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Don, thank you for a great B1G look at football in one of CFB's top two conferences. Three in a row for the B1G is nice, but in today's wired world, I'm wary of recency bias. The Power 4 conferences in 2025 all had six teams that did not win more than five games. I line these teams up in hypothetical games, and I think the SEC is the deepest conference top to bottom. The ACC and B12 have sub-basements, and I think it would be closer than most football fans, and the media think, but that the SEC's basement would be better than the B1G's. With the SEC playing nine conference games this season, we will have an apples-to-apples comparison. Indiana among the Givens and rightfully so? I still have difficulty acknowledging that football is excellent in Bloomington and suspect in Lincoln. Vice versa when it comes to basketball. (Credit to The Athletic for coming up with the comparison.) For as long as Brett Bielma is coaching Illinois, the Fighting Illini will be a tough out. If we have learned anything over the last three seasons, it's that the middle of the B1G is not inferior to the middle of the SEC. Illinois, as Don so noted, has led the way with wins over 9-3 South Carolina and this past season's win over a close to season long ranked Tennessee team in Nashville. The 8-4 Hawkeyes bowl win over 10-2 Vanderbilt in Tampa this season, put a stamp on the B1G middle not being second fiddle to the SEC, and also gave support to the B1G's 24-team playoff plan. Purdue. Unlike Right Coast teams, Maryland and Rutgers, Boilermakers fans show up and sell out the stadium, whether inebriated or not. This is the school that produced Bob Griese, Drew Brees, and Rod Woodson. I think Purdue hired the right guy in Barry Odom. Can another school located in Indiana become a power in football? I doubt it, but I think Purdue doubles its win total in 2026, from two to four, and is .500 or better beginning in 2027. Wisconsin. A year after year Rose Bowl contender with a terrific fan base and an AD who walked the walk and came with the money in 2026, after promising to invest more in the football program. The Badgers finished strong in 2025 with home upset wins over No. 23 UW and No. 21 Illinois. Yes, it was in a torrential downpour, but Wisconsin had many players on the defense out with injuries and still battled OBD to the wire in a 21-7 loss. And the game in Madison in 2024 was as close as it can get. The Wisconsin schedule in 2025 was the most difficult in the conference. In 2026, notwithstanding an opening game vs. Notre Dame in Green Bay, CBS Sports ranks Wisconsin's schedule as the easiest in the conference. One would think that the football gods would not take out Wisconsin's starting QB early in the season for the fourth year in a row. (Especially when the QB's name is Colton Joseph! 🤪) This team played solid D in 2025 with many young players getting valuable minutes. I think the Badgers bounce back in 2026 with a shot at winning eight or more games. Nebraska left the B12 because of Texas, and the way in which the conference kissed Texas's Longhorns. No school in the conference has more zealous fans, as recently evidenced by Big Red fans taking over the arena in Oklahoma City for the basketball tournament game against Vanderbilt. And also selling out the football stadium for a record attendance volleyball game. I agree that cool is not the Ruhle in Lincoln. The football head coaching firings and hirings post-Osbourne have been baffling. I look for the Cornhuskers to again finish no better than slightly over .500. (Off the wall, I can see Dan Mullen coaching this team in 2027.) I expect UCLA under Bob Chesney to be much improved. I don't believe UCLA will be an easy out. Oregon blew Chesney's team out in the first half of the first-round playoff game in Autzen, and JMU never stopped competing. I'm leaving all things Iowa and the discussion of other B1G programs in your more than capable Hawkeye hands. Thanks again, Don, and well done, Sir, well done.

Thank you, Oregonjoneses. Please keep this terrific coverage of OBD's Softball squad coming. It's good to see the conference scheduling series that has OBD in Bloomington, then playing @230 miles from the Hoosiers campus in a ballpark near Chicago. With your coverage of softball and Charles coverage of baseball, well, I'm jonesing for more of the same. 😁

🦆By a Die‑Hard Ducks Softball Fan Who Believes This Is the Year The 2026 Oregon Ducks softball season feels different — and not just because the roster looks deeper, the bats look louder, and the pitching staff looks downright unfair. It feels different because this program finally looks ready to finish what “Version Seven” started in Oklahoma City. Under Melyssa Lombardi, every year of Ducks softball has been its own “Version” — a unique blend of culture, personality, and identity. Version Seven brought Oregon back to the Women’s College World Series. But Version Eight? This one is built for something bigger. As a die‑hard fan watching this team storm into the season with swagger, grit, and attitude… I can’t help but believe: this version is the one with championship DNA. 🥎 Version Eight Starts on the Rubber — and That’s Why Oregon Can Win It AllOregon’s pitching duo isn’t just good — it’s elite, national‑title‑worthy good. Two aces who dominate different ways Two veterans who’ve pitched in pressure cookers Two leaders who set the tone and the tempo every weekend You don’t win in Oklahoma City with “a decent staff.” You win with fire‑breathers, the kind of pitchers who punch out SEC lineups with runners on and smile doing it. Version Eight has exactly that. And unlike many national contenders, Oregon doesn’t have to wonder what they’ll get from the circle. They know. That stability is gold in postseason softball. 💥 The Lineup? Version Eight Might Be Oregon’s Most Dangerous Offense EverWhat makes this version pop off the page isn’t just the returning star power — it’s the way the old guard and the new blood mesh. This lineup hits for power, sprays line drives, pressures defenses with speed, and grinds out at‑bats. It’s not dependent on one or two stars — it’s dangerous everywhere, in that “no rest for the pitcher” kind of way that separates good teams from Oklahoma City teams. Version Eight brings: Returning home‑run threats Gap‑to‑gap hitters with savvy softball IQ Transfer sluggers who add instant punch Table‑setters with speed and instincts Bench players who would start almost anywhere else This isn’t the kind of lineup that hopes to win. It’s the kind that expects to score six runs every time it laces up. 🧱 Version Eight’s Defense Has All the Ducks in a RowWhat Oregon lost to graduation, it has replaced with: range athleticism and championship‑level fundamentals Version Eight’s infield is sharp, steady, and experienced; the catching corps is the best it’s been in years; and the outfield — even with new faces — feels faster and more dynamic. Defense is the silent factor that decides super regionals. Version Eight’s is built for June. 🔥 Experience Matters — and Version Eight Has It in SpadesThe difference between a team that reaches Oklahoma City and one that wins there often comes down to simple experience: Have you been there? Have you taken the punches? Have you gotten back up? Do you know what that moment feels like? Version Seven gave Oregon that experience. Version Eight is ready to cash it in. Nothing rattles a team that’s already fought the giants under the brightest lights. 🏆 So… Can Version Eight Win the Women’s College World Series?As a lifelong Oregon softball fan, I’ve watched every era — the historic highs, the painful lows, the rebuilds, the culture resets, and now the resurgence. And I’m telling you: Version Eight is the most complete Ducks team we’ve seen since Oregon’s golden era. They have: Pitching to win a best‑of‑three Hitting to erase deficits Defense to survive pressure innings Depth to withstand tournament chaos Coaching that’s learned, evolved, and delivered Experience that can’t be faked Belief — the most important trait of all Oregon has been knocking on the door again. Version Eight isn’t here to knock. They’re here to kick it down. And if the Ducks get back to Oklahoma City — which they absolutely can — I believe this version has everything it needs to bring the trophy home to Eugene for the first time in program history.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — No. 18 Oregon broke the school's single-game scoring record AND came back from a seven-run deficit Monday at Andy Mohr Field. The Ducks (24-8) defeated Indiana 24-12, but the final score doesn't begin scratch the surface of what transpired on a windy Indiana evening. In one of the wildest games in program history, the Ducks: Lost their starting pitcher to an injury after one out in the first inning. Fell behind 7-0 after three innings. Tied the game at 7-7 in the fourth, only to watch Indiana retake the lead, 9-7, in the next half inning. Went head for the first time, 11-9, on Kaylynn Jones' three-run homer in the fifth. Saw not one, but two grand slam home runs – one each by Elon Butler and Emma Cox. Had Butler come within a double of the program's first cycle. Scored their record-breaking 24th run on senior catcher Trinity Holden's first career hit. Also set school record for hits (21) and RBI (23). Won while giving up 12 or more runs for only the second time in program history. "We've just talked a lot and we just know that as long as we have innings to work with, we have the opportunity to come back and win," said head coach Melyssa Lombardi. "I've been saying this for a long time. This is a powerful lineup and you really got to see that today." The Ducks hit four home runs on Monday and also had three doubles and a triple that contributed to the team's record totals in runs, hits and RBI. All nine starters had at least one hit and three set or tied their career highs in RBI. Butler led the way with six – her third six-RBI game of the season, while Cox and Jones both drove in five. "It was fun," said Jones. "I mean, we weren't expecting that start, but all of our girls were not going to let that determine the rest of the game, and we came back as soon as we could with each other side by side, and I just think it's great that we can do that and we're recognizing that." How It Happened: All five walks issued by Oregon in the first three innings came around to score on home runs, a three-run shot in the first and a grand slam in the third, to give Indiana (25-7) a 7-0 lead. Stefini Ma'ake and Ayanna Shaw led the fourth inning off with singles. An out later, Braiesey Rosa's hit to left center scored both runners. Walks to Cox and Katie Flannery loaded the bases for Jones, who made it 7-3 Hoosiers on a sacrifice fly. Butler followed with a two-out triple that scored Cox and Flannery, cutting Indiana's lead to 7-5. Amari Harper made it a one-run game with a single that scored Butler and Ma'ake – making her second plate appearance of the inning – doubled in Harper to tie the game at 7-7. The Hoosiers took their final lead at 9-7 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Taryn Ho got things going with a double leading off the fifth inning. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored when Cox singled to left. Flannery walked for the second time to bring up Jones. She took the first two pitches for balls, but then experienced temporary regret for not swinging at the 2-0 offering. "I got on myself for a second," said Jones. "My dad always tells me never to swing 2-0, and I didn't and it was the fattest pitch ever. So I was ready to crank it again and she gave me that same pitch so it felt good." Jones did not miss on the 2-1 pitch, depositing it well beyond the wall in right field. Her third home run of the season gave the Ducks a lead at 11-9 that they wouldn't relinquish. Oregon scored six two-out runs in the top of the sixth, highlighted by Butler's grand slam – her 10th homer of the season – and Harper's eighth long ball of 2026. In the seventh inning, the first three Oregon batters reached ahead of Cox, who hit her first career grand slam which made it 21-11 at that point. An out later, Jones walked and then scored when a throw trying to get Butler at first went into right field. Butler, who went to third on the error, scored Ducks' 23rd run of the game on Harper's sacrifice fly. Oregon reloaded the bases on a hit, a walk and hit batter. Holden, who pinch-hit for Rosa, then slapped a sharp single into left field as her first career hit plated the Ducks' record-breaking 24th run of the game. "I just loved watching her," said Lombardi. "She came up, she was ready to swing. I knew that if she got her pitch, she was gonna hit it hard." Single-Game Records 24 runs, all games, and 24 runs, conference game (previous record 23, vs. Oregon State, March 15, 2015) 21 hits (previous record 20, vs. Saint Mary's, March 7, 1993, and at Rutgers, March 29, 2025) 23 RBI (previous record 21, March 29, 2025) The only other time on record that Oregon won while giving up 12 or more runs was a 23-12 win against Oregon State on March 15, 2015. Notable: The seven-run deficit was the biggest overcome of the Lombardi era. The previous best was six runs against Portland State on April 23, 2019 … Oregon hit two more sacrifice flies on Monday, the program's 21st and 22nd of the season. That's the third best mark in program history and only three off the school record of 25 (2015, 2025) … Lyndsey Grein earned her team-best 14th win of the season … Katie Flannery made her 100th career start at 3rd base … Taryn Ho had the first two-double game of her career. Starter Elise Sokolsky had to exit the game with one out in the bottom of the first due to an apparent injury … Monday's game was a nonconference game. The Ducks and Indiana don't play a Big Ten series this season. Quotable Head Coach Melyssa Lombardi on how the team bounced back from being down 7-0 "Resiliency. That's how I would describe this group. We were down seven to zero at one point in the game, and if you were to look in this dugout, they were extremely loose. They were into the game. They were having good at-bats, knowing that we were going to find a way to come back and win, to see everybody contribute, not just the starters, but also have Trinity come off the bench, Remington (Hewitt), just everybody who came in did something." Up Next: The Ducks begin a three-game series with Northwestern Thursday at The Ballpark at Rosemont, which is the home of the AUSL's Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, Ill.

EUGENE, Ore. – Lyndsey Grein, who threw two complete games to defeat Purdue in West Lafayette twice over the weekend, has been named the Wilson/NFCA Division I National Pitcher of the week, that organization announced Tuesday. The senior from Mokena, Ill., was 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in the Purdue series. She struck out 20, walked three and allowed one run on eight hits. She held opponents to a .151 batting average. In the series opener on Friday, she threw a four-hit shutout to lead Oregon to a 6-0 victory. She struck out 11 and walked one. Sunday, Grein allowed one run on three hits in the Ducks' 2-1 victory. She struck out eight and walked one and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning. She also threw two scoreless innings in Saturday's game. Grein leads the Big Ten in strikeouts (119) and is 14-3 on the season.

Oh Don....great article, but I do have two areas of disagreement. First...your beloved Hawkeyes are not in the top five of teams that will make life harder for the Ducks? My friend...they already have made life harder, as we were fortunate to escape that incredibly tough environment this last fall. Any team that goes to Iowa City is in for a big-battle. With a new QB...I see more of that from Iowa. Second...quietly...Bret Bielema has built a strong team at Illinois. They have gradually become better, and this year won NINE games, including a sweet win over the SEC in their bowl game against Tennessee. I see a very tough trip to Champaign this fall, and thus the Illini are certainly going to make life harder for the Ducks and all Big-10 opponents...IMHO. My Duck-Buddies....this article by Don Marsh is well thought out, and fun to discuss. It is a great example of an opinion article that gets us all pondering, and something our writers at FishDuck.com enjoy to contribute to the forum. Do YOU have something to say? Write it in an email or on a Word Document and email it to me charles@fishduck.com and I'll take it from there. We'll have an editor polish it, and I will add pictures. I could use guest articles in the off-season, and I am very grateful to people who contribute as they do so often. Thanks to Jon Joseph, Mike Whitty, Mike West, and of course--Don Marsh. Add your name to that list! Mr. FishDuck

In arguably, what is the toughest conference in college football, the Big Ten, life is about to get even harder for OBD. In a future article I will make the case that there are five teams that will be responsible for this, but first, let’s look at the 12 teams that did not make my list. I would love your ... The Big-10 is Getting Tougher for Oregon….or NOT?

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks 1-hit UC San Diego in 6-0 Win LA JOLLA, Calif. — Miles Gosztola and Leo Uelmen combined to toss a one-hitter while Jack Brooks homered and drove in four runs to lead No. 20 Oregon to a 6-0 nonconference win at UC San Diego at Triton Ballpark on Tuesday. Gosztola (1-1) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before finally surrendering a single just out of the reach of second baseman Ryan Cooney with two outs in the inning. He retired the next hitter to finish his day allowing just two runners to reach base. The Ducks’ lefty was in command from the outset retiring the first 15 batters he faced before finally issuing a walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth. He got the next batter to fly out to Brooks in center field before getting a ground-ball double play to end the inning. Miles Gosztola Gosztola faced 22 batters throwing first-pitch strikes to 17 of them on the way to finishing the game with eight strikeouts. Uelmen came out of the pen to retire six of the seven batters he faced, getting a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth with all three outs on weak ground balls to first baseman Gabe Miranda. He issued a walk after retiring the first two batters in the ninth before fanning the final batter he faced to end the game. On offense, Brooks reached base three times (2-for-3, BB) with a home run and a double. Miranda went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. How It Happened: After managing just one hit through the first 4.1 innings, Oregon finally found some offense after Burke-Lee Mabeus started a rally with a bunt single. Miranda moved Mabeus to second with his second hit of the day, before Brooks lined a three-run home run off the scoreboard beyond the right-field wall. Oregon tacked on a fourth run with another home run to right field. This time it was Jax Gimenez doing the honors with his third career homer. The Ducks added some insurance in the ninth inning, scoring two more runs. Maddox Molony led off the frame with a solo homer to left. After Miranda picked up his third hit of the day, Brooks ripped a run-scoring double into the right-center field gap, scoring Miranda from first. Box Score Notes: Brooks’ home run was his third in has last 14 at-bats … It was also the third of his career and the season … Drew Smith failed to reach base in a game for the first time this season … Ryan Cooney had his seven-game hitting streak snapped … Gosztola and Uelmen combined to allow just three base runners … The Ducks got six hits, four runs scored and four RBI out of the seven, eight and nine spots in their lineup. On Deck: Oregon and UCSD wrap up their two-game series on Wednesday with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

Oregon football continuing its history of Tight Ends! Oregon Ducks On SIOregon Ducks Becoming Known For Producing NFL Talent at T...In the last two seasons, the Oregon Ducks have had numerous players with a knack for the tight end position. In 2024, it was Terrance Ferguson who went on to b

Jackson Shelstad delivers heartfelt 'thank you' to fans after transferhttps://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/mens-basketball/2026/03/24/oregon-basketball-jackson-shelstad-transfer/89308495007/

Oregon Ducks women's basketball lost their first player to the transfer portal, and it's a notable exit. Guard Elisa Mevius entered the transfer portal, per Talia Goodman of On3. The news comes after her season was cut short following an ACL injury two games into the 2025-26 season. The Ducks lose a key two-way player and a former starter in Mevius. Oregon Ducks On SIKelly Graves Loses First Oregon Ducks Player to Transfer...EUGENE – The Oregon Ducks’ season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22. Just two days later, the Ducks lost their first player

I really don’t understand what we’re doing. We could field a competitive team for the cost of 3-4 starters on the football team. Seems pretty clear (despite having his son’s name on the arena) PK and his network are not with the program, imo. They really should look into fixing whatever is the root of that problem.

RPI planning by Waz, as the B1G is weak, and adding San Diego-who has a win over No. 1 UCLA and has a good RPI that helps Oregon for the postseason. Even more so with Santa Barbara-tough team. We have one non-conference week during the B1G schedule, and Waz uses it to boost RPI.

A side note, only because it's USC. The loss to Beavis today was their first inside the remodeled, reoriented, rebuilt baseball stadium. They have been playing off campus in Irvine for two seasons and returned to campus this season. Ducks are just starting a 6-game non-conference slate: @UC-San Diego x 2, @UC-Santa Barabra x 3, home for U Portland before traveling to Michigan. May seem odd in the midst of a B1G schedule, but games in the Southland may be good planning based on late March weather that is typical for Eugene.

I do not see a political reference. I see legislation proposed by a former college coach who went undefeated one season, and some comments about the legislation. If you disagree--email me charles@fishduck.com

Thanks, and I see Waz developing depth among the Bullpen, as more pitchers are getting their confidence. This team has upside left, and if we see it...

Fantastic work once again Charles. I look forward to every edition of your Horsehide Chronicles. This team has a lot of depth, including on the hill, and Coach Waz seems to know which rabbits to pull out of his hat

Ducks win 6-0 after Maddox Molony skies a homer over the left wall! Then Gabe Miranda gets a hit to the R-CF, and Jack Brooks hits a double that goes to the CF-RF gap and buzzes to the warning track before the fielders can get their hands on it. This allows Miranda to score from first, and perhaps the big-guy has more wheels than I thought! Leo Uelmen comes in again to finish off the side, and WOW. What great pitching tonight, and big confidence builders for both pitchers. Gosztola was incredible...just ONE hit is all.

Ducks win 6-0 in about 2-1/2 hours on the clock.

4-0 Ducks after eight innings. Jax Gimenez pulverized a pitch, and put it on almost the same spot on the scoreboard that Jack Brooks did earlier for solo HR! Leo Uelmen came in for Gosztola, and put them down 1-2-3!

3-0 Ducks after seven innings. Oregon stranded a runner again, but boy....what a game for Miles Gosztola! He gave up his first hit, and then retired the side with eight KOs.

3-0 Ducks after six innings. Oregon stranded a runner, and Miles Gosztola finally gave up a base runner to a walk. Then he got a flyout, and a grounder to generate a double-play to end the inning! He's HOT. Will we see him in the seventh?

3-0 Ducks after five innings. Burke-Lee Mabeus pulled a perfect bunt down the 3rd baseline to beat the throw. Gabe Miranda got a hit in short-RF, and then Jack Brooks came up and blasted a 3-run homer that popped the scoreboard!