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Well, bad news and good news. After putting a ton of work into our great get-together at Penn State, (Although NJDuck did so much more!) it turns out that I had to cancel my trip. I have had a ton of trouble with my lower back over the years, and I made progress, then it got worse. Bottom line...this morning I could only walk half a block before my back is killing me, thus I could not handle the trip yet. I have recently begun a massive new regimen between diet, exercises to strengthen, stretching, Chiropractic work, deep tissue massage, updated orthotics, and physical therapy. I cannot start up my Charitable Giving Workshops again until I get this improved, so while I've made recent progress...I have a long ways to go, especially with pain management. For Those at the Tailgate? Please pull your phones out and take pictures! And know that I am thinking of you, and hope to be there in 2028 when Oregon returns to Beaver Stadium. Those of you who are there are such good people that I wish I could give a hug to, and many of you go a long ways back with me. Good News... For the first time in 14 years and hundreds of games....I was denied a photo credential at Penn State. (Bastards) So when we win...I was in a world of hurt with our wonderful FishDuck writers...and no pictures. But this morning I was notified that the student photographer (Max) who shoots for ScoopDuck, was just granted a photo pass for the game on Saturday, and he will be sharing pictures with me as he does at Autzen. I admit...we are a smaller independent site, and ScoopDuck is part of On3 and their massive network, hence higher preference. And the fact that every media outlet for many states wants to be there on the sideline as well. What a great weekend...I send my Duck-Love to the tailgate group!

Good take Darren. It’s good to remember that this is the first real test for both teams. Big time away games where the home crowd wears their emotions on their cuff can work to the away team’s advantage if they can keep it close through three quarters. If they do, it begins to sew the seeds of doubt, and all that panicked urgency washing over home team coaches and players alike can make some funny things happen.

For sure, joining B1G made the Ducks' national recruiting even stronger. Good point.

Like last year at Wisconsin, Lanning’s approach to dealing with super charged atmospheres is to limit the emotional affect of color, and go with the business suit (white shirt, black suit) look that keeps the focus away from appearance and the team’s mental focus on execution.

Good points. We'll find out who the Ducks' true gamers are on Saturday.

Agree, our qb over theirs. Ours has a much higher ceiling, but theirs does have experience. We'll see!

And no all-world tight end this year! Will be exciting.

Yep, could be a roller coaster ride.

Penn State offense' kryptonite is a bend don't break defense with a bias against the run. I think we try to make Allar and the WRs prove they can beat us then go from there.

See you at the tailgate. Are you going to the ESPN game day?

I'm fine with this. I don't understand the blending in with the fans in the stands thing. The fans are up above. Subconsciously it will seem all those people in white are cheering for us, because just like at home, the fans are wearing the color of our team's uniform. There are lots of people that claim the whiteout is more intimidating than a regular game, but I'm not sure. I think it amps up the away team to see such a clean beautiful atmosphere AND have them wearing your color.

Not in love with the uniform. Glow in the dark? When will the lights go out?

Our freshman, and RS freshman corners come from Maryland, and thus a benefit of being in the Big-10 and being able to tell their parents about the games at Penn State, Rutgers, Northwestern, etc. that they can easily travel to instead of coming to Eugene. And now...this game is a step up for these newbie corners, and I believe they will acquit themselves well. (Penn State wanted Finney bad) Brandon Finney Jr.

Nice piece, Darren... love the fire in the title! 🔥 I’ll echo what some others have said: defense is going to be the key. If our D comes out ready to clog lanes, force third downs, and not let PSU get comfortable, we’ve got a real shot. But the offense can’t just show up... the line has to win early, and Dante Moore needs clean pockets. One idea: mix in a few quick hitters and misdirections early to loosen up their edge set. Let’s get the crowd off balance, then hit ‘em when they overcommit. If the Ducks handle turnovers, stay disciplined in all three phases, and manage the tempo, I think we green out the white out. Go Ducks! 🦆

IMO for Dante, it will be extremely important to get him going early. A successful first possession with a TD will go a long way towards calming any nerves associated with 100k opposing fans yelling at you.

Just a FYI for the visitors from Oregon and other states not named Pennsylvania. If you wish to buy pre-game libations you can only buy beer at a distributor and some convenience stores. However, the convenience stores only sell small volumes (six pack and lower). I will be bringing a case of select NC IPA’s to the tailgate just in case their only offering is Yeungling, which is Pennsylvania’s version of Henry Weinhard.

I like our chances much better on defense without TE Tyler Warren on the other side. It really wreaks havoc on a defense when you have to pay so much attention to one player AND you don't have the personnel to neutralize him. Hopefully, no more double teams, bracket coverage, or otherwise leaning the defense towards that player. Just let the boys pin their ears back and play. I know they have other great skill players, but I like our backend much better this year. Offensively, play calls have to get in quickly and our offense should presume they will not be able to hear a word. I wonder if we might sneak in a little more no-huddle and two-minute. Why give the crowd another 40 seconds to ramp up before every play? Neither team has had to play deep into a 4th quarter. So wear the defense out and don't let them substitute. Let's flip the script and outrush them. And please, if you have a chance to take your first 3 points on the road in a big game and hostile environment - KICK THE FIELD GOAL! I don't care what the score is. Put points on the board. (Only exception to this is down 4+ with under 2 minutes to play). All the pressure is on Penn St. Stay ahead of the chains. Stay ahead on the scoreboard. If they don't win this with their upcoming trip to Columbus looming, they are staring at a road playoff game.

The Top 7 in the 2024 Portal Rankings, including OBD, are undefeated heading into Week 5. The Transfer Portal has revolutionized roster management. Pay now for untested high school players, or pay later for guys with college football experience? Returning Production? Clemson is No. 1 in returning production. 😁 Death Valley VoiceTransfer portal revolution: Breaking down its early effec...One term that is quickly becoming outdated in the new era of college football is "returning production." Over the past couple of seasons it has become evident t

IMHO, this different uniform per game business just makes it a little bit harder for us to play and win. No matter what, each player has to add a nano second to process, at least early in the game. Why is it a good thing, especially nowadays there are so many other ways to show that we have uncle Phil? 😁

These games are far better than the 5-and-dime, you know the winner before-kickoff games. And OBD is Number 1! On3Top 10 games to watch Week 5 of college football seasonMore than five top-25 matchups are on the books in Week 5. On3 is breaking down the top 10 games on the schedule. Note - the Auburn vs. Texas A&M game is being played in College Station, Texas, not Auburn, Alabama. SMH 😧

The NCAA can no longer control something as basic as eligibility. WOW. Vandy QB, Diego Pavia, broke the JC years counting toward eligibility last season. This goes one year beyond. If the judge's ruling is sustained, this brings CFB one step closer to a Super Conference. One wonders if the players will be student athletes or simply athletes drafted out of high school. Why does a sport that has always controlled its postseason play have any need for the NCAA?

Thank you, Darren. Your article hit all the key (not all the Keystone State keys, I hope) notes for a win in Beaver Stadium. Blue Chip Roster teams are a different animal, no doubt. In this case, a group of Nittany Lions, desperate for a significant victory, from the head coach on down. Shutting down Wisconsin in Madison last season on the road and playing in the 8th straight game against Big Ten opponents in front of a raucous crowd was noteworthy. However, was there a single player on that Badgers roster who would have started for OBD? Saturday is a Prove It game for both teams. Dan et al know that the Rose Bowl performance earned a solid 'F.' As you noted, a Prove It game for Dante Moore. Dante in today's world of CFB is a different animal. How many young players, two seasons removed from high school, would have chosen to sit behind an experienced QB and learn for a season? Not many. I don't believe there is a D in CFB that can shut down the OBD and PSU offenses. I watched Georgia's D lit up in Knoxville, Tennessee. Georgia, behind gutsy QB play, fought back, got the break it needed when a walk-off FG was missed, and the Dawgs escaped, as Kirby Smart admitted, with a lucky victory. Lucky or not, A W is a W. It's hard to win football games, especially on the road. OBD's schedule to date has been perfect for breaking in a new starter, at QB and 17 other positions. 18 new starters and OBD is 4-0. This is great coaching that is so easy to take for granted when your team has a significant roster advantage over the opponents. It's Blue Chip vs. Blue Chip. IMO, this game will come down to TOs, the same thing that happened last December in Indianapolis. I like our QB compared to their QB. I see OBD winning the turnover battle and winning a close game with at least 60 + cumulative points scored. Thanks again, Darren. Green Out the White Out! The grass is damn green in Eugene; it will not be whitewashed! 😍

Yes it will Don't we have a JUCO transfer player wanting to get back his JUCO years? If so then this is certainly good news. Just can't remember which player.

Good gosh Darren....what a great title! The more I watch analysis videos of this game...the less I am sold on Allar, the 'Lion QB. Pack the box and make him perform, and while they will get some explosion pass plays--it will not be enough to outscore Our Beloved Ducks, IMHO. The tactic would not work against Ohio State, or Indiana...but it could against Penn State. Our offense has to be sharp!

I used to follow all the twists and turns in the recruiting process, but now I like to see who has verballed to us, who offered them, etc. Then the occasional news from there, and when it looks exceptional solid, (such as not taking trips) then I might look at film on a few. While I have not cut it down to the level you have--my attention to recruiting is probably down 70% from years ago. When they verbal...I will report and read up on them. While players do flip, the vast majority....don't. And for those we lose, Lanning and staff flip others our way.