HappyToBeADuck

Both teams are now better versions of themselves when compared to the October version. In common opponents (PSU, Iowa and Whisky) the outcomes were hard fought wins. IU beat PSU on an amazing game winning drive and OBD's last minute game winning drive against Iowa was amazing. Both Defense are outstanding and can be dominant. IU's offense is more consistent than OBD's. However, strong Defenses (Iowa and tOSU) held IU 's offense in check. Both teams had a chance to win against IU The Duck D is for real and capable of holding IU's offense under 20 points. The question remains; can the Duck O stop shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and mistakes. OBD's offense kept TT in this game thru 3 quarters. Ducks should have scored 35-42 points against TT. At times the best defense on the field was the Duck offense. This will not work against IU. They have an offense that will make you pay for your mistakes. Keep IU offense off the field. Sustain long time consuming drives that end in TOUCHDOWNS! This should be a great game that OBD's can and should win. All 3 phases show up and play clean and Ducks win 27-24. Go Ducks!

Charles, i did hear that comment but there wasn't much information offered, other than the comment. We, as Duck fans are in a special place, for sure! Who would have foreseen that OBD's only loss last year was to the eventual NC. And our only loss this season is to the current #1 team. With a clear shot at redemption. Over the years, Duck coaches have lost games to teams they should have beaten. In some cases, those losses kept Oregon out of title games or a shot at the Natty. DL seems to have that resolved. Now the only challenge left is to win the Natty. Wonderful time to be a Duck and to be a OBDF member. Thanks Charles for this unique forum.

At this point when IU and OBD's face off next week, they will both be facing the best team they have played against all season. Again! I give the Hoosiers a slight edge because of their consistency all season in all 3 phases. However, if IU plays like they did against PSU then they will lose to the Ducks. As long as OBD's plays crisp, clean and brutal! Follow the coaches game plan and move onto the Natty...... This will be a great game! If they reranked the teams then IU would still be #1 and the Ducks #2. This is gonna be special. Go Ducks!

Alex, solid article about the 3 things we learned about OBD's from the TT game. IMHO, the Ducks are underestimated because they have shown this season thru 14 games that you don't know what they will bring each game. Some games, good defenses slowed down or confused the Duck O. Other games the Duck D would go stretches where they couldn't get off the field. An outside onlooker might ask; how could a great team need a last second field goal to beat Iowa, or how could the Ducks only score 21 points against Whisky.? Or play so poorly, at home against Indiana? Remember, only the SEC teams were allowed close wins or even losses to rise in the rankings...... To this Duck fan, a homer fan, I never saw OBD's take a good or great team to the woodshed for a thrashing. Except yesterday! The Defense was so dominant and the Offense fought thru a great front 7 and their own self-inflicted wounds to win. That was as big a win as any Duck team has ever had. Indiana will not be so forgiving of the careless and sloppy play from OBD's offense. It may take 40 or more points to beat IU even with another spectacular effort from the Duck D. TT was a very good team but IU is a great team. Proof, they carry the Duck scalp on their belt. Both teams have improved since the first game. However, the Ducks must play clean, mistake free football in all 3 phases to win. Or OBD's D can just pitch another shutout...... This Duck fan is proud of the staff and players for overcoming that loss, winning 8 games in a row and getting their shot at redemption. Go Ducks! It is all out their for the taking.

Mike, you spoke the silent part out loud! This game has the makings of a rout. The rout will happen if 2 critical components are executed by OBD's: First, the Duck offensive line must keep Dante upright and give him time to flow thru his reads. Mike you recognized the glaring speed advantage the Ducks skill position players have over the TT secondary. Dante needs protection and he will deliver! Second, the Duck defense must hold the edges. MU and TT must force the Red Raiders run game into the strength of the defense. Play clean and disciplined, win the battle on first and second down. TT is not strong or efficient in 3rd down and long. Force TT to be one dimensional on offense and OBD's win! GO DUCKS......

Ducks for the win 31-28 2 TO's 3 Sacks 279 passing yards

I shouldnt never type again without my contacts and glasses..... Thanks DR. for spotting that. Go Ducks

So many factors come into play before OBD"s and TT put the ball on that tee and start what shoild be a nerve racking game for the fans. No more questions or doubts, SOS won't matter, the talking heads view points carry little weight. It comes down to the players and the execution of their assignments within the game plan. The Duck D holds the key to this game. The Red Raiders offense thrived on 2nd down and short. This opened up their full playbook. TT struggled in 3rd and long. Hold the edges, bottle up the run game and force them to throw the ball. A heavy dose of Chaos is needed. Make them earn every yard for all 4 quarters. OBD's offense must be patient. 14 play, 7 minutes SCORING drives limit the amount of plays the TT offense will get. No self-inflicted mistakes that give TT a short field. TT has not felt the pressure mount on either side of the ball this year. OBD's can make that happen in all 3 phases of the game plan. Going to be a battle that OBD's can and should win. Go Ducks......

Being a Duck homer myself, I can appreciate these podcasts. Even those void of facts. Without a doubt either team can win this game. However, OBD's will be TT's greatest test all season. The Ducks are a 2 deep, balanced squad, not littered, but filled with future NFL players. TT will be the 3rd best squad OBD's faces in the 2025/2026 season. I place IU and PSU games more difficult. I don't care or know what happened to PSU after the Ducks tore their heart and soul from them. That was a top 5 team at home in a whiteout and OBD's left with a W. The Red Raiders, during the regular season, played teams with a combined losing schedule of 70-74. With 5 teams going to bowl games. And TT lost to one of them, ASU. OBD's played teams with a combined 78-66 record. 6 teams will make bowl games. On top of that MSU the FCS Finals and IU in the CFP. That's 8! Schedules and those opponents matter. TT's had an easier schedule to pad their team stats. JMU was no barometer for the Ducks season. TT only the #1's and 1a's will see the field. Barring injury, of course. Benson and McClellen would be #1's on the TT squad and they started as 3's and 4's on the Duck depth chart. This game is a toss up! The team who plays clean, mistake free football will have a leg up. Either team can overcome mistakes but only one team has the #1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft....... Dante is not the same QB that everyone saw against IU. He will be the difference maker in this game. TT, if you don't get to Dante you most likely lose this game. OBD's did not have multiple TE schemes when they played IU. Your linebackers can't cover the Duck TE's and pressure Dante at the same time. Good luck! Hopefully, this is Duck homered enough..... Go Ducks, cover the spread and let's get off to the semi-finals.

Great hire for Michigan and a great fit Whit...... KW earned everything he received at Utah, including anunlimited supply of patience. Football is not life and death for the Utes administration and fans. That will not be the case at Michigan. It is a short leach at best. Either way, congratulations to KW! He earned this moment.

For this Duck fan, the November/December version of OBD's is better than the October version. With real time game experience and a great deal of water under the bridge the current Duck offense has very little resemblence to the offense on the field against IU. Dante is reading defensive sets/formations and calling audibles to avoid trouble. The result, less sacks and more positive plays. He may be extremely talented but he was clueless in the IU game. His line gave up 6 sacks. Goodness.....Since that game the 2 deep line has done what was needed in run block assignments and pass blocking. You don't win 6 games in a row, in the BIG, to close out your conference schedule with out a stout O line executing at a high level. Watch the games again and dont follow the ball carrier. Look at the down field blocking by the linemen, tight ends and receivers. It is exceptional with hat on hat 20-30 yards downfield. Exceptional.... The key component is Dante! In October he was an extremely talented player brimming with potential. And IU knocked his confidence into next week. Thru the course of the season, with hard work, high end coaching and determination, Dante has become a team leader and probably the #1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With protection and the newly found TE sets(last 4 games) Dante is a difference maker. He will be the difference against TT. I have promised myself I won't melt down when TT stuffs and stymes OBD's on the first few possessions. Those first 8 to 12 plays set the stage for future big plays later. For you younger Forum members, in the sixties the New York Jets had a,QB named Joe Willie Namath. There were no artificial turf stadiums. When bad weather arrived the fields were muddy. The Jets O Lines goal was to keep Joe Willies uniform clean. Sideline camera shots would pan the O line and Joe Willie. The lineman's jerseys would be muddy and bloody. Joe Willie's entire uniform would be clean. In 1969 they kept Joe Willie so clean they won the Super Bowl. Keep Dante's uniform clean and OBD's NFL Light team will put TT in the rearview mirror. GO DUCKS!

Ask yourself what would TT record be if they played OBD's scjedule? 10-2 maybe 9-3. They do not have any, and i mean any teams in the BIG 12 that could make TT one dimensional on offense. None......not even Utah IU, PSU in the white out game, Iowa and the huskies on the road would have altered TT on offense.Please name any games that the Red Raiders played that match those games? Schedules and opponents make a difference. Oregon is the better team who faced some good teams and faced one powerhouse team in IU. OBD's, with TT's schedule would be 13-0. Dilly's team does not have the horses ro beat the Ducks. Make no mistake, TT can beat the Ducks if they don't play clean and execute for 60 minutes. I expect a 38-24 Duck victory in January 1st, 2026. Go Ducks......

Darren, i suppose the time has come in the next 3 games for OBD's to peak in all 3 phases of the game. Any of the 8 remaining teams can win their next 3 games and claim a Natty. It is A plus effort time. I do not like to look ahead because it is a 1 game season at this point and TT is now that season. TT averages 42 points a game and gives up like 10 points a game. Oregon D has done a great job holding opponents under their season scoring average. This game will be decided in the trenches. The D doesn't need to peak because they have been consistent all season. Keep TT under 21-24 points and OBD's improve their chances to advance. The Duck D is capable of slowing down the Red Raiders. How much I don't know. OBD's is the best overall defense TT has faced in 2025. TT and MU and the D tackles must cause havoc and force the Red Raiders into being one dimensional. They can do it........ The Duck O appears to be peaking, some what! Over the last 4 games they are scoring about 41 points. The previous 4 games, 31 points. But that includes 56 against Rutgers. The current version of the Duck O is what I expect. If the O line continues to protect, I expect OBD's to score between 28-38 points. OBD's offense is the best balanced TT has faced all season If IU and tOSU advance their defenses are stingy and difficult to score on. However, the Duck D is pretty darn good. But those games are another season all together. Merry Christmas and Go Ducks.....

On a scale of 1 to 10, Zero on the panic meter for this old grey beard. TT has OBD's undivided attention. This game will be decided in the trenches. The Duck O line must protect Dante and give him time to throw. IMHO, all the Duck skill position players will play on Sundays. TT has not faced an offense this talented. Not to mention all 5 O line starters will cash NFL checks. Patience, balance, clean play and high level execution will keep the TT defense on their heels, not their toes. On defense TT and MU must hold the edges much better and contain. Force TT to be one dimensional. OBD's defense is stacked with future NFL talent. Play to their level, hold TT to 17 or under and let's get on the the semifinals. Go Ducks........

David it certainly was a tale of 2 halves. After the long interception return from the Ducks red zone, an entirely different Duck defense finished out the game.The players seemed to channel the ghosts of a past 2nd half collapse in an Alamo Bowl! Because the announcers did a poor job of telling us who missed tackles, missed coverages or assignments, it is hard to tell who and how many #2's, 3's or 4's were in on those let down plays. Some of those players because of redshirt rules may have not played since October. Either way execution went out the window. DL and staff will have the players full attention this week. Coupled with a quarter and a half of bad duck film to review.. The good ducks will show up in Miami and give TT all they can handle. Either way, congratulations to OBD's first CFP victory. Let's get #2....... Go Ducks.....

If Davison can't go the next man up will show up. OBDF members, this is a deep blue chip roster with eager talent ready to show and show out. IE: McClellan and Benson! Most Ducks who portal out will be blue chip caliber. As many others feel, including DL and TL, it baffles me what happened to the defense in the second half. I am confident the coaches will get it worked out. Hat on hat, TT does not have the Ducks talent and depth level. However, they destroy their opponents! They have the killer instinct that OBD's lacks. It is a manageable game for the Ducks if they play clean and execute all 60 minutes. GO DUCKS.......

Texas Tech needs to be careful what they wish for! They are a high quality team that had a middle of the pack SOS. OBD's are the ASU Sundevils on steroids. The Red Raiders have not played a Blue Chip roster, 2 deep, battle tested kike OBD's . As other posters noted, the Ducks must play clean, disciplined football in all 3 phases and all 60 minutes. TT is not tOSU, IU or PSU in a white out. OBD's moved the ball all game against IU until WS got impatient in the 4th quarter. The Ducks lost because they made mistakes. TT is not on IU's level but TT will beat you if you make mistakea. DL and the staff will have the best balanced squad ready to go in Miami. Go Ducks.......

It's difficult for me to guage because of the varied competition. Example: Tulane and JMU QB's were going against the best teams they faced all year. The JMU QB played very well against OBD's. He executed well in the first half but could not punch in a TD against the Ducks frontline D. In the second half against the 3's and 4's he and his teammates rolled up 28 points. However, he did not win and that is what matters. On a do over, Tulanes QB missed wide open throws and couldn't execute. Ole Miss QB, just like Dante simply took advantage of lesser competition. Both QB's will face stout, pressuring defenses in the quarterfinals. Miami and A&M QB's cracked under windy weather conditions. Dante had wind, rain, sleet and snow flakes in Iowa and still executed very well. Beck and the Canes O will find moving the ball very difficult against the Buckeyes D. Didn't watch the Bama vs OU game. Cannot stand either team. For me, it will be easier to guage after the quarterfinals because the matchups are balanced and better. If IU dispatches Bama, as they should, Bama leaves the field with 4 losses. I ask the CFP Committee and their ESPN bosses, how are they one of the top 8 teams? As a Duck honk, at the highest level, i choose Dante. His first half performance was exceptional. He did miss a number of wide open targets, all game. Hopefully he clrans that up against TT. I am not pleased with DL and his playing Dante in the 2nd half. He rolled the dice because Dante could have needlessly been injured. I don't understand his thought process. We would not win the next game without the #1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. GO DUCKS! It's about to get very real.

Ducks 49-13 2 -TO's 3 - Sacks 299 passing GO DUCKS!

Darren, for Happy to be HappyToBeADuck, the thought that OBD's don't win their first Natty has not entered my mind! This old Duck is a homer whose 30,000 foot view comes thru green and yellow colored glasses. Coupled with Duck bias filled to the brim with confidence for 4 more CFP victories. First Round Game: I will be didappointed if the Ducks dont cover the spread, Dante plays past the first 2nd half Duck possession and the #3's and #4's don't get significant playing time. Second Round Game: I will be disappointed if the Duck D allows TT 17 points. DL has plenty of bulletin board material for both sides of the ball to be motivated. Semifinals: If OU or Bama get past IU in their second round game, I will be disappointed. This Duck fan wants a rematch with IU and a chance to wipe that smirk off Cignettis face. (He has earned the right to wear that smirk. Now OBD's need to earn the right to wipe that smirk off into the off srason.) Natty: Whether it's Georgia or tOSU in the title game it matters not. The last time we faced either of these teams they wiped the field clean with the Ducks. That is enoigh reason for any team. End Result: Oregon Ducks National Chsmpions!

Great ponder point Alex. And great comments by the Forum posters. The road to the Natty for OBD's goes thru some nasty aggresive defenses once JMU is dispatched. TT, IU and tOSU are a combined 37-2. If Georgia,beats tOSU then that's another tough out. How Dante and the Ducks handle that juggernaut will be a snapshot for Dante to see how he has grown from the IU game. He did not read IU's schemes and sets very well. However, Dante has improved since that game. I feel, as others do, if Oregon wins the Natty that Dante will be headed to the NFL. There is no comparison money wise between NIL and the NFL. A top 5 pick is in the $50 million area. The 5th year option for a QB would be $30 million plus alone. In 2030, for a,QB starter it could very well top $50 per season in a 2nd contract. However, it is a double edged sword. The sooner the journey starts the sooner you get to that 2nd contract But teams like the Raiders, Jets, Browns etc are an absolute joke. Tbey are POS franchises that offer very little upside for a QB. Unfortuneatley, if Dante returns and goes in the 2027 NFL draft, the casyt of POS teams will be the same. Dante, get a Natty and get gone. When does Saturday get here. Good gosh, get the playoffs started by the 2nd Saturday in December...

JJ, thanks,for the bowl and CFP rundown. It will be interesting to see if the BIG can dominate the bowl scene. Or is the BIG overrated? Or is the,SEC overrated? My New Years wish is for an OBD's vs IU and Georgia vs tOSU semi-final contest. Go Ducks....

JJ, good call on the need for filling spots on the O Line. Those big boys are the main reason that OBD's are 46-7 under Coach Lanning. These bad boys have proved they can both run and pass block. They dont need another 15-20 starts to learn and hone their skills like a QB may need. DL and staff will bring in the best players available to them. The NIL money will be a significant factor but DL and staff have proved that they can help get you to the NFL. Whoever is under center in 2026 will not thrive without a great OL in front of them.

So many valid points in all the above posts. In rewatching all of this seasons games it is difficult for me to guage if Dante is NFL ready. In the first 4 games OBD's opponents put no pressure on Dante. The Ducks were on cruise control and Dante was punching his ticket to the Heisman awards dinner. A tremendous team effort pulled off a white-out win and destroyed the PSU program. The train was rolling...... Then the Hoosiers rolled into Eugene and derailed that train. It was evident that Dante could not recognize their schemes and audible out. He was relentlessly pressured and showed he couldn't throw on the run or flat on his back. Afterall, this was his 12th start. Only the extreme talent on this squad kept the game close. To his and there credit, Dante and his teammates picked themselves up off the turf and won 6 straight. The Ducks destroyed the teams they were supposed to, battled the weather against Whisky and Iowa and handled business against the great pretenders, USC and UW. In those 6 games the team grew stronger, overcame injuries and new stars emerged out of the next man up legions. Dante engineered come from behind wins and clock killing drives. He showed out his arm strength, pin point accuracy and proved he could lead under pressure. Most important he showed against the trojans and huskies he could recognize schemes and call succesful audibles. Those were in his 18th and 19th starts. Bo Nix took 62 starts and Dillion Gabriel took 63 starts to the NFL. One got a descent team the other got picked by a poop show. Who knows what POS team Dante would go to. Dantes 20th, 21st, 22nd and hopefully 23rd start will go along way to Dantes decision. I hope he and his team choose wisely.

I 2nd that sentiment that "Let's hope he continues for 20 + years or more." Coach Lanning has proven that he says what he means and means what he says. He has made a committment to the school and to the players. Standing by and sticking to your guns lets people know where you stand. When Coach Lanning is standing in their living room they know he can be trusted to his word. In no small part, his character and word are the foundation for repeated top 5 recruiting classes and this years #2 class! Go Ducks.......