HDuck

During that 30 plus win streak over non-conference opponents at Autzen, have been wins over: Purdue Utah - before Pac12 Tennessee Michigan St Virginia Nebraska BYU and those are just during the streak, there were Power 5 wins too regardless of losses to Indiana and Boise State.

Wilner provides a good synopsis of the selection process here...apparently the rule is Pac12N appearances must equal the number of non-conference home games. Most years that is two, and the rule creates the number, not which games fill that number. Pac-12 Football Start Times, How Does It Work? SPORTS360AZ.COM Story by Jon Wilner A few minutes past 10 a.m. on Monday, the Pac-12 released the start times and TV assignments for games on Sept. 25, the fourth week of the season and the first full Saturday...

Every team HAS to play on the Pac-12 at least twice. USC has had two of their 3 on Pac12N. That is not an accident. The primary media partners are holding their picks for higher profile games later in the season. In USC's case, they didn't want to "waste a pick" in an early game despite having the returning Heisman winner. Likewise, given the number of Pac12 teams currently ranked which could still be ranked later in face-to-face matchups, the partners are holding their picks for later games. That forces Pac12N games now. Pac12 teams are not limited to 2, but each must have 2. UA, USC and UO will each have had 2 after tomorrow. 8 other teams will have had 1. Who hasn't? Colorado. And, they will be on ABC for Oregon meaning 0 for 4 on the Pac12. They have 2 other games already picked. That means Colorado will have to take 2 games from among USC, ASU, UCLA, Oregon St, Arizona and Utah. Some fans are going to squeal, but that's the rule.

It's occasionally fun to ponder play calls after a game, especially the early games. Were the plays because of the opponent, and what the opponent had shown in earlier games? Were plays called as in-game adjustments? Were players injured? Was the lack of confidence in a play/player due to practice that week? Were coaches trying to limit scheme they have shown so as not to tip off a future opponent? And, so on. Sometimes there are reasons 3 straight dives into the middle of the line may not be as bonehead as it appears. Likewise, sometimes an opponent defense just comes with a game plan that was not prepared for, or their talent was underestimated. Happy I don't have to make decisions and have players execute them for me within a 40 or 25 second playclock. Or, lock in a play only to see one my linemen false start which changes my whole down and distance calculation.

These openings always bring out the speculators, and here a few from the rumor mill: Deion Sanders - Colorado Pat Narduzzi - Pitt Chris Klieman - Kansas St Jason Candle - Toledo and Jonathan Smith - Oregon St along with a bunch of coordinators from programs around the nation

Well, the judge's decision was made 17 miles from Martin Stadium, but I'm sure the judge had no concerns about his own welfare. Harumph. I do think there is some interpretation that the judge chose not to consider. The language apparently says if notice is given prior to August 1, 2024, then those schools can no longer participate on the Board. But, as I recall all the schools involved "gave notice" that their last day would be August 1, 2024. If you told your landlord you're moving out August 1, 2024, and gave notice in July 2023, would the landlord expect to continue to be paid for 13 more months? Or, would the landlord say, "oh, you gave notice, we don't owe each other anything more for the next 13 months because you gave notice." Nope, he would say your notice is effective August 1, 2024.

12:30 - ABC - Colorado at Oregon 12:30 - Fox - UCLA at Utah

A lot of sleepless nights ahead for the coaching staff. Sunday brings the release of season stats. Relative to this topic, out of Oregon's first 7 opponents, 5 have QBs who are in the Top 9 in yards per game. That includes Tex Tech, Hawaii, Colorado, UW, WSU. All are 2 games except Hawaii which has had 3 games in his average. And, Nix makes 6 of the Top 9.

Absolutely, the USA Today story is pretty damning. You'll want to take a shower after reading it.

Interesting stat from the game 3rd Q - time of possession, points scored Oregon: 11:48 - 0 Tex Tec: 03:12 - 14 (2 drives were 2:02 and 1:04) 4th Q Oregon: 6:48 - 20 Tex Tec: 8:12 - 3 Though, Ducks ended 3rd Q deep in Tex Tech territory. Shough: 1st half: 14-23, 101 yds 2nd half: 10-17-3, 181 yds

3 in a row? 1988: Hawaii 41-17 in Honolulu - fifth straight loss to end the season 1992: Hawaii 24-31 in Autzen - that season ended in Shreveport 1994: Hawaii 36-16 in Honolulu - that season ended in Pasadena

Tex Tech last loss in a home opener: 1999 That win streak has included Ole Miss, TCU, SMU a few times, and a lot of FCS or light weights. This was probably a bigger game for Tex Tech fans than many of us realized. A quick review looks like the last ranked team at a home opener was Oklahoma in 1992.

Couple stats from the game: The score was 18-27 Ducks trailing at end of third. Final score 38-30. Ducks won the fourth quarter in "hot Texas" 20-3. First downs: Oregon 21, Tex Tech 29. That's a difference of 8. 6 of those 8, were due to Oregon penalty.

Not every game is 48-13 at Tennessee… 2016: 32-35 at Nebraska 2015: 28-31 at Michigan St 2008: 32-26 at Purdue in OT Difficulty of winning on the road is often underestimated. When you visit a conference opponent, you probably played or coached in that stadium before. A relatively new staff (like Oregon), with players unfamiliar with the stadium, makes any non-conference road trip win worthy, whether you think there was some ugly moments like penalties and broken assignments.

Would like to see first half stats vs second half stats. Shough started hot at Wyoming. He started hot in this game. Completions, I mean. Is that just a perception, or backed up by statistics? If so, why does that happen to him?

I remember an old coach of mine who said, "you don't know what you got until you throw them into the fire." There may have been a bit of that in Oregon's thinking. You can't always tell from practice how someone is going to respond and perhaps better to learn some of it when you can substitute in a game you're likely to win anyway. Not just how they execute their assignment, but how well do they comprehend play calls, show motivation, play with energy. Obviously the lack of penalties in that game with so many substitutions was very encouraging. I read somewhere Oregon played 24 freshmen, and PSU played 22 (for PSU, mostly after the game got out of hand to avoid injuries to starters).

Dear fellow Ducks fans: How often do you hear anything negative about Tex Tech fans? Now, compare that to what you hear about Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas St, ... The Ducks are playing a class program, a very prideful program who have very loyal fans. If you can attend, your interactions will be respectful. And, despite what happened in Laramie, a very tough opponent in Lubbock.

It also was an example of the power of the Rose Bowl in that era. That was the 1962 season, with Rose Bowl 1963 being one of four games on January 1st, out of 9 bowls total. It was a really big deal to be in the Cotton, Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls. One of 14 Rose Bowls with broadcaster Mel Allen, who about had to eat a plateful of USC praise as Wisconsin rallied.

25 freshmen saw action apparently.

I think Uncle Phil is in the booth. Enuf said.

Near Staples Center?

More balanced than the piece Goe wrote yesterday....

excerpt from Wilner column in Sept. 2022.... At the heart of the issue is an aspect of the TV selection process that requires each team to make a minimum number of appearances on the Pac-12 Networks. And that minimum is equivalent to the number of non-conference home games it plays. So USC, with three non-conference home games this season (2022), must appear on the Pac-12 Networks at least three times. Meanwhile, ESPN and Fox want to select the best possible matchups — a process that’s not as simple as it seems. Interest in college football (i.e., ratings) typically peaks later in the season, when the best teams have emerged and conference title and playoff bids are at stake. As the networks contemplate whether to select the USC-Oregon State game in September (2022), they have to keep in mind what it means for their matchups in November. If the Trojans are as good as they look under Lincoln Riley, they will play a series of high-profile games down the stretch. If ESPN and Fox select a USC game now, they reduce access to the Trojans later because of the Pac-12 Networks’ minimum game requirement. more to it, as well: Pac-12 TV selection process explained: Why Oregon State’s duels with USC and Utah are on the Pac-12 Networks and not ESPN or Fox SPORTS360AZ.COM <p>Oregon State is 3-0 for the first time since 2014, halfway to bowl eligibility and preparing for two of its biggest games of the season. But for a few hours…</p>

Tex Tech went to Laramie a day early to adapt to altitude. Wyoming's coach said beforehand "well, the scientists tell me it takes about six weeks." Obviously a little gamesmanship, laugh. Wyoming's coach also said before he was at Laramie and he brought his visiting NDSU team, "we were gassed in the fourth quarter, and we lost to Wyoming late." Elevation in Lubbock is 3,200 feet. It is 7,200 in Laramie. It is 430 in Eugene. Elevations are always interesting to look at. We tend to think of someplace "in the desert" as being low elevation, but not always the case. Lubbock is higher than any Pac12 location except Utah and Colorado.

TCU's defense last 3 games: 528 - Michigan - 45 points 589 - Georgia - 65 points 565 - Colorado - 45 points Not exactly comparing apples to apples in those 3 games, but does give me slight hesitation in joining the Colorado hype train.