HappyToBeADuck

There are many pieces to the puzzle of building an elite roster that can win the National Title. Certainly the high level of recruiting since 2019 has elevated the quality of play on the field. 35-6 backs that up. IMHO, the program is built to dominate a conference and compete for league titles. The 2024 BIG Title supports that. DL couldnt get it done last year, so he brought in some high level talent and got the title. As for CFP games and Nattys, well there is obviously some work to be done. But OBD's are close. Last year we lost 2 games to udub who played in the Natty and 1 game to osu2 who is in tbis years Natty. OBDF members those are the games we must win to put ourselves at the elite level. This years Rose Bowl was eye opening for this fan because the Ducks looked inept and lost. With DL at the helm, i dont think he will sleep much until he gets to the next level. Go Ducks.......

Well this is just way, way to early but alot of fun to ponder and discuss. The top 4 are a safe bet, however nothing is concrete until after the spring games. Transfers out have to factor in. Additional key portal additions? It is just to fluid and only time (games played) will tell how the players on the the #1 undefeated Ducks team will respond to their butt whooping in the Rose Bowl. Go Ducks - 11-1 in 2025!

Yes, OBD's do have to grow into being a great, elite team. Please dont take this as a criticism of the Ducks. DL and staff are still putting the pieces together thru the high school ranks and portal. Each year the recruiting rankings improve to the point thar talented 4 stars transfer out because they know they will not see the field. The talent gap continues to shrink.......... Now DL and staff must grow as coaches. Nothing helps that more than in game experience. On the job training, learning and growing and taking responsibility for the results. DL took full responsibility for the Rose Boel loss. That is why my belief in DL continues to grow. OBDF members while our coach is learning how to develope into a great head coach, he sports a 35-6 record and a BIG Title. The Duck trajectory is amazing. Osu2 has more than earned their spot in the title game. DL will wake up thinking about the next meeting with the Buckeyes because thats how he thinks. The Ducks earned a seat at the CFP table, now they need to return and sit at the head of the table. The loss still stings but the future is awesome. On a side note my son purchased 4 tickets to the Fiesta Bowl (he was a Longhorn fan growing up), Rose Bowl and Natty, fully expecting the Ducks to reach the title game. Within a few minutes of posting the 4 Natty tickets for sale a bidding war ensued and a true Buckeye fanatic swooped them up. All the cost of travel and the12 tickets were recouped. osu2 has a great, loyal fan base and I have a feeling that the Buckeyes and Ducks will create a great rivalry between elites for years to come. GO DUCKS..........

Darren, thats a great take on the situation. osu2 really is the benchmark standard in the B1G. It took Harbaugh 5 to 6 seasons to build and recruit the talent at Michigan to beat osu2. Harbaugh brought seasons of coaching experience to Michigan and had the advantage over the less experienced Day. It takes time for any head coach to season and also for his assistants. Let's give DL and staff some time to grow and gain experience. They need to grow and accumulate more talent. The future is bright. On a side note for this fan, without Stewart to stretch the buckeye D, Coach Stein had very few options. The Duck O could not take advantage of a glaring weakness in their secondary. Because the Duck D forgot how to play defense this game was going be a high scoring event for the buckeyes. Many on this Forum felt the Ducks would need to score 40 plus points to win. True on that fact

I was reading an article about travel miles for the BIG 2024 schedule. Michigan and Ohio State traveled less than 6,000 miles. osuhated2's round trip to Eugene represented 72% of the miles they traveled. Oregon, counting the BIG CCG against PSU, just over 16,000 miles in 2024. With 4 round trips into the central or eastern time zone. For further perspective ucla travel 22,000 miles plus. They had a 6k round trip to Hawaii...... osu2 looked to have more energy than OBD's.......they contolled the LOS and every aspect the the RB. The BIG needs to not worry about making sure everybody plays each other every few years. This should be addressed now. The 4 west coast additions should play each other annually to reduce travel and subsequent fatique. Does that have a bearing on performance? I have traveled extensively to central and eastern time zones in any given quarter. It is grueling and is a drain on your energy. My job is mental work not physical bit i am exhausted. As for the virus. It was noticed that OBD's defense did in fact have the virus during the PSU game. Rewatching the game, after the Ducks got up 28-10, the defense seemed to slow down their pursuit. They got beat deep for touchdowns and let PSU run all over them. Almost let the game get away. They may have run out of gas. Now some would say that was in early December. Well this virus can be transmitted back to someone who has already had it. On a personal note, i see between 300 and 400 hundred people within the 50 plus businesses i call on, weekly. This virus has been brutal and keeps recirculating. Some of my customers could not staff fully since before Thanksgiving. The ones who were working were struggling with fatigue weeks after recovery. Maybe this was a factor, maybe not. Fact is OBD's got beat by a better team who traveled almost a third less miles and no mention of the flu virus. Will the BIG look at this? It is not the end of the world because DL has shown he will work tirelessly to fix weaknesses. Game plans and schemes are another story. 2024 was a awesome season with a thud for an ending. Love these coaches and players. Thank you for a BIG Title and some great entertainment. 2025 will be another great year. GO DUCKS.......

For this college footbsll fan there was a time that Game Day was must watch TV for a college football fan. The TV crew would go thru the games that would be played that day by conference. I would hang in thru all the meaningless babble waiting for the few minutes that OBD's would be mentioned. Some years the Ducks would be a prominent part of the discussion because of their success on the field. A national tv show should showcase the teams that are driving the national narrative. At some point at ESPN/ABC/Disney the powers that be decided that they should and will decide the narrative. They abandoned the fact that the college football season is a journey for all to traverse. The narrative is decided on the field and their role is to take us on the journey as it unfolds. Alabama, South Carolina Ole Miss, LSU and A&M did not make the journey in 2024. And the VOLS got their shot but were out matched hy osu2. Game Day should have celebrated all 12 of those that made the journey. How exciting for Indiana, SMU, BSU and ASU fans. Instead they broadcast about those SEC teams who were more worthy. Simply classless....... On a side note, Game Day was just another sports show with a unique ability to broadcast those in the spot light. Then they came to Eugene.......Thousands of Duck fans showed up in the Dark and put on a show. The Duck mascot became a national figure. Going forward, fans at other schools flocked to help make Game Day must watch TV It really was launched that day in Eugene. Today the Duck players can put their own personal stamp on Game Day, Ryan Day and the trash talking Buckeye players. Today, OBD's can put a statement on their stamp for respect. GO DUCKS. 14-0

Ducks win and go 14-0 Ducks 45 osu2 31 2 2 305 yards passing Go Ducks.....

And yet, with all OBD"s faults and weaknesses they navigated the BIG to 13-0 and a BIG title? I guess the Ducks got lucky. The lack of run stop is puzzling and senior linebackers being out of place is inexcusable. As mentioned before in many threads, by many posters, if the Duck D plays osu2 like they played PSU then DG and company must score on every possession. Personally the Duck D wins as a team. Many long runs came on 3rd and long, with the linebackers in coverage. Of course big gains can be had in those situations. Most teams were playing catchup with the Duck D in prevent. Except Jenty because he is a rare talent. Pressure the osu2 QB and the DB's will be getting INT's. GO DUCKS.......

It is truly time for OBD's to play a full 60 minute game, in all 3 phases of the game, that leaves no doubt. Alex, this should be the first of 3 statement games for the Ducks. It would de difficult to measure how much energy was exerted by the buckeyes in their statement win over the Vols. After the embarrassing loss at home to Michigan they needed a validation game to save Day's job and Buckeye pride. (Arrogance and entitledment) I ask myself at what mental, emotional and physical price did that come? Barring key ingame injuries or mistakes while knocking the rust off..... Ducks 45-31 over osu2........ GO DUCKS!

Without a doubt the 2024 season is a monster success. Consider that no matter the playoff format (2, 4, or 12 teams) OBD's would be the top seed. That is a great accomplishment. A football season is a journey with highs and lows, ebbs and flows. Win or lose those judging will develop their own criteria to support their narrative. This 2024 team is the most complete Duck team ever and they don't care what anyone thinks of them. They will work and practice hard and execute the game plan. Barring mistakes and sloppiness OBD's will win this game by 8 or more points. Only Oregon can beat Oregon. Nothing has changed since week zero. osu2 is the same team that lost to the ducks in October and melted down at home to the Wolverines. For this fan, no more negative, what ifs, second guessing or doubts. I am sending OBD's what they deserve...POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND ENERGY. They have earned nothing less. Go Ducks 41-31 in the Rose Bowl

Well 16-0 cannot be a possibilty without this great Duck team being 14-0 the evening of January 1, 2025. So proud of OBD's journey in 2024 to reach 13-0 and bring home the BIG CCG Crown. Now i know some on this Forum felt the Ducks could go 12-1 or 11-2 and be BIG Champs. How many felt they could achieve 13-0? I sure didn't........ What i find interesting is that so much narrative or conversation is focused on how can OBD's beat the big bad buckeyes. WTH! i would ask how does osu2 beat the only unbeaten team left standing. Just a few weeks back, osu2 was a train wreck. They couldn't even handle a mediocre Michigan team in the toothless Shoe. The buckeyes had such a talent advantage over the Wolverines and they put up 10 points. 10 points....... 2 weeks later they play an overrated, mismatched Tennessee team and wipe the floor with them. The talent level created mismatches that the Buckeyes took advantage of. Now all of a sudden they are an unbeatable juggernaut that OBD's cant beat? Kiss my ...... When these 2 teams step on the field the talent level will be fairly equal except at QB, Edge Rushers and totality of skill position players. Oregon has the edge...... However, just like in October, the Buckeye cornerback cannot cover Stewart. I am certain the cornerback has improved his technique and has more game time experience. But he is not any faster now then he was then. This is a mismatch that the Buckeyes cannot overcome. If they bracket or zone Stewart then Tez will be wide open and find the endzone, often. A recipe for Duck points. As long as the Duck O plays clean and mistake free then expect 42 to 56 points from this offense. I could create scenarios where the Ducks will have tightends wide open in seam routes or bubble screens. I would ask, how does osu2 stop the Duck O? Now the Duck D needs to not let osu2 reach 40 points. Its a tall task but this is an exceptional D that is far superior to Michigan or Tennessee. You cant shut down the osu2 offense. Just limit it so the Duck O can create scoreboard separation. Go Ducks 14-0......

I think there are 2 great teams in the final 8 teams. OBD's and osu2 Unfortunately they are meeting in the Rose Bowl and not the Natty. Charles, the waiting has created a level of excitememt that has reduced to a main course of extreme anxiety. With a large side order of frustation. All the negative articles, clips and comments have just worn me down as the clock slowly ticks to 2:00 pm Pacific on 1-1-25. Having to face the 2nd coming of the illegitimate offspring of a trojan/husky whine fest (osu2) gives me indigestion. To add to this we have all had to be bombarded with everything that is wrong with the first 12 team playoff. For this fan it stops here. I am grateful for the 12 team playoff opportunity. We didnt need it this year. Yet next year 10-2 may not get us in the 12 team playoff. Getting invited is what counts and a screwed up 12 team CFP is better than a SEC/ESPN rigged BCS or 4 team invitationsl When OBD's step on the field against osu2, i take comfort that we have the best QB with a never before 62 starts under his belt. OBD's has NFL talent on the O line, tight end and skill position players that osu2 had no answers for in October. OBDF hopes they will have NO ANSWER in the Rose Bowl When the Duck D is on the field, no matter who Oregon plays at the edge rusher position, well they will be playing in the NFL. osu2 only has 1 player who creates a potential mismatch. Shut down the run game, bracket their best receiver and put Howard on his butt. He cannot beat us. This fan has not seen OBD's play a 60 minute, all 3 phases dominant game. Buckle up because the CFP is about to see it in the Rose Bowl. Day and his players have to figure out how to beat OBD's. That is the tallest task in these playoffs. Does any one on this Forum think that DL will not have his team bring the A+ effort? Go Ducks........being it all and leave it all on the field. You are 3 wins away from greatness.

The honks just yap and yap for clicks and views. Newweaselless just fits the mold. OBD's has the opportunity to prove them all wrong in their hands. A Rose Bowl victory over osu2 will silence them all for a week. Except Day and the Buckeye fans will have a list of excuses to shout out about who and how they were robbed. Then we will have to be the underdogs to Texas. The lack of respect will continue until this Duck team is 16-0 and National Champs.

As i mentioned in another post this game has much more at stake than the Rose Bowl and CFP advancement. Should Oregon be fortunate enough to take down osu2 again, that would be a statement victory A statement victory that reinforces that Oregon is the BIG Champion. osu2 players, coaches and fans believe the October victory was a fluke. This victory will put that to bed. Even the BIG Conference top brass did not expect to crown OBD's champions. . I went onto the BIG football news site and the only articles were about osu2 and BIG portal news. The only info on Oregon was within articles about how osu2 was going to take Oregon down. A 2nd Oregon victory will create a seismic shift at the top end of the BIG. A shift that no one expected except DL. He warned them that they needed to adapt to Oregon football. I will not be disappointed if the Ducks lose the Rose Bowl. Beating a team twice in same season is a tall order. Especially a team that was ranked #1 earlier this season..... Georgia handled Texas twice and now OBD's must handle osu2, again. Thats the path to the Natty. Most people, pundits, bloggers, mouth pieces and honks are picking the Buckeyes to win. They tout revenge, pride and somehow the Buckeyes are now at the top of their game. Did they forget the Michigan game already? Those thoughts could very well be true. However, the Bucknuts are now a roadlock or speedbump on OBD's journey to a national title. That cannot be overlooked. Day, Howard and Buckeyes tou may have a problem because DL and his players don't listen to that outside baloney.... GO DUCKS.......

Charles, since the ridiculous 12 team CFP format is forcing OBD's to play a title level opponent in the quarterfinals, the answer is YES.......... Unleasch whatever is necessary.... However, it depends on how the game unfolds. If the Duck D cannot dominate in the trenches then osu2 will put up 42 to 49 plus points. In that scenario the Duck offense must unleash or utilize any player or trick play needed to never have to punt. Having to punt even 1 or 2 times could cost OBD's their season. The Buckeyes D does not have enoigh secondary high skill defenders to double Tez or single cover Stewart or Holden. That is why they cannot blitz Gabriel. If the blitz is picked up then DG can throw Bird Bombs. Or hit the tightends in the seam. In the first game, osu2 had no answer to stop the Duck O. The Ducks left 10 to 15 points off the scoreboard. They will need at least 45-50 IF, The Duck D plays like they did against PSU. In that scenario the Buxkeyes will score easily and often. The Duck D needs to unleasch the hounds and create chaos. The D is the key to victory. Howard gets rattled when you pressure him. This is the 41st game of the DL era. We as fans have seen glimpses of chaos from the D. This game would be a great time for a full game of chaos. Multiple sacks are critical and getting 3rd down stops will be the difference in victory or defeat for OBD's. Winning this game and the Natty deprnds on a dominant performance by the Duck D. Bird Bombs, picking up blizes, sacks and tight coverage have allowed the Ducks to be 13-0. 14-0 will depend on how the Ducks execute in all 3 phases in this game. In October, Will Howard did not execute the final play and the Buckeyes lost the game. The 2025 Rose Bowl showcases the 2 best teams who are evenly matched. Without a few surprise plays to tip the scale this game may be decided on one play. GO DUCKS...... MERRY CHRISTMAS OBDF!