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My suspicion is that Novosad would play if Dante couldn’t go for an extended period of time. Pending that, he is as good as gone in the transfer portal.

I believe that 12 is a good number and wish they would start the playoffs earlier with the championship game on January 1. Eliminate the automatic qualifiers and have the 12 most deserving teams in the tournament. If Tulane, James Madison, et al want to play in the playoffs you had better schedule some top teams OOC to prove that you belong. No matter how many teams you have in the tournament there will be people complaining. Look at the NCAA basketball tournament. If you play in a major conference and have less than 2 losses you should be in; with 2 losses you are on the bubble and your fate will be decided by the committee; three or more loses and you should be eliminated.

Alabama just had to keep the SEC Championship Game close and they would have been in the playoff, IMO. They even failed to do that and should be out.

If Novosad and Moga are not able to beat out Thomas over the course of the season then there is no reason for them to stay on the team. Thomas is a great story (homegrown kid) but not a QB that is going to take you where Oregon wants to go. I will be absolutely shocked if they are both not in the portal come January. I am guessing by then the Ducks will know what Moore is doing. If he goes pro, we are absolutely getting a QB from the portal.

I can't imagine Novosad not following WS to Kentucky. He knows the offense that Stein would design and would likely already be starting at a bunch of P4 teams not named Oregon. This could change if Dante declares and the 2026 qb #1 is an open battle between Novosad, Moga, Smith and Beaver (still getting used to that name in green and yellow). I suspect that since Thomas rose to be the #2 this year, that there was either a fall off in performance from the scholarship qbs or injury issues. Regardless, if Dante stays I imagine Stein takes Novosad with him and Oregon works to develop the successor internally. If he declares, DL hits the portal for a plug and play qb while working to have Moga, Smith or Beaver ready for 2027, and Novosad is still gone. While it would likely derail Oregon's CFP run if Moore goes down and Thomas takes the helm, there is precedent for a recent NC won by a team with a walk-on qb and a very good defense. Think 2022 Georgia with Stetson Bennett at qb and DC Dan Lanning.

Novosad and Moga will probably transfer. If that happens they have to transfer between January 2-16 which is during the playoffs.

Lanning was totally serious when he said that Thomas earned the backup job in practice.

ACC Championships The Fighting Mario’s: 0 Guy fired for Mario: 1

Have Novosad and Moga continued to dress and practice with the team throughout the season? I have never heard that either of them was missing practices and I’ve never heard that they are still practicing. Is it still likely that we see one of them subbing at QB should (knock wood) the need arise? Who is the real next man up at quarterback? I like to hope there is the possibility to use one of them or Akili Smith in the playoffs. I’ve never been convinced that Brock Thomas is the most capable player based solely on merit; in case of emergency. I think the opportunity to showcase their ability in the playoffs would probably overwhelm the risk of injury in a playoff game for either Novosad or Moga. This was the year it looked as if Oregon finally had insurance in place in case Moore was injured; in fact, it seemed as if there was a real quarterback competition last Fall between capable candidates. Now where are we? With this team’s horrible history of shoving unprepared backup QB’s into our late-season and Bowl games over the years, are we up the same creek again? Dennis Dixon or Kellen Clemens were hurt late and the team had no one ready to step up. I didn't think we'd be in the same position once again with Lanning in charge but is Thomas really, really the number 2? Thoughts?

Yep, I think we get Tulane. Ol Miss gets 'bama. ACC gets stiffed again. No entries into playoff. Though, can someone explain to me how ND, with same record as Miami (10-2) gets in but the team they lost to! does not?! If head to head doesn't count, why play the games in a playoff?!!

Sumrall is highly regarded. I want to see world class performance from your QB though. I was absolutely disappointed in his effort and level of play. I don't think that was due to poor coaching. So I hope Sumrall is more effective than Kiffin is at developing QBs, because the road to a Florida title is DJ Lagway. I'm talking 30 TDs, 4 INT level performance. Heck, 27 TDs and 6 INTs would have propelled the Gators much higher. That's got to happen. The kid is too talented to look as average as he did this year.

All I know is Dante Moore missed two TDs Stein called for him against Indiana. Indiana forced both Ohio State and OBD to play mistake free ball. Both teams will defeat the Hoosiers if they do. Both teams field more talent. And yes, I am saying this after watching both games. Ohio State finally faced a team their caliber. Much like A&M. The bad news is , unlike OBD last year, they face the sting of this loss before its "win or go home". That will make them far more dangerous. The Buckeyes can't control the ball with a strong running game. That's finally on film. But that's four games Indiana has displayed the same characteristic. Cignetti is using the DeBoer/Penix back shoulder strategy. Indiana can't out run CBs. Which means the Smart DCs are going to play zone and shut that stuff down. Ironically, that is also what I would do to Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith pushes off as soon as anyone gets close to him. Tate has to be more crafty since he isn't a physical beast like Smith is. But the way to beat both of those teams is to lay off of press coverage. Let's see who follows that strategy, because both teams are excellent against press coverage. This playoff run comes down to Dante Moore. I'm thinking run the offense like the Jim Kelly Bills...all two minute stuff. Moore doesn't think when he's given routes like that. We saw that front and center these past two games, and actually much like the first three games of the season. My two cents of course, which won't be followed since Lanning insists on being physical. College football is closer than ever to the NFL. The QB decides titles. The running game is an accessory. You need to be able to run the ball to wrap the game up. You need to pass the ball to take command of the game.

Yes, I'm coming around to Charles' view regarding the importance of experienced transfer QBs in the portal era.

I think this will speed up the process of having a 16 or 24 team playoff. Either the ACC, Notre Dame or Alabama gets left out of the playoffs this year. That will create the necessary storm to get a larger field. It should also help with the other conferences agreeing to the model of automatic qualifiers that the Big 10 would like.

This is also how I would rank the teams and Tulane would take Alabama's spot and James Madison will be the 12th seed playing OBD in Eugene. Alabama really isn't the second best SEC team. The playoff committee ranks them as the 5th best team in the SEC. Alabama had their chance and blew it when Georgia pummeled them.

Spot on! And my bad for overlooking the 5 conference champs are in rule. Massey Ranking SOS - Duke 62/ JMU 100 Hmmmm?

Nicely done Indiana! Almost nothing better than seeing tosu lose. Cignetti reminds me of Mike Leach. Very entertaining to listen to.

Bama at Autzen I'd agree with but man, Tech is hot and are going to be a very tough out for anyone I fear.

I believe James Madison will take the 12th seeded team's spot and Tulane will take the 11th seeded team's spot. Miami, Notre Dame and Alabama are fighting for the 9th and 10th seeds. I vote for Miami and Notre Dame. According to the playoff committee's poll Alabama is the 5th best team in the SEC. They had their chance to get in the playoffs by beating Georgia and they failed. If this upsets the SEC then I suggest they put their two best teams in the championship game just like the Big Ten did tonight. Duke, the 6th best team in the ACC rose to the challenge and beat Virginia even though they have too many losses to make the playoff field.

Did Ohio State lose on purpose for a better playoff position? No one wants to have a long bye.

I am a Duck, but I grew up in NOLA, and my mom is a Tulane grad. I actually went to preschool and elementary school w Peyton Manning (yes, I am aging myself). Peyton was a good guy, although I beat him in a foot race in 2nd grade. No one in NOLA knows Oregon exists. So bring it on!

Sacks? “Very disappointed. Just overall with how we played. Didn’t play very well in the situations, third downs were not very good, not very good in the red zone at the end. I thought Indiana played really well, did a great job” On the team’s sacks it allowed: “They obviously brought different pressures and twists, but that was something they had done all season. We didn’t handle it well at all...This is a major lesson for this team, it can come down to one play or two plays or three plays that decide a game like this. This is a tough lesson to learn. We have to be more efficient across the board.” That was Coach Day a few minutes ago. Not a quote from Dan Lanning in mid-October. A team wearing Crimson and Cream has a hell of a D-coordinator.

Good Call! But I see the committee seeding Miami at 11 and giving No. 6 Ole Miss all it can handle in Oxford. We'll see(d). 🙃

Ohio State has now gone 5 seasons without a Big Ten football title. The last time that occurred was the 6 seasons 1962-67. With James Franklin now gone, Ryan Day is now on the clock...

The OBD O-Line Stinks! 6 sacks surrendered to the Hoosiers. Ohio State. 'Only' 5 sacks surrendered in the champ game. 11-1 with 2025's 'best loss.'