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It just means more only applies when they win turkey shoots. Those are now meaningless bowl games against their JV teams.

Yes, but unfortunately an SEC team with a pulse rates a rating.

Yes, I think playing TT was a great warm-up as their front 7 is as good as there is. Just go to the doctor this week and clean up what ails. Also, if the DTs are making headways like TT, then Dante needs a less deep pocket and stay under the end rushes.

Just to throw it into the mix. Now that Austin N. is in the portal, he is listed as the 36th best QB in the portal (just a couple days in mind you) give or take. Not sure how exact of a science that is, but that would seem to, at best, place him as a backup at a P2 after 3 years of development at a premiere P2. Is that a developmental problem, or a problem with the HS rating system creating false expectations with fans? Incidentally, there are currently at least 3 (and should increase to 4) QBs that started at least one game for Beavis in their career, that are rated ahead of Austin in the portal.

I finally had an opportunity to rewatch the second half and below are my observations: Oregon's defense was obviously dominant. The telecast said it was Oregon's first bowl shutout since the early 1900's Rose Bowl against Penn (1917?). Someone on a podcast said that there are 8+ dudes on Oregon's starting defense who will likely be playing on Sundays and that to win a national championship, we might need to rely on our defense and have our offense manage the game/avoid mistakes. This is the complete opposite of what we've done in past national championship games but is what Coach Lanning has been building towards since he got to Oregon. Dante Moore managed the game well and avoided mistakes (note: the interception was on 4th down and we would have turned the ball over anyway - perhaps he could have shown more patience). He needs to improve his field vision, as he is missing seeing open receivers down the field (e.g., Sadiq had two steps on the defender on a post route on 4th down and it would have been a TD, if Dante could have hit him but for some reason he hesitated/didn't see him). I'm not sure what was up with Oregon's play calling, especially in the second half. Why continue to try to pound the ball between the tackles, when Texas Tech was consistently stopping us for 2 yards? Why continue to call designed QB runs when the first two were stuffed, putting Dante at risk? I would bet that 80% of Oregon's running yards against Texas Tech were to the outside. You have to maintain some balance/threat to run up the middle (perhaps a draw?) but it seemed like we went to inside runs too frequently. I also don't understand why Coach Stein doesn't have WR bubble screen counters or is willing to move the pocket, especially when Dante throws very well on the move. A former Oregon OC (Helfrich?) would fake the bubble screen, with a QB pump fake, and then have the WR run a go route, when defenders were playing aggressive against the play. Not Coach Stein's best game and I hope he gets dialed in before the next game, like Tosh did in the Orange Bowl (as Oregon will need all 3 phases firing against Indiana to win). I understand that Coach Lanning wants to be aggressive but I did not understand the decision to go for it on 4th down at midfield. I believe that Oregon was up 13-0, at the time, and it was clear that: (a) Oregon's defense was dominating Texas Tech's offense and (b) Texas Tech's defense was more than capable of stopping Oregon's offense on a short yardage situation as they had multiple times in the game. In that situation, we should have punted the ball and tried to pin Texas Tech's offense deep in their territory. People will point to "advanced statistics" but those stats are against all teams/defenses, not against a top 10 defense with one, if not the best front sevens in college football who stopped you multiple times in that game already. Brandon Finney, Jr. is an elite cornerback and he is a true freshman. The second interception was an NFL cornerback type of play - recognizing that the receiver that you are covering is not the primary receiver, handing him off to another defender in the area and then dropping back to make a jumping interception in the end zone on someone else's responsibility who was beat - outstanding! Finney also came up in run support and stuffed a RB for a short gain. He is going to be a first round NFL selection and the best corner to have ever played at Oregon. Can you imaging how good he will be in 2 years if Brandon continues to work?! With Ohio State and Georgia loosing this playoff feels wide open. I know that Indiana has an incredible team and Oregon will need to play it's A game but if they can get by the Hoosiers...

Patrick Mahomes Pays Up On Oregon vs. Texas Tech Orange Bowl BetThough he's currently on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes seemingly made a bet with Oregon Ducks linebacker Jeffrey Bassa before the Orange Bowl. Oregon Ducks On SIPatrick Mahomes Pays Up On Oregon vs. Texas Tech Orange B...With the first postseason shutout for the No. 5 Oregon Ducks since 1917, coach Dan Lanning and crew took down the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Capital OnPatrick Mahomes Wears The Oregon Duck Finest After Losing Bet to Bassa.

In the Orange Bowl, I think we saw a snapshot of what the plan will be with Indiana. Now, I am not saying that TT was a squad DL used for practice, but it was a great way to see a game plan against a very good defense. There were not many long shots taken against TT. There were shorter, quicker passes that provided 5-10 yards and allowed OBD to control the game. The FGs from the TTu game have to be TDs against Indiana, but the shorter, quicker throws will be how OBD beats Indiana. We simply have too many elite weapons for them to cover thoroughly. Dante completed passes to 11 different folks. That will need to continue. Finally, IF the OL can play at peak, OBD will win this game. It isn't just about about keeping Dante clean, although it starts there. Penalties will crush a drive against Indiana. Holding calls and false starts need to be absent. It's gonna be a good one!

They're not done, but the Ducks are playing on house money in the CFPAutzen ZooThey're not done, but the Ducks are playing on house mone...Think back a moment to August and the expectations Duck fans had then.

Both teams are now better versions of themselves when compared to the October version. In common opponents (PSU, Iowa and Whisky) the outcomes were hard fought wins. IU beat PSU on an amazing game winning drive and OBD's last minute game winning drive against Iowa was amazing. Both Defense are outstanding and can be dominant. IU's offense is more consistent than OBD's. However, strong Defenses (Iowa and tOSU) held IU 's offense in check. Both teams had a chance to win against IU The Duck D is for real and capable of holding IU's offense under 20 points. The question remains; can the Duck O stop shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and mistakes. OBD's offense kept TT in this game thru 3 quarters. Ducks should have scored 35-42 points against TT. At times the best defense on the field was the Duck offense. This will not work against IU. They have an offense that will make you pay for your mistakes. Keep IU offense off the field. Sustain long time consuming drives that end in TOUCHDOWNS! This should be a great game that OBD's can and should win. All 3 phases show up and play clean and Ducks win 27-24. Go Ducks!

Portal toll rises as Ducks lose 12 players ahead of Peach BowlAfter one day 12 Oregon players have entered the Transfer Portal or announced plans to enter it, a sad reality of poor planning and mismanagement by the NCAA. Autzen ZooPortal toll rises as Ducks lose 12 players ahead of Peach...After one day 12 Oregon players have entered the Transfer Portal or announced plans to enter it, a sad reality of poor planning and mismanagement by the NCAA.

SHINNING IN THE SUNLIGHTAutzen ZooEpic 'Ducks vs Them' introduced with compelling teaserYou can almost hear the iconic steel guitar and Merle Haggard's voice: "Silver Wings. Shining in the sun."

Great comment, DM. I think Dan might also have wanted to make certain that Dante lived to see another day. The D coach in him saw TT's offense being dominated, and he also saw Dante take some vicious hits. Running the ball shortened the game as intended.

Dan Lanning is also getting HEAPS of praise from the national sports media for his take on how the playoffs in college football should be run. We have a pretty smart coach folks. 😉

Epic 'Ducks vs Them' introduced with compelling teaserSHINNING IN THE SUNLIGHT Autzen ZooEpic 'Ducks vs Them' introduced with compelling teaserYou can almost hear the iconic steel guitar and Merle Haggard's voice: "Silver Wings. Shining in the sun."

Let the madness begin. This is a great link for anyone who wants to follow the chaos: https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/wire/football/ Interesting note, Dante Dowdell has entered the portal again. He is leaving Kentucky.

The Most Exciting PO to Date? SI guy says, 'Yes.' Oregon Ducks On SIWhy This Year's College Football Playoff Is The Most Exci...After an exciting quarterfinal round filled with upsets and thrilling finishes, the College Football Playoff Semifinals are officially set, and the No. 5 Oregon

I can't disagree with the premise of this article even if Cam Ward is a poor comparison for Dante. While the following observations may seem a bit off the topic of experience, they relate to it in important ways: Is there an advantage for a QB to start their development at one program and system, then transfer to another? Does having to adapt to a new culture, coaching and offensive system build flexibility and maturity? Example in point: When a certain QB transferred to OBD the derogatory narrative was Bo "Pix". A change of scenery, culture and coaching (under two different OCs, incidentally) buried that misnomer. Not every kid comes out of HS with fully developed skills. Arm strength and foot speed, sure. But leadership and judgement? How many 18 year old frontal cortices have those traits right off the bat? The ability to read coverages, set alignments and make the right calls at the LOS doesn't automatically get gifted with the 5☆ howitzer arm. That takes time, maturity and perhaps the most important factors, experience and mentorship. I would argue that a change of venue helps build flexibility, adaptability and confidence, not to mention experience. While the author of the article in this thread is being a bit harsh on Dante, the premise of another year of development is valid. He already knows what it feels like to get thrown into the fire too soon, struggle, then get benched in favor of a journeyman QB with less talent but more experience. I doubt he wants to repeat that in the NFL. Regardless of how this CFP run turns out, here's hoping that he takes the lessons learned by his immediate predecessors to heart and gives himself another year at Oregon.

That is no doubt the right perspective. We ought to be grateful for all the team and staff have accomplished this year, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming game. That said, I am curious to know what the Ducks need to do better to defeat the only team who defeated them this year. Four things occur to me: 1. Reestablish the running game after sub-par performances not only against Texas Tech but Washington, and stick with it if it is working. 2. Find someone in addition to Finney who can defend their receivers. 3. Improve recognition of and preparation for their pressures. If their success was based more on scheme than personnel (not the case with Tech), improvement is conceivable. 4. Better recognition and poise from our QB. He, too, is young, and may be farther along in his development than last time.

I don't see a dedicated thread for discussing the game Friday so I'm starting a new thread. I think there is broad consensus that we have to play a complete game for the first time all season to win. Our coaches need to game plan for the Indiana that played Thursday, not the Indiana that we played earlier in the year. The good news is I'm pretty sure the Rose Bowl last year taught the coaches this lesson. Also DL isn't foolish enough to believe "it's hard to beat the same team twice" having lost to UW twice in 2023. I expect full effort this week from the analysts, coordinators, and DL. It's a neutral site in the same time zone we played this week and the game time is evening and being played in a dome, so there should be little circumstantial issues for us to worry about.

Looking ahead . . . Lanning vs Cristobal Mario Cristobal fled Oregon. The Ducks may get a chance to prove they got the better end of the deal | Bill Oram - oregonlive.com

Brandon Finney's maturity, preparation stand out in breakout CFP https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/football/2026/01/03/oregon-ducks-football-brandon-finney-texas-tech-orange-bowl-cfp-indiana/87986707007/

As usual, there are very good comments to ponder over. I am going to write another article. Not sure if it will drop tomorrow or Thursday. I have to talk to FishDuck about what I have so far. But I definitely feel like posting sunshine, rainbows and lollipops, even though I don't feel that way about this week. It has been a great year. It is tough to remember how young this team actually is. I expected a 10-2 year, or maybe 11-2 at best. The roller coaster ride is a total reflection of how young this team is. I have seen improvement from all phases of the team-staff, starters, units and backup players. I believe we expect too much perfection from a team that has its limits. And the fact that Indiana doesn't seem to make any mistakes makes that tough to swallow. Cignetti and his staff are an outstanding group of pure excellence. But he has a ten year head start on Lanning. For all of Lanning's aggressiveness, he has the second best record of any coach in FBS with as many games played. Friends, we have one of the very best in the business. And he is growing right in front of our eyes. He has only lost three games of 10 points or more-two to title winners, and one to the only undefeated team this year. He has never lost to an unranked team. He has defeated the #2 and the #3 team back to back years, and has posted an Undefeated season himself as the regular season #1 team. He defeated every blue blood team in the B1G his first year in the conference. He has defeated every brand name team in the conference already. Dan Lanning, with a much less than perfect team, has a chance to redeem his only loss this year. And a shot at a National Title in 16 short days. I doubt we lose by 10 this time. I expect an instant classic type of game-circa UW/Oregon in Seattle. Despite the questions on offense, and defense. This team is unpredictable, in a good way. We are very very fortunate. We are living Thanksgiving in January.

I'm just going off the top of my head when I say this: Oregon has a better starting roster than any other team left. Also, Indiana does NOT know how to have an off day, off quarter, or anything else other than their best every time out. Oregon could beat all three teams left or lose to them all, depending on what kind of Oregon team that shows up. Miami does not have a great offense. Ole Miss does not have a great defense. Indiana does not have the athletes that Oregon has. Ducks just need to put it together for 4 quarters, both offense and defense vs Indiana. Then figure out the rest later. If Oregon can put out an offense like vs JMU in the first half and a defense like vs Tech, they will be unstoppable. Every year that Oregon is good, the media buys into the hype and then gets egg on their faces. Last year in the playoffs was a prime example. So this year, the media is not buying in. Which is OK. Games are won on the field, not on sports talk shows anyway.

4 teams left, 2 from north and 2 from south. And I think the north is better. Of all the teams in the playoffs from the SEC, only Ole Miss is left. When you factor in that Texas and Oklahoma are now part of the SEC, that is pretty amazing. Just 5 years ago, the final 4 would have been mostly if not all SEC teams (had they been doing the 12 team playoffs)

When you analyze the premise of the article the writer is saying a college football player develops by being a starter. Start at a lesser school and transfer. True in lots of sports. Baseball players move up to the majors from the minors. In football, the college game is the NFL minor leagues. You don’t get the necessary skills sitting on the bench. Lanning says that you improve by playing football. Practice helps, but without game experience a QB is unlikely to start for the 10-12 teams at the top and be successful. Nix and Gabriel both improved as Duck starters, but they were good when they arrived. Moore needs another year.