JB89

I agree. Seems more like someone to add depth rather to be a starter. Which is ok as long as we find some players that have been starters on a power 4 team. The WBB team went to the tournament because they upgraded their portal transfers this past year vs their transfers in the previous year.

Count me as another fan that prefers keeping the current spring game format. I think the coaches get to evaluate more players in the current format and more players get significant snaps.

Thanks for the softball update. This could be the year to make a return trip to the College World Series. We appear to have 2 elite pitchers this year. They pitched great against #7 Florida State with both getting shutout victories. The shutout victory over #9 Tennessee is another important win. Being able to win low scoring pitchers duels against top 10 teams is very important in Super Regionals and the World Series.

Champions Week being the 12th game of the season and not the 13th game is interesting. It would not be an automatic lose and you are out of the 14 team playoffs. I think it is better for player health to eliminate any 13th game prior to the playoffs.

Jon, it is fun to have these discussions. I would not compare B1G or SEC MBB league tournaments to a CFB championship week because in MBB it is not win or you are out of the national tournament. Michigan State can lose in the MBB conference tournament and still receive the highest seed for any B1G teams that make March Madness. While in the proposed 1 vs 8 CFB championship week game, if the #1 seed is upset by #8 they will be out of the playoffs. A comparison could be made with the smaller MBB conferences that only receive one March Madness bid. I have always thought those conferences were making a mistake by having a conference tournament. Their conference tournament usually results in their best team not making March Madness. They would be better off sending their top team every year. Get a better seed and possibly some victories that could lead to multiple league teams making the tournament in future years. Thanks for the discussion.

It was mentioned above that the top Big 10 teams get some breather games in conference games. None of those supposed breather teams are as weak as many of the 4th non conference home games being played in November by SEC teams in 2025. The SEC will play these powerhouse teams in November this year: Eastern Illinois, Mercer, Charlotte, Tennessee Tech., Western Kentucky, The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico St. and Samford. The SEC plays these teams in November instead of a 9th league game. These SEC November home games are much easier than any 9th conference game played at home or on the road in the Big 10.

I'm not a fan of the proposed Championship Week if it includes forcing the conference champion to be included. Notre Dame would get a direct path to the playoffs just by finishing in the top 14. This proposal would require the regular season champions of the Big 10 and SEC to win an additional game to make the playoffs while Notre Dame gets an easier path to the playoffs. I would give the 1st and 2nd place teams in the Big 10 and SEC automatic berths into the playoffs just like Notre Dame. Let 3rd place play 6th place and 4th place play 5th place to get the final two playoff spots for both the Big 10 and SEC. This would give additional TV games to replace the conference championship games but also reward teams for their regular season success.

Altman is a great coach. I'm glad he is not retiring. It is frustrating that he has to continually address this issue. It seems like he said nearly the exact same thing a few years ago. It is time for reporters to just leave him alone and let him tell us when he is retiring. Coach Altman has earned that right.

Previously, my expectations for this year were similar to the past several years. Top 15-20 team unlikely to make the college world series. If Grein can continue to pitch like she did last weekend then I could see Oregon making the college world series. An elite pitcher or two has been the only thing keeping Oregon out of the world series recently. Hopefully Grein is the pitcher that can get us back to the world series.

Alex, thanks for the article on Evan Stewart. I noticed you did not include Jurrion Dickey in your returning talent list. I hope to see great progress from Jurrion this year. I'm curious if you or other FishDuck members expect significant contributions from him this year?

Since OBD is very successful with the current NIL model I would hate to see the NCAA getting involved. The national legislation does not seem like an improvement. Having a NCAA governing body oversee contracts of $600 or more seems ridiculous. I would find it interesting to know the amount of money Oregon players are receiving in NIL money but I do not feel it is my right to know.

Not surprising since it is associated with ESPN.

Chiefs 25-22 0 Turnovers 1 sack 242 passing yards

NBC may have had the first choice and chose OBD. Below is a John Wilner article explaining the network selection process for Big 10 games. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/heres-how-the-big-tens-in-season-tv-football-selection-process-works/

Oregon 17-9 2 4 285

Oregon 31-7 4 4 321

The main thing I want to see is a victory. Starting 3-0 is the priority for me. If it is another ugly win, I can live with it. That being said, it is time for OBD to start looking like the team everyone thought we would see this season. Offensively, I would like to see successful deep passes along with a dominate run game. That would mean that the offensive line is improving. Unless the plan is to redshirt him, I would like to see Jay Harris get some carries. Defensively, we need to hold the Beavers to 10 points or less and shutdown their run game. Force multiple turnovers. Reduce penalties and no turnovers.

Anywhere between 6-10 seems appropriate to me. Rankings have never solely relied on game day performances. Voters have always looked at overall talent on a team and projected their belief in that talent improving during the season. Programs in the SEC have benefitted from this approach in the past. I have no problem with OBD currently getting a benefit that has been earned over the past 30 years.

Thank you for sharing the roster. I just printed it and will use today.

I am curious. Is this equivalent to a thumbs down emoji? Many times in the past few months I have wanted to either type Yawn or show a GIF of someone yawning. I decided not to do this because I felt it went against the spirit of the FishDuck rules.

David, I am enjoying the discussion. Thanks for your original post and your other responses. I found some information that the NCAA added a 30 day window for transfers starting when a coach leaves a program. See links below. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/eligibility/transfers/D1_TransferRulesQuickTipsCoaches.pdf https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football/alabama-football-nick-saban-retirement-transfer-portal-player-rules

I hate the Huskies as much as anyone but I believe the difference between what happened at each school this week had more to do with the coaches at each school than one school being a destination and the other a steeping stone. Oregon is a destination school for Coach Lanning because he chose to make it his destination school. Lanning is building a program that can win a national title because of his recruiting ability and the support he receives from his family and the University of Oregon. A different coach might still see Oregon as a stepping stone. Just like DeBoer saw UW as a stepping stone. Fortunately OBD hired the right person this time. Thank you Coach Lanning for making Oregon your destination school.

'Even if a power conference head coach were to leave their school for the Huskies they couldn't bring their roster with them yet because the portal window is closed. They'll have to wait till spring.' I thought the ability to enter the portal opened up once a coach leaves a program. Husky players are entering the portal now due to DeBoer leaving for Alabama. This would make the Husky job more attractive to a current power 5 coach vs not being able to bring players from their old team.

This site lists Autzen as the 13 biggest stadium in the new B1G. Ranking Big Ten football stadiums by capacity starting in 2024 NITTANYLIONSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Ranking Big Ten football stadiums by capacity following its 2024 expansion with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington.

My worst nightmare is Lanning leaving and going to Alabama or anywhere else.