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Decent, if not in depth article. Bachman quoting KC Keeler that people may now discover college football requires a CEO seems pretty far behind the times. Seems we’ve known that ever since the Sabin/Alabama era. What did seem to shed some light on Cignetti’s approach was her connecting of his detailed control of every phase of the game to the smaller world of lower division coaching where hands on learning of all aspects is still possible.

The play I questioned was on 3rd down (and 5). You still get the field goal on 4th down to go up by 6 if you don't get the first down. The point is that you do everything you can to win the game on 3rd down instead of handing the ball off into a loaded box. Play action with the ball in Mendoza's hands to win the title vs handing the ball to Miami with plenty of time to steal your championship. The last Miami drive could have ended very differently for Indiana - don't give them that chance.

Absolutely. And the way the corner and saftey sandwiched the receiver, it would’ve required a dime. Pressure situations can make you try a little too hard? Dunno, something went wrong for him.

What happens if Duke wins? What happens if Duke wins and this QB is forced to stick around? Do you start a QB whom you just clubbed with a lawsuit and does that QB choose to perform or poison the entire locker room? What a mess. It will be interesting to see what happens at UW this year with a similar situation.

I wonder if the time out effected Beck? Only he will know

One suit from Wisconsin for Miami tampering with Xavier Lucas is not enough for Mario and Miami. Wisconsin - EX: A - Video of Miami in the champ game with the poached Xavier Lucas out for the first half and in for the 2nd half. Why not tick off a conference member? Why not tick off a conference standard-bearer in academics and basketball? BTW, playing behind the QB you are trying to steal, a QB who signed a two-season contract, Duke was this season's ACC football champ, and defeated ASU in the Sun Bowl, 42-39. Rouges then and rogues now.

It worked for UW up north...

This Wall Street Journal article appears to be locked but it is an unlocked article https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/darian-mensah-duke-lawsuit-transfer-portal-miami-694121fa?st=wFgwDS&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

I didn't realize how bad this year's portal has gone. I knew we lost critical 2 deep contributors, but only 2 of the top 25 incoming players are in the top 25 of what DL portalled in his time here and one of them is not even going to play next year. I really hope we've worked some better magic on our HS recruiting, because that is where the attrition backfill is going to have to come from. I REALLY hope we aren't rhyming with Clemson's fall: new coordinators not as good as old coordinators and insufficient amount of portal contributors. That would be a glass completely empty take, but still, it's a fine line between success and failure. Glass half full, maybe the lack of quality portal additions left us with enough cash to snag Seaton.

This article from the Wall Street Journal appears to be locked but it is an unlocked article https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/curt-cignetti-indiana-788283e8?st=jaKfDK&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

B-E-C-A-U-S-E he's B-E-C-K - 1 comeback PO win was enough. 😁 The TO Cig took before Fernando's run for a TD was also timely. Gave him time to talk things over with OC Mike Shanahan and run a 4th downplay drawn up for this game.

This is important. What if Texas Tech gets better too as they shore up the weaknesses on offense? What if Indiana reloads well enough from the portal? Who is next year's new money team like IU 2 years ago and TTU this last year? I don't care how good your team is set at the beginning of the year. It's not realistic to say that it's a deep run in the playoffs or bust. Every win should be enjoyed, and the summation of that joy for the entirety of the season should be the measure of success.

I thought about that too at the time. But it would have made it too easy to get a field goal and tie the game, especially with today's kickers in warm weather with not much wind. It would have been different if they were playing in a place like Green Bay. The loss of the offense's time out becomes huge if there is a sack. And once a team gets in the red zone, they have to keep throwing it or run out of time. But before that decision is made, it pays off to go for two early in the game so a situation like that does not become a tie. Of course if you don't make it, then you are playing 'catch up' to get that missed point back. I like taking the chance deep in their zone on 4th down earlier in the game. If you don't make it, most of the time they will punt deep and you get the ball back mid field or closer - then it is pretty easy to get that field goal back that you passed up.

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

It just felt like Cig’s time-out was mainly to firm-up secondary assignments on what was an obvious go-for-it passing down for Miami. It was just too predictable, and Indiana’s zone coverage allowed the time for their deep saftey to move under coverage to either side for a break up or int.

"So, who's to say these other teams don't get significantly better. If they do, our Ducks may not get any farther in the playoffs than this year." Schedule, injuries, new coordinators, opponents uplifting themselves, young players making mistakes..... I think it is more of a crapshoot than we want to admit. It also takes some LUCK. Indiana scored winning TDs in two games with 1:28 left, and 0:36 left. As a result they went undefeated. The way they played against Alabama, Oregon, Miami they likely would have been champs anyway....assuming they qualified for the playoff. But, if those had been two conference losses would they have played in the B1G Championship? The Hoosiers created opportunities for themselves. An old saying, "luck is where preparation meets opportunities." Hoosiers also had preparation.

Since our CFP run is based on what I can afford, we’re headed for Las Vegas.

I say we will make it to the final and maybe get blown out there... 😀☹️

Apology Accepted? 🤬🤬🤬 On3LOOK: Big Ten responds to Paul Finebaum's apology after a....

I will go with Joel Klatt

I noticed the same thing during the game when Indiana called that timeout. Great move to get reorganized and spell your pass rushers. However, I did take issue with Cignetti on Indiana's previous drive to not put the ball in Mendoza's hands to get the first down (throwing). Whether Indiana fails throwing or running, they still kick the field goal and Miami gets the ball with 1:42 left. With that much time on the clock, I feel the timeout is low impact in college football with clock stopping on first downs. Indiana should have done everything possible to get that first down instead of the lazy handoff to burn Miami's last timeout. Willingly giving it back to Miami with 1:40+ remaining was a huge mistake in my opinion. Fortunately, it didn't cost them.

Great topic, 123. I'll wait until the dates the games will be played, to be revealed on 1/27 on BTN, 2:30 PM Pacific. Will OBD have back-to-back road games, back-to-back trips East? The week Oregon travels to Columbus to play Ohio State, and what opponents and where the games are played the week prior? Will we see Michigan in Eugene, followed by Ohio State? Will there be a Saturday game in the Central or Eastern time zones, followed by a Friday night home game against a team coming off an idle week, like Minnesota last season? But against an opponent more dangerous than the Gophers. Also, with a late Labor Day, 9/7/26, there will only be one Bye in 2026. Will OBD's Bye come too early, too late, or be just right? (Only Goldilocks and B1G HQ know. 😁) I agree with GODUCKS15, except for the trip to Columbus. I think OBD will be favored in every game, with the possible exception of the game at USC. BLAST BOISE!

I'm a homer as much as the rest of you, and I do feel our team will get better. But, in this new era of CFB, every team has a real chance of getting better. So, who's to say these other teams don't get significantly better. If they do, our Ducks may not get any farther in the playoffs than this year. I'm just grateful to be in the hunt year in and year out. It is what makes being a Duck fan so fun. We know it WILL happen. We just don't know when. Go Ducks!

Oregon offers 10 more recruits on Wednesday DuckTerritory.com takes a one-by-one look at 10 new Oregon recruiting targets who were offered on Wednesday.

Which is probably the most frustrating thing about Lannings tenure so far. He had such good LB play at Georgia and we have some really explosive athletes like DJack and Wyatt. It almost feels like Lanning has been trying to morph into a 3-3-5 base but never has the personnel so we end up running a hybrid of a 3-4/4-2 front. It explains the inconsistent results for sure because if other teams are able to audible they can find a vulnerability Really hoping Hampton focuses on this during his first recruiting cycle. We need HS recruits we can develop without relying on athleticism to make up for a lack of identity or scheme.