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Bryce Boetthcer excited by first impressions of freshman linebacker Gavin Nix Oregon senior linebacker Bryce Boettcher is impressed by what he's seen in the early going from true freshman Gavin Nix.

"Iowa hasn't allowed 30 points to an opponent at home for 56 straight games dating back to early 2016. .... just for reference, Oregon over the same stretch gave up 30+ at Autzen 12 times)." That's a pretty crazy stat when you think about it in the modern era of football. Here's the highest scoring home opponents during that stretch. Aside from Michigan in 2022, most of the highest scores were by opponents mid-and-lower tier Big Ten. Appears the scoring defense shows up for the biggest opponents? highest opponent score at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium: 2024: 21-Troy 2023: 16-Michigan St 2022: 27-Michigan 2021: 24-Purdue 2020: 21-Northwestern 2019: 20-Purdue 2018: 28-Nebraska 2017: 24-Purdue 2016: 38-Northwestern

Okay......Julian Sayin at #2 is just freakin ridiculous, he hasn't played a down, he isn't some sort of all world prospect like Lawrence was, that is just flat out wrong. Mendonza at 2 is fine, I really really like him, he's consistent, he's tough, and he's proven. Altmyer and Williams are a little high, I think Raiola is actually underrated. Moore should be like 7 or so, Maiava is should not be ahead of him, Underwood is also too high, Moore should be ahead of him. Iamaleava is a the one where I just have no idea, I think he's talented, but he didn't put up great numbers, he did his part. Williams is too high, though I like him, but he needs to actually win at some point.

Yeah I noticed they decided to stick with rivals as well. On3 has a rising brand and does a good job with recruiting information. Rivals just didn't seem to have that going for them. But on3s rankings always felt 3rd or 4th behind Rivals and 247s rankings and maybe even ESPN's which still feels like something they just throw together. It'll be interesting to see if they change how the rankings work as On3 has a bit of their own methodology.

I have to think most of the SUC fans can’t be happy about the money they paid for Riley, especially when you look at his results. Each season his win/loss record gets worse. SUC dished out big money for a used Lincoln, only to find out it has engine trouble. Contrast that to Oregon, we took a calculated risk on a young energetic coach that wants to outwork the competition. Lanning surrounded himself with a young like minded staff, and it is obvious it carried over to the players. SUC is throwing around money, but is it being used effectively? Compare the atmosphere surrounding the team in Smog town to Eugene. Must win vs. let’s go out and take a run at the title again …only this time with a few of SUCs top lineman…lol

I don’t really have an issue with the rankings. Maiava made a ton of mistakes in crunch time last season. I am shocked he still had the job. I probably would have had Moore in front of him at 9.

These haters are spinning conjecture like it’s their full-time job, but it’s really just free advertising for OBD. Every time they rant about Lanning or the Ducks, it’s like they’re secretly in the fan club and don’t know it yet. You can practically feel the jealousy dripping off their posts... the same kind of energy you get when someone realizes their flip phone can’t keep up with a smartphone. Keep it up, folks… we appreciate the unpaid hype team.

Don't Hit the Road Jack! Illinois has the fewest B1G miles to travel in 2025. The Illini's 2025 season success will be decided early on. Week 2 at Duke, Week 4 at Indiana. Week 5 against USC. Win these games, and 11-1 is doable. Writing IlliniNew metric will have Illinois fresh for a run at the Coll...In a recent episode of The Big Ten Huddle, I released the 2025 Big Ten football travel rankings, which revealed a golden opportunity for the Illinois football p

Where is this guy rated a 5*? 24/7 composite has him listed as a 5* but only a 4* on their site. You can see the others as well here. How do a bunch of 4 stars average a 5? 😆 I'm just curious which sites are missing, or maybe I don't understand how composite rankings work?

I like throwing darts too! But in fairness, where should he be? Sayin and Underwood are arbitrary, but I’m not sure I could rate Moore higher than any of the others until he proves otherwise. IMO of course 😉

It's so good to see Pawalll staying in his own lane (not Kiffin).😁 Did Linc steal his lunch money? https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2025/07/27/paul-finebaum-rips-usc-football-lincoln-riley/85333794007/?utm_source=smg-trojanswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig

According to Canzano, the B1G Media Days statements from the coaches and the ADs were all 'scripted.' Of course, this wasn't the case in the ACC, B12, and the SEC, where everyone supported a 5-11 format on their own volition, right? As to 8 versus 9 conference games, before the SEC get together, Brian Kelly spoke out in favor of nine games and a B1G/SEC football challenge. You did not hear this from Brian in Atlanta. The reporting on a new PO format, including Canzano's takes, has been big-time biased and not in favor of the B1G. Sankey and other SEC honks, complaining about not wanting the SEC to be limited to 4 PO spots, is horse hockey! Look at the top 16 in the committee's 2024 final and decisive poll, the SEC would have had 4 AQs and 2 at-large teams in a B1G-format 16-team PO field. The B12's Brett Yormark wants a 5-11 format if the ACC and the SEC play nine conference games. How often have you seen this reported? Petitti has said that the B1G will seriously consider the 5-11 format if everyone plays nine conference games and the committee process is changed to be far more objective. Tony Petitti will not be humiliated and hounded into changing the B1G's preferred PO format. Hats off to Tony! Terrific comments from Rob, who has been in the arena. Franklin was spot on, including calling out Notre Dame. Every PO contender should be in a conference, playing the same number of conference games, and either all contenders play a conference champ game if they so qualify, or no one plays a conference champ game. Coming into the semifinal game against Notre Dame, Penn State had played 15 games, 12 versus P4 opponents, 13 if PO contender Boise State counts as a quality opponent. Notre Dame had played 14 games, 10 against P4 opponents. Unlike Notre Dame, in 2024 Penn State could not schedule four G5 opponents. Having everyone play the same number of conference games is not radical; it's the norm.

Thanks for the post, Smitty. I read this and LOL'd. These rankings make as much sense as having Arch Manning, with wins over Mississippi State and two G5 teams, leading the Heisman Trophy pack. Julian Sayin 2nd? Why? Because he signed with Bama before transferring to Ohio State. Because he looked good, not great, in the spring game, while missing throws to outstanding WRs. The player with the most B1G success on the list is Luke Altmyer, a 5th-year senior who led the Illini to 10 wins in 2024-25, including a win against 'they should have made the PO!' South Carolina. Nico I-Man led Tennessee to the playoffs last season. Riola won 7 games, including a bowl win. Ditto the 'Greek Rifle' at Rutgers. Mendoza has a lot of experience, and pro scouts love his potential, but there's no way he should be ahead of Altmyer. Underwood is 17 years old and, like Sayin, he has yet to start a college game. Dante Moore has 4x the starting experience of these two. I grew up in Massachusetts, but in this case, I could have come from Missouri: Show Me!

The interesting thing about USC’s situation is that it’s a reflection of how college football’s power dynamics have changed, not just a commentary on one program’s struggles. For years, USC could rely on name recognition and local talent pipelines to sustain dominance. But NIL deals, the transfer portal, and national recruiting strategies have flattened the playing field. Programs like Oregon, TCU, K State, Utah, and even schools like Liberty or Coastal Carolina have built cultures that prioritize development, continuity, and innovative coaching over simply relying on historic prestige. If anything, USC’s mediocrity isn’t just about Lincoln Riley’s performance... it’s about an outdated assumption that tradition alone can carry a program in a modern, hyper-competitive environment. The sport now rewards adaptability, humility, and alignment between coaches, players, and administration. Look at Oregon under Lanning: there’s a sense of identity, both on and off the field, that feels like it’s built for the next decade. USC seems to be clinging to the past, hoping that talent alone will be enough. Maybe USC’s biggest challenge isn’t coaching or talent ... it’s cultural. Do they have the patience and vision to reinvent themselves in a way that reflects the future of the sport? Or are they content to rely on the ghosts of Pete Carroll’s era, hoping lightning strikes twice?

Games that look like probable losses: at UO, at ND, home for Michigan. Tough games that Riley has yet to show the leadership to be able to win: at Illinois, at Nebraska, home for Iowa. Mario Riley finds a spectacular way to lose (pick one or two): Home UCLA and MSU (never sleep on a Jonathan Smith Team). I think 7-5 and wait till next year's national championship is in the cards yet again.

A humbled five star quarterback willfully sits a year to learn behind a Heisman finalist on an undefeated number one team. That doesn't happen often. I doubt Arch Manning is ranked the number 10 SEC QB even though the situations are similar. I predict this will be the best offense that Lanning has put on the field so far and the string of Heisman finalist QBs continues for OBD.

Fun topic. Here's my take toughest to easiest. At Iowa. A good defensive game but UO has way too much offense to keep it close. Ducks by 10. At fuskies. Their improving offense gets smothered by UO's relentless defense with no answer for Moore to Moore. Ducks by 14. Indiana. The Hoosiers take a step back this year but are still well coached and put up a fight for awhile. Ducks by 18. SUC. As another humbling season approaches the end, a checked out SUC shows up at Autzen ready for their beatdown. Ducks by 20.

Dakorien Moore may be more. What Oregon Ducks' Dan Lanning, Teammates Said About 'Unbelievable' Dakorien Moore

Just the right amount of motivation provided for Oregon and Dante Moore to prove the pundits wrong! Oregon Ducks On SIBig Ten Quarterbacks Shocking Rank: Michigan's Bryce Unde...The quality of a program’s quarterback is key to on-field success. That’s certainly been the case for the Oregon Ducks, who have produced two Heisman Trophy fin

I'd pick Iowa over Washington. Iowa with a new OC seems to have found a pulse last year offensively. They jumped 60 spots in offensive F+. It only brought them to middle of the pack status; but, they actually rushed the ball pretty well last year. Their passing game only improved modestly; but, they are bringing in a QB in Mark Gronowski who won back-to-back FCS titles (and one FCS player of the year award). Obviously it is a wait and see how the jump to FBS goes; but, with over 10,000 career passing yards, he will bring experience and one might expect at least a higher floor. On defense Iowa finished #9 in defensive F+, after finishing #3 the year prior. They will be replacing 7 starters; but, their early depth chart shows 9 seniors and two juniors (all who were a part of the program last year). They have a history of usually being solid there (they haven't allowed 30 points to an opponent at home for 56 straight games dating back to early 2016. It's a bit of an apples-to-oranges kind of comparison given how the two teams play but, just for reference, Oregon over the same stretch gave up 30+ at Autzen 12 times). I'll go ahead and take the USC over Indiana. Always liked Mendoza at Cal and expect Indiana will be good again; but, Oregon should have a significant talent advantage on paper (both UI's losses last year were to top 10 blue-chip rosters in Ohio State and Notre Dame). Plus, they will be coming into Autzen. I think 30 years ago was their only visit. USC will be visiting as well; but, its a trip they have made regularly since before Autzen opened. Should be less a factor.

Uniforms! Alternate uniforms! Oregon has them, and ESPN recognizes their achievement. Saturday TraditionOregon lands 'lifetime achievement award' in ESPN's best...Oregon knows how to make a splash with its alternate uniforms, and ESPN recognized the regular contributions of the Ducks in a special piece.

Big big shame that USC and Ole Miss don't play this year. Just think... Riley would have had the rare opportunity to get beat by two former USC head coaches if they played. Instead we'll just have to settle for the return of Clay Helton who is doing a decent job at GS. But Kiffin getting a shot to beat USC would have been sweet! Does he still have a former USC kid at QB too? Gahhh missed opportunity.

When the Ducks won 44-6 at Iowa in 1989 it was one of coach Hayden Fry's worst Iowa teams though they did manage a 5-6 season. Iowa was 1-5 at home, 4-1 on the road. There was a noticeable difference in team speed between Oregon's offense and Iowa's defense in that September 1989 game. It was 38-0 with a bit over 6 minutes left in the third quarter. 1989 was an interesting schedule. Iowa was the only non-conference game in September. The Ducks went 3-3 in conference too, then played two non-conference games with the first in late October. The Ducks then went 2-0 in the Pac in November to finish 5-3 and 8-4. I don't think they have had a non-conference game as late as November 4 again since. And, that November 4 game wasn't an SEC version of hosting Citadel in November, it was at BYU.

My bad. I thought Indy was a road game. I'll stick with them though. We still have Rileys number!

I have nothing to add to all the great points made by fred flintstone, and 3 things are true, it never rains at Autzen Stadium, and the Ducks aren't losing, in the bright sunshine to Indiana or USC either. While it's in the realm of possibilities, and Fisch has the Mutts moving in the right direction, they aren't ready to beat OBD in 2025.