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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.

How many people say that, and not. "it's apples to oranges"/

Not to quibble, but Riley, and USC overall, 5 double digits victories in the last 16 years. To be a disappointment there has to be a belief that they will do better in 2025.

And it appears that the bombastic Indiana HC chimed in--as he can do.... Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, known for making splashes with a microphone in his face, leaned into the controversy at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday. Asked why cancelling the home-and-home with Virginia is good for Indiana, Cignetti took it as an invitation to fire off a shot at a rival conference. “We figured we would just adopt the SEC scheduling philosophy, you know,” Cignetti said. “Some people don’t like it. I’m more focused on those nine conference games. Not only do we want to play nine conference games and have the 4-4 Playoff format. We want to have play-in games to decide who plays in those playoffs.” Curt Cignetti

They surprised everyone at the B1G Media days with their agreement about conference scheduling.... (From a John Canzano article) Rob Mullens: “The hard thing about college football is there’s a whole difference in that some leagues play eight (conference games), some leagues play nine. There is not a ton of head-to-head. You’re left at the end to try to figure out seeding. Those last few spots with 6-7 (teams) in the end, it’s really difficult.” Mullens continued, “There was one year when I was chair, we had Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio State, and one spot. We went ALL… NIGHT… LONG. It was really hard to differentiate.” James Franklin: “Everybody has to play the same number of conference games,” Franklin said. “This ain’t this hard. Everybody should be playing eight, or everybody should be playing nine.” “You’re asking a group of people to get into a room and give us the best 12 or 16 teams, and you’re not comparing apples to apples,” Franklin said. “… then you get these media members that we know are not true national media members, they’re homers to certain conferences, we have them in the Big Ten, other people have them as well. And then they get on and pound the table about people’s schedules, you’re not comparing the same thing.” It is great to see the conference commissioner, a major AD, and a HC in the conference coming out strong about this, and it is crucial that we are united with this issue. James Franklin

Psst. Ducks aren’t gonna lose at PSU. They are not gonna leave Happy Valley Nittany Lions fans happy at the end of the game. As an aside, where does the “Nittany” come from? The nearby mountains are the Nittany Mountains. Local lore holds that cougars roam there, hence the “Nittany Lions” namesake. This is according to two PSU alums.

IMO.....at Iowa.....this game will demand a good effort Its played November 8.....in the midwest November 8 could be like January or September weather wise. If by some chance it's January.....anything could happen. Iowa appears to be underrated this year....they have 3 players potentially rated all big 10 on the OL. A nice QB transfer and will have a good not great defense. The place will be packed and may be played at night......depending on how Iowa has done to date. One of the larger stadiums at 70,000. Few Oregon fans in the area. Who but the diehards wants to visit Iowa City in November. Oregon is traveling Iowa coming off bye Iowa coming off playing at home against a mid level Minnesota. So no travel for 3 weeks. Few bumps and bruises. Last time Oregon played Iowa was 1994. Not a familiar site. Not sure which ref team will be assigned but......they could be slanted. If Iowa is 7-1 or better going into the game...look out for a few obvious home calls. Iowa coaching is not great.....but is competent.

Terrific topic to ponder. I'll Duck out and go with what Dan Lanning would likely say: One game at a time, and they are all tough games.

Indiana is a home game coming off a bye after playing at Penn State. Were you thinking of the away game at Iowa? It's easy to confuse teams in a conference with 4 Ms, 3 Is, 2 Ns, Os, Ps. Us, Ws, and an R.😁

Oregon Ducks have recorded double-digit victories in 11 of the past 16 seasons. If we had played a SEC type schedule, we would have at least 3 more double digit seasons. Pretty harsh put down on USuC when it's your hometown sports writer who carries national clout. Gotta love it!