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2-1 Irvine after four innings. The Ducks had bases loaded with one out...but blew it. Collin Clarke put three down, and has a low pitch count in the 50s after four innings.

2-1 Irvine after three innings. Collin Clarke got bases loaded, but only gave up one run.

As Forum Friend Mike Whitty noted in his excellent article on how to balance the Big Ten conference schedules, posted on February 19, 2026, in-conference schedules in today's college football mega-conferences vary significantly from season to season. With 18, 17, and 16-team Power 4 conferences playing nine-game conference schedules, a team's conference strength of schedule (SOS) from season to season is based on the luck of the draw. For example, in 2026, USC plays the three teams the B1G sent to last season's playoff: Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon. Wisconsin misses all three playoff teams. With the year-to-year roster turnover in college football (CFB) that is exacerbated by today's transfer portal, I have no better idea how to balance CFB schedules beyond the ideas considered by Mike and those who commented on Mike's article. I am the first to acknowledge that evaluating SOS in the preseason is a complete crap shoot. You can load your prediction dice with all kinds of information from yesterday, but at the end of the season, you are as likely to roll snake eyes as you are a 7 or 11. With that said, my Big Ten 2026 SOS calculus breaks the conference into five tiers, five tiers based on The Sporting News preseason top 25 composite rankings. The preseason top 25 predictions used in the composite: The Sporting News (TSN), Athlon, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, and On3. Nine B1G teams are in TSN's top 25, including Others Receiving Votes, No. 30 Illinois. I used last season's results to rank the rest of the B1G teams. I only analyzed the schedules of the nine teams ranked by TSN, but you never know when an Indiana will arise or when a Penn State might crater. Tier 1 - 1. Ohio State - TSN No. 1 / 2. Indiana - TSN No. 4 / 3. Oregon - TSN No. 5 Tier 2 - 4. USC - TSN 13 / 5. Michigan - TSN 14 Tier 3 - 6. Penn State - TSN 20 / 7. Iowa - TSN 21 / 8. Washington - TSN 22 9. Illinois - TSN 30. Tier 4 - 10. Minnesota / 11. Northwestern / 12 Nebraska. Not ranked by TSN Finished 2025 with a winning record and qualified for bowl games. Tier 5 - 13. UCLA / 14. Wisconsin / 15. Rutgers / 16. Michigan State 17. Maryland / 18 Purdue Using these tiers, I ranked the top nine teams. I adjusted an opponent's ranking by minus .5 if the game was on the road. EXAMPLE using OBD's schedule - At USC 1.5, UCLA 5, Nebraska 4, at Illinois 2.5, Northwestern 4, at Ohio State 0.5, Michigan 2, at Michigan State 4.5, Washington 3. TOTAL - 27 The number of home games and whether a team plays five or 4 conference games at home or on the road (5/4 or 4/5) are not included in the SOS calculus. Neither are factors such as Oregon being the only Big Ten team playing eight conference games without a break, including playing two of the eight on the road in November. For conference championship purposes, whether a team plays five or four conference games at home matters and is factored in by giving more weight to conference away games. I have neither the brain nor the computer power to add nuance beyond home and away games to the below rankings. From a playoff overall record POV, with 8 home games and a 5/4 conference split, Michigan and Illinois have an advantage. With 8 home games, a 5/4 split, and no Power 4 opponent OOC, Indiana is looking good to repeat as the conference champion, making the playoff for the third season in a row, and earning back-to-back playoff 1st round byes. And Indiana is the only one of eight teams with a first-round playoff bye to win its second-round game, and did so while coming up Roses and turning the Crimson Tide into a leaky faucet. SOS Rankings - The lower the number, the more difficult the schedule. 1. Ohio State - 23.5 - Plus, at TSN No. 2 Texas - 7 Home Games - 5/4 2. Washington -25.5 - No OOC Power 4 opponent - 7 Home - 4/5 3. Michigan - 26 - Plus, No. 10 Oklahoma - 8 Home - 5/4 4. Oregon - 27 - Plus, Mountain West champion Boise State, and at Oklahoma State - 7 Home - 5/4 5. USC - 27.5 - With a game to be determined, no OOC Power 4 opponent TBD Home - 4/5 6. Indiana - 28 - No OOC Power 4 opponent - 8 Home - 5/4 7. Illinois - 30 - Plus, Not Ranked (NR) Duke - 8 Home - 5/4 8. Iowa - 33 - Plus, NR Iowa State - 7 Home - 4/5 9. Penn State - 34 - No OOC P4 opponent - 8 Home - 4/5 Ohio State is No. 1 in the TSN rankings, but the Buckeyes' schedule in and out of conference in 2026 is more demanding than when it finished 12-0 in the 2025 regular season. Indiana plays Ohio State in Bloomington. Oregon flies to Columbus to play Ohio State. I think No. 4-ranked Indiana has the best path to a repeat conference championship. If QB Hoover can play anywhere near the level of Heisman winner Mendoza, watch out for the Hoo, Hoo, Hoosiers. BEAT BOISE!

1-1 after two innings. Gabe Miranda gets a hit, and Maddox Molony got plinked. Drew Smith sac-bunts to move both runners to scoring position. Angel Laya then grounded out on two-strikes to score Miranda. Collin Clarke put down the side in order, and really has his changeup going today...whew!

Cal-Irvine was ranked between 12-15th in the nation most of last year, and while unranked now--they beat Vanderbilt yesterday 9-4. 1-0 Cal-Irvine after one inning. Oregon went out 1-2-3, while Collin Clarke got hit a whole lot more than I'd like.

Yes, nice to know this Fisch will remain catch and release.

I mean, we all want things. This is standard pie in the sky, overly complicated, don’t have the bandwidth to enforce dreaming that is the NCAA imo. But at least they are also seriously considering a rule about uniform pant length. Nah, don’t come up with some kind of salary cap, or create a football calendar that does not cause chaos…stick with the pant length thing NCAA.

Without reading the article, success relies heavily on developing and nurturing relationships. From what I can tell, DL is genuine in developing his relationships with both coaches, and players. As a leader and recruiter, DL has to create a clear vision of goals, and expectations, and a path for everyone to achieve those goals. Add in an infectious personality that people are drawn towards. Today, money buys a team, developing relationships creates family, and families will work, and fight for each other. That is my quick assessment of what DL is all about. Good coach, that has an opportunity to be the GOAT at Oregon.

Don't overlook the unsung Jadon Canady. Jadon Canady Displays His Speed at the NFL Combine

Thieneman's speed is impressive. Dillon Thieneman Turns Heads With 40-Yard Dash Attempt Dillon Thieneman Cements His NFL Draft Status at the Combine What Former NFL Scout's Claim Says About Dillon Thieneman's NFL Draft Standing

Lots to read on Sadiq Craziest Statistics From Kenyon Sadiq's Record-Breaking NFL Combine Performance What Kenyon Sadiq's NFL Combine Measurements Mean Kenyon Sadiq making a good impression among NFL teams at the combine

Noah on injuries Oregon Ducks Running Back Noah Whittington Gets Real About Injury Adversity

Cal transfer Elon Butler has career day with 7 RBS in first contest. Lyndsey Grein pitches 7 perfect innings over the two games with 14 strike outs. Lyndsey Grein and Elon Butler lead Oregon softball to doubleheader sweep in home opener

You can use my address . . . P.S. Warning, I already won.

For years the NCAA has suffered from insufficient funds to properly enforce its rules. The schools that make up the NCAA are the problem. Until the schools provide an adequate funding budget, and a procedure for enforcement that leads to application of the penalty quickly, say 90 days, the NCAA will continue to be disrespected.

OREGON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026 BASEBALL | @OregonBaseball Ducks Dominate Arizona in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Oregon belted three home runs and three Ducks’ pitchers combined to strike out 19 hitters in a 7-2 win over Arizona in the first day of the Live Like Lou College Baseball Classic at Las Vegas Ballpark on Friday night. Jax Gimenez, Ryan Cooney and Angel Laya all slugged home runs, while starter Will Sanford and relievers Tanner Bradley and Ryan Featherston were dominant against the Wildcats (1-8). Sanford matched a career-high with seven strikeouts in just 3.2 innings before being relieved after a dropped fly ball allowed a pair of runners to score with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Bradley (1-0) came out of the bullpen to get the final out of the inning, the first of his career-high nine strikeouts in a career-high 4.1 innings of work. Bradley struck out the first three batters he faced before finishing his outing striking out nine of the 17 batters he faced. Featherston polished off the Wildcats striking out the side in the ninth inning on just 13 pitches. How It Happened: Oregon (9-0) wasted little time taking control of the game. Gimenez hit a solo homer on Owen Kramkowski’s fourth pitch of the game for a 1-0 lead. The Ducks tacked on three more in the bottom of the second. Drew Smith led off the inning with a triple before scoring on a Burke-Lee Mabeus RBI single. Cooney then pulled a 1-1 pitch 390 feet over the left-field wall for a two-run home run and a 4-0 lead. Arizona cut the lead to two with a pair of runs in the fourth. The Wildcats loaded the bases with two walks sandwiched around a base hit. It looked like Sanford would get out of the inning unscathed when he enticed a pop fly into shallow left field with two outs, but Gimenez dropped the ball allowing two unearned runs. Laya continued his impressive start to the season allowing Oregon to regain control in the fifth. After Maddox Molony singled and moved to third on a Mabeus two-bagger, Laya lifted a ball into the bullpen beyond the right-field wall to push the lead to five. Box Score Notes: Oregon’s nine wins to start the season is the second longest stretch in program history … The 1963 won its first 12 games … The 19 strikeouts were the most by an Oregon pitching staff since the Ducks fanned 20 vs. New Mexico State on April 3, 2021 ... Bradley entered the game with 10 career strikeouts before fanning nine on Friday night … The win was the first of his career … He also gave up his first career hit after tossing 11.0 innings of hitless ball between his freshman and sophomore campaigns … Gimenez’s homer was the first of his career … Sanford has yet to surrender an earned run through 14.2 innings of work … Featherston has not allowed a run in 9.0 innings this season while fanning 12 and walking none with just two hits allowed … His batting average against is .071. On Deck: Oregon faces UC Irvine on Saturday with a noon PST first pitch.

Just a reminder: End of Feb is last day to enter the contest - but we will give you till the end of the entire weekend. Make your prediction and indicate whether you are in the for the money - losers send in 10 bucks to winner at end of upcoming season. I'll try to read what is in here and make a final post w/ predictions by person on Sun or Mon so it is easy to read. See first post for contest rules and tie breakers. You can change your original guess if you do it by this weekend. You can enter also if you do it by this weekend. Have Fun.

John interviewed a top recruit and his parents, and the most mentioned item by the recruit in the hour interview was about Lanning, who,...was going to be here...develops players....is great to play for...and has a great connection with him. "It's a relationship business."

I am well aware that many here are not fans of sportswriter John Canzano. Regardless, if you want to gain a better appreciation of Dan Lanning as a recruiter, read Canzano’s column issued today shortly after noon.

Ducks win 7-2, as Ryan Featherston came in and went 1-2-3 with all strikeouts! Oregon pitchers got 19...NINETEEN strikeouts tonight. My Duck-Buddies...THAT is pitching! (P.S. I've installed a couple of highlight videos in the posts above!)

The head coach would be prohibited from all football (recruiting and on-field coaching) and administrative duties (team meetings) for six contests of the season. The school would be fined 20% of its football budget. The school would be required to reduce the number of roster spots by five for the next season, regardless of head coach's employment status at the school NCAA's proposed tampering penalties could mean major trouble for Pete Golding This would sure lead to burner phones if not already in use, plus a lot of dimes to be dropped on offenders.

7-2 Ducks after eight innings. Wow...Tanner Bradley had NINE strikeouts in four and a third innings. He is a new relieving STAR who came from nowhere on the roster after hardly playing last year. Talk about player development! I enjoyed one comment by the Sportscaster as he was marveling about the size of Oregon players...."this is what an Omaha team looks like."

7-2 Ducks after seven innings. Good-gosh Tanner Bradley throws a filthy ball...he's up to six KOs and holding the Wildcats down!

7-2 Ducks after six innings. Tanner Bradley threw 93 mph with nasty-action. Whew! Kept them scoreless with creating a ground ball that turns into a DOUBLE PLAY!

"The gift that keeps on giving..."