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By the time of the world series it's going to be blazing hot and muggy I'm sure. The stadium is really nice, but every time I see it I think how much it needs some kind of roof, it looks miserable at times there due to the heat.

All of You Duck Softball Fans Listening to the First Duck-Stanford Game, Many of you may be texting from The Jane while others are listening to the radio and/or BIG network. My brother and his wife are seated in The Jane behind the backstop and to one side. He has passed on to me via I-phone that the Home Plate umpire is calling an extremely small strike zone for this game between the Ducks and Stanford. He is also calling a very inconsistent strike zone. This strike zone seems to begin at most players' crotch and moves up to their chest; how wide is it? It is about half the width of most of the players' upper body. Hard to believe, but if so, this would explain many of the balls & strikes being called. Justify the calls? No, If he is accurate, this umpire has to be rotated out or just go. Regardless, that won't happen until the game is complete. My brother, Dave has noted the Stanford coach has been closely observing the batters' box and has talked to one of her Asst coaches and the batters after watching how the umpire is calling the pitches. She has apparently coached her players to tighten up to the plate and box; then, lean in (to the right or left based on which side is dominant). Do I know this for a fact? No, but this is what my brother is seeing and describing. The above paragraphs may serve or assist to explain some of the odd things that are taking place during the first game between the Ducks and Stanford. I cannot verify the accuracy of my brother's comments, but he has been one heck of a high school baseball coach. He's not perfect, but he has a keen and knowing eye. He loves the Ducks, but he knows people very well, and that includes softball and baseball umpires and the rules. Take my comments for what they are worth - not much. VR, KCDuck1

So far, Oregon hasn't broke the bank going for a player, neither has Ohio State or Georgia. The U got Beck, now this with Cantwell? A great lineman is great to have, but what about the other 5 that need to be studs to make the line work?

possibly a result of there being so little else to do in Nebraska in the spring?

Big thing for me would be the chill factor and how hard that is on pitchers shoulders and arms. maybe it will be muggy and that will help.

As far as I can tell, the NCBWA relies solely on the latest RPI results. D1 Baseball is the site that I believe is the best. They have Oregon as # 4. If you look up the RPI on their website it does list Oregon at # 12. Bottom line, the games are won on the field, not on paper.

"Where's Waldo makes more sense, but this is definitely a summertime prediction for good ol' Connor.

Let's take a look at how each school did against their opponent in the regular season. I'm listing this in order of the games to be played starting tomorrow. Win-loss records or did not play (DNP.) game 1 Illinois 1-2 Maryland 2-1 game 2 Rutgers DNP Indiana DNP game 3 Michigan St. DNP Nebraska DNP game 4 UCLA 3-0 Illinois 0-3 game 5 Penn St. DNP Washington DNP game 6 Iowa 2-1 Rutgers 1-2 game 7 Michigan 0-1 UCLA 1-0 pre-season game game 8 USC 2-1 Penn St. 1-2 game 9 Oregon 2-1 Michigan St. 1-2 game 10 Washington 2-1 USC 1-2 game 11 Indiana 0-3 Iowa 3-0 game 12 Nebraska DNP Oregon DNP

The ILLINI, TOSU, and PSU are in. Where's OBD? Predicting the 2025 Playoff: No. 4 Penn State - Saturday Down South WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM Penn State broke through with its first Playoff berth last year, so can it make the field in 2025? It can do so without breaking a sweat.

This Couldn't Happen Last Season? College Football Playoff nearing consensus to alter seeding process with changes to first-round byes - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM The power conferences are in agreement to move to a format that will eliminate automatic first-round byes for conference champions.

Maybe a tornado warning could be added. Not exactly fan friendly weather for baseball.

How about, YES! If you are 'wrestling' with the question, do not try out for WWE. Is Miami paying too much for 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell? College insiders react to massive NIL deal - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Is it wise to spend 10% of the salary cap on a high school offensive tackle? That's a question many have wrestled with after five-star Jackson Cantwell's Miami commitment

Can anyone explain how the NCBWA rankings in the top post had the Ducks dropping seven spots?

Thank you! And thank goodness it's only 24% and not 25%.

I expect UW will run silent, and not be able to throw deep, and will be torpedoed by OBD on 11/29/25.

"Oregon's 87.4 QBR since Dan Lanning took over as coach is tops in the nation." Ranking all 136 FBS QB situations into tiers ahead of the 2025 season - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM From Clemson to Kennesaw State, David Hale ranks all 136 FBS school quarterbacks into tiers.

Well, at least since they are up "that creek" they do have a paddle.

Let's give it up to Washington, they're a Rowing school!

Here's a quick look at the weather during the Big Ten Baseball Tournament. Tuesday May 20th High 56 Cloudy 24% chance of rain Wind 15-25 MPH Wind gust over 40 MPH Wednesday May 21st High 60 Partly cloudy 5% chance of rain Wind 15-25 MPH Thursday May 22nd High 67 Partly cloudy 5% chance of rain Wind 10-15 MPH Friday May 23rd High 68 Overcast 24% chance of rain Wind 5-10 MPH Saturday May 24th High 69 Overcast 24% chance of rain Wind 5-10 MPH Sunday May 25th High 71 Mostly cloudy 33% chance of rain Wind 10-15 MPH

The long-term outlook looks bleak for D1 non-revenue sports. AD’s are forced to compete in the free-for-all for talent in football and basketball to generate fan interest. The ‘arms race” for talent, along with the higher costs of the maintenance on athletic facilities for the revenue sports, takes money that once could be used for the non-revenue sports. Without fundamental changes from lawmakers, how many college sports programs will survive?

Everything Hayes wrote in the article is true, (though the format was wonky), those 3 games in December might as well have the college Playoff games on the CW. I don't know if Saban is up to making that call to Goodell, but something needs to happen.

Its interesting because the strategy of the two for decades has been to cohabitate but don't compete. The reality is that everyone just assumes that the NFL will destroy CFBs ratings. They do draw bigger ratings, sure, but it's not a one-sided fight. CFB will also hurt the NFL's ratings if the two are forced to compete. They are going to have to interact to find a way to cohabitate at this point. The NFL cannot just dictate the rules.

Isn't the ranking difference from the tournament seeding projections in the first post above....fascinating? Why such a difference? A nice scene from Iowa City...

The Winner Take All game started like the Rose Bowl did for OBD. But softball wouldn't be denied, of course a B1G difference was, this game was at The Jane! I don't know about Stanford's softball venue, but i KNOW it doesn't rock like The Jane does. Paige Sinicki wasn't going to lose, neither was fellow Senior, Dezianna Patmon. After a great game, "Instant Classic" is inserted, it fits here. The Ducks started off down 4-0 before their first at bat. The pitcher in the circle that had toyed with them the game before, and Grein and Sokolsky were still searching. Then, as if a grand slam wasn't enough Economides blasts a 3 run homer over the fence, then the Ducks' all B1G freshman 1st base, Rilee McCoy goes down. Not enough.

Interesting take. We’re not seeing big picture here. We’re slogging through the minutia of the college football postseason instead of dealing with the big, bad shield in the room. The NFL shield The NFL isn't college football's friend - it's the greatest threat to the CFP schedule WWW.USATODAY.COM Time for college football to take a stand against the NFL after pro league scheduling puts College Football Playoff games in difficult ratings spot.