HDuck

Oregon is currently playing its first game of the Big Tournament vs Michigan St. And, its second game on Friday will be vs Nebraska. Due to the combos of W-L, and how the games were scheduled, we already know 3 semi-finalist teams for Saturday games. Penn State will face Oregon/Nebraska UCLA will face Iowa.

The Top Four seeds in 2024 were 1- Oregon 2- Georgia 3- Texas 4- Penn State The first-round byes went to: 1- Oregon 2- Georgia 9- Boise St 11- Arizona State Texas became the 5-seed Penn State became the 6-seed

ESPN, Heather Dinich Twitter The 12-team College Football Playoff will move to a straight seeding model this fall, rewarding the selection committee’s top four teams with the top four seeds and a first-round bye, multiple sources told ESPN. The 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, who comprise the CFP’s management committee, reached the unanimous agreement necessary to make the change during a call on Thursday afternoon. This means Notre Dame will now no longer be excluded from a first-round bye if they have a top four seed. The byes were granted to conference champions only.

This 3-team 4-Pod thing is interesting. There is a Pod with (3 seed) Iowa, Indiana and Rutgers, for example. Iowa is 1-0 after playing May 21. The other 2 teams are 1-1 Rutgers 0-1 Indiana Because the best Rutgers and Indiana can be is 1-1, and the worst Iowa could be is 1-1, the 3-seed Hawkeyes already know they will play May 24 in the semi-final. Iowa plays Indiana tonight May 22, but the outcome makes absolutely no difference in progressing to May 24. They could start the ball boy on the mound, and it wouldn't matter. They already know they will play UCLA because UCLA is 2-0 after two early games, the second one completed early this morning. (Oregon's first game is this evening) I don't know the better approach, but this just seems weird to me in terms of "competition." Play more games in a single day? Play games at two sites instead of one? Seems counter to seeding? Maybe I'm just making it too complicated?

While the Ducks have played 3 straight days on weekends, so have their opponents. With time off like Nebraska and Penn State would have, both can rest starters and relievers. But, my real point was the seeming unfairness to higher seeds in the Pods. Just like the CFP. What if No. 1 seed Oregon had Nebraska's schedule (with rest) instead?

Add another crazy thing about the seeding... Remember, we said since Nebraska played on Tuesday, they will have time off until Friday before facing the Ducks, while the Ducks play on Thursday. Well, for the moment, assume Oregon beats Nebraska and wins Pod A. The Ducks would then play on Saturday after playing on Thursday and Friday. But, if Penn State beats USC on Thursday, they would be the Pod D winner with a day off before facing the Pod A winner on Saturday. So, you could have the No. 1 seed Oregon playing two teams coming off rest on Friday and Saturday while the Ducks would have played 3 consecutive days.

Another close 3-2 win today for Northwestern over Stanford, just like Tuesday's semi-final with Oregon. Came down to the last pairing. And, the same Northwestern golfer who won it on Tuesday was the closer for Northwestern today. Northwestern was fifth in the Big Ten Tournament when the Oregon women won in April.

USC is trying to get the ND game scheduled early in the year rather than at the end. I can kinda see their point. IF this is their future: 9 - Big Ten games 1 - SEC opponent in a Big/SEC agreement 1 - Notre Dame 1 - open date SC has never scheduled an FCS opponent, and there will be a portion of their fan base who will want either Cal or Stanford every year on that "open date." That could mean, that other than the annual SEC matchup, the season would be locked in and no other intersectional opponents from the Big12 or ACC would be possible. No Arizona, ASU, Utah, San Diego St, etc if Notre Dame/Cal/Stanford were locked in. I can see their "worry" about renewing a long-term contract with ND until there is clarity on the SEC/Big challenge agreement.

A month ago, Oregon won the Big Ten Tournament and Northwestern was fifth. The Ducks best golfer Kiara Romero struggled a bit in this tournament. Not sure why. She was Big Ten golfer of the year, and low medalist in that tournament. But, she did not have her "A game" this weekend.

You are correct. If the three teams in the pod are tied 1-1, the highest seed advances. Pool A 4:00 pm PT – Tues – Nebraska beat Michigan St (5-4) 4:00 pm – Thurs – Oregon vs Michigan St 4:00 pm – Fri – Oregon vs Nebraska Noon – Sat - Pool A winner vs Pool D winner The Ducks must now definitely beat Nebraska, otherwise the Huskers become 2-0. Theoretically, the Ducks could use their No. 2 pitcher vs Michigan State, and hold their No. 1 pitcher for Nebraska. Especially since the Nebraska pitching staff will have an almost 72 hour rest. But, using No. 1 on Friday means he isn't available at Noon on Saturday. This scheduling seems almost as screwed up as the CFP approach of having 1-4 seeds with the worst opportunity??

If some of those Capital One standings look weird it's because of the list of sports which are included (and, not included). https://ecm.capitalone.com/WCM/capital-one-cup/cup-scoring-structure/coc-scoring-structure---sheet1.pdf Obviously many schools don't have teams in some of those sports, while others with broad sports offerings like Stanford, Ohio State, Texas do well in the rankings each year.

Ohio St: Men’s soccer Women Swimming & Diving Men’s lacrosse Women’s tennis Men’s tennis Oregon doesn't have teams in the first three.

In 2024, Nebraska ranked 10th nationally in average attendance. There were only 2 in the top 25 attendance that were not in mild climate locations though Virginia might be a third. The other one besides Nebraska was Oregon State which was 21st. But generally, if you draw an east-west line at Lexington, Kentucky, 22 of the 25 were below that line. Nebraska has a vey nice facility they share with a small semi-pro team, and the ballpark is surrounded by parking because it is in a close triangle with Nebraska's football and basketball facilities, close to campus and downtown Lincoln. But, fans do have to show up, and they do in Lincoln. Nebraska had to contend with the Texas schools baseball in the Big12, and have won just two titles in the Big Ten, but the fans are loyal regardless.

Oregon is No. 12 in RPI as of Saturday night. They can't afford to slip up and lose early in the Big Ten Tournament. Likewise, UCLA is No. 15.

3 seeded home teams have to win twice on Sunday: Oregon Arizona Tex A&M Seeded LSU is already out.

Lombardi coached the Oklahoma battery to a combined 20 All-America honors, 37 All-Region accolades and 77 All-Big 12 honors over her 21 seasons at OU. Her pitchers racked up six Big-12 Pitcher of the Year awards.

Most runs allowed of the Melyssa Lombardi era. Oregon last allowed 14+ at California, 4-15 loss on May 7, 2016 (coach Mike White). Earlier that season lost 4-16 to UCLA in Eugene.

1-3 after 4 1-5 after 5 1-14 in the sixth, Duck up bottom of sixth. Unless Ducks get a whole lotta runs this will be a run-rule game after Ducks bat.

13-1 now, super ugly 6th inning

Ducks trail 11-1 in the sixth. Will play again later today about 6:00 pm vs the winner of Weber St vs Binghamton. Loser of 6:00 pm game is out of the tournament. Winner advances to Sunday to play Stanford for regional championship. If Oregon wins at 6:00 pm (approx) game, must win twice on Sunday.

Stanford leads No. 16 seed Oregon 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Typically, the No. 16 seed regional champ will advance to a super regional at No. 1 seed. The No. 1 seed Tex A&M was upset by Liberty today.

Oregon - women's cross country USC - women's soccer regular season UCLA - women's soccer tournament Oregon - football Oregon - men's indoor track & field Oregon - women's indoor track & field USC - women's basketball regular season UCLA - women's basketball tournament UCLA - women's gymnastics Oregon - women's golf UCLA - men's tennis tournament UCLA - men's golf Oregon – women’s softball regular season Oregon – baseball regular season

Playing on the road ANYWHERE is never a given. Apparently Iowa had their stadium record crowd for the Oregon game on Friday. Iowa had a 6-2 lead in that game after 5 innings. The Ducks comeback was impressive on the road.

Iowa goes 1-8-1 in their last 10 games (1-5 in the B1G). As fabulous as sweeping the Hawkeyes is, there is an element of "Indiana 2024 football" in how Iowa got into contention. The season ain't over until it's over. And, the Ducks played like that down the stretch!!! Oregon won the softball regular season, and UCLA was second in the softball tournament. Now we have the same two programs battling in baseball for B1G leadership.

Ducks will come home to play St. Mary's, then Washington. Then, finish the regular season at league leader Iowa. Iowa has non-conference games (Oregon State) before hosting Oregon. Since the B1G Tournament is in Omaha, will be curious to see if Oregon comes home from Iowa, or stays in the Midwest.