GO DUCKS!

As well as Lane Kiffin.

I choose this scenario.

That's an interesting take. Seems to me Nick Saban chewed out players routinely. How many titles does Saban have? And yes, plenty of those rage fests were about dumb things players did. I'm sure this is a generational divide. This old dude never saw stupid acts of display from players because we knew damn well we'd get chewed out AND benched. Discipline matters. That's the gist of my argument. and if you're going to be hard on players, you better love them massively, because that is the only way yelling at them will work.

I was under the impression that Evans was done for the season. But it sounds like you are suggesting that he may be back this year. Is that correct? Because that would be awfully nice.

Hopefully, those never saw the light of day anywhere 😉

No way is he a NFL QB as of right now.

Waiting one year could be the difference between a solid retirement contract to generational wealth. 2025 draft produced $70+ million for a top 4 draft pick. #16 was around $30 million. After all the finger dipping is done, 40% ends in your wallet. Still more than most of us will ever see. For comparison, Derrick Harmon was drafted #21 for $18 and $10 for a total of $28 million. Cam Ward was #1 for $49 and $32 for a total of around $81 million. B1111G difference from #1 to #21. If Dante isn't projected in the first 4 picks or so, and he projects to be a top pick in a weak 2027 QB class? Then I would wait for 2027 draft. There is a lot of ball left to play though. When that O-line finally gels then DM has a great chance to rise in the rankings. These last 4 games have a beautiful opportunity to put the finishing touch on this season. If DM plays beautifully through the end of the season, I would expect a declaration for the draft. A top 4/5 pick is a serious possibility. Just my thoughts.

Baylor AD and Playoff Chairman Mack Rhodes: 'The rankings are a blend of art and science.' No. 9 - Oregon is 7-1 with the 28th most difficult schedule according to the Massey Ratings. OBD's future SOS is ranked 18th. (I'm using Massey because, of course, the metrics the PO committee uses are super-secret, and I lost my Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Decoding Ring five or six decades back. 😁) Oregon's sole loss was to the Committee's 2nd-ranked team, Indiana. The undefeated Hoosiers SOS is ranked No. 34, undefeated No. 1 Ohio State's is 44th, undefeated A&M's schedule is ranked the 7th most difficult. I get why Booger is bugged. No. 8 - Texas Tech is 8-1 with Massey's 51st most difficult schedule and 54th in future SOS. Texas Tech's loss was to a not-unranked ASU team. Looks like science was used to drop Oregon from AP No. 6 to 9th. Looks like Texas Tech benefited from the PO Artful Dodgers Eye Test. The highest-ranked 2-loss team is Notre Dame because of two close losses and a win over No. 19 USC. ND defeated SC in a downpour by 10 points. If this is such a great win, why isn't 2-loss SC in the top 15? USC's remaining SOS is No. 17, Notre Dame's is 42nd. 2-loss Notre Dame is ranked ahead of 1-loss Virginia, Louisville, and Georgia Tech. And 2-loss Miami, which defeated Notre Dame. I remain bullish on 2-loss B1G teams making the PO field, but even with touted 'new metrics,' it's PO CT. SSDD. FWIW (Nada!) Oregon has two wins over teams with winning records; Montana State is ranked 2nd in the FCS poll.

I disagree. If I was Iowa....I would pack the box, and make Dante Moore beat them through the air, and I believe we will see that. So relying on the run is going to create a ton of punts, and play the Hawkeye game. C'mon....we are DUCKS, and if anyone can pass and catch in the rain....it is us. We will get a ton of man-coverage in the secondary, and we have a bunch of receivers who can exploit that. If Evan Stewart returns, then not only can he stretch the defense, but he can be a tremendous decoy to pull their best corner away from Dak. Pass to loosen things up, and get a normal box in terms of numbers on defense, and THEN have Davison go to work, IMHO.

I'd say we have to split the first TD in the 2nd half between Brock and Dante, since Dante Moore got the ball to the Wisconsin 30 yard line.

If Dante was dominating every game and bored out of his mind, MAYBE he goes. The reality is Dante is playing the long game. He sat for a year to get better already, and sees Uber experienced Bo and Dylan starting in the NFL while Shadeur rides the pine. The only thing that could make him think twice at this point is if Will leaves and he can't stand his replacement.

Another note. Simpkins didn’t miss a shot inside the 3 point line. His midrange game is already 10x better than what we got from Bamba last season. A starting 5 of Shelstad Simpkins Stewart or Pryor Evans Bittle Looks pretty good, especially on defense. This team could be elite on that end of the floor. Just need some time to gel and a couple others to step up for rotation minutes. They absolutely have to stay healthy this year with a dropoff on the bench.