HappyToBeADuck

As the landscape of college football continues to change, so will OOCG scheduling. 2 thoughts on this: First: We cannot expect Oregon to win the PAC title every year. A 2 loss PAC runner up is not a lock for a CFP invite. The SEC and BIG will fight for 5 or 6 invites each year. There is no advantage to playing a top 10 program OOC. None....If you lose, you put the team in a must win out situation. So be careful in scheduling..... The prize should be a CFP invite every year for the top 2 PAC teams Second: As the landscape changes to 2 super conferences those 2 giants could shut everyone out on OOCG. At that point they can and will make their own rules. They can have their own playoffs. Oregon most likely would be a part of one of those 2 conferences. But their is no guarantee to that. We could have another division in football. And 4 and 5 star athletes will not be coming to the B league. Many people are involved in making the long term CF decisions. Ask yourself, who of those decision makers care about the PAC?

Well we could consider a couple of factors into all this social media chatter...... 1. The PAC and its fans should not be suprised by the animosity aimed ay thrm from the BIG 12. The PAC tried to poach UT and OU and that failed. Then when the BIG 12 needed a lifeline the PAC spurned them. How do feel when you are rejected. 2. CU may have been opposed to the conference approving GK to see if CSU was a good fit. Maybe some feelongs of not being valued? 3. The road to the CFP will be easier thru the BIG 12. UO, Utes, little puppies and Beavers will be difficult to get thru. Just a few thoughts....

This is very exciting.......young, developing talent at OBD's athletic department. Not sure what sort of NIL agreement is in place for the baseball players. But a trip tp Omaha would require some pay raises. If not, the SEC could come knocking with cash... What a great problem to have GO DUCKS...........

Thank you for taking the time to create this positive football article about OBD's. With all the unknown's swirling around about media rights and expansion this timely article was refreshing. As long as the talented O Line jells, creating both running lanes and top level pass protection the 2023 offense will create nightmarrs for opposing DC's. When DC's load the box to stop the run, receivers like Johnson and Franklin will feast in single coveage. Both players possess the skills to keep the chains moving or take it to the house. I agree that both players should emerge as stars in 2023. This is exciting for all Duck fans. On the flip side, during the spring game, the D secondary showed tight coverage. All the receivers had to work hard for their catches and yards. The open field tackling was encouraging. Yet the covered receivers made catches. The on field future is bright and that is a topic I am excited to ponder. GO DUCKS......

For me, one of lifes simpliest joys and pleasures is laying my head on my pillow with double thoughts. One thought is hetting a good nights sleep with 3 or less bathroom visits. The other thought is the joy of a husky loss in any sport. Sweet! This week I will be in husky country. One win over DPU and i can invite my husky friends to a Super Regional. GO DUCKS.........

The Ducks definitely have a good chance to advance. As mentioned above, if the young arms keep the games close anything can happen with aluminum bats. The Duck batting lineup is a hitting machine and is capable of producing enough runs to advance this team to the super regionals All thecopponents in this regional ar3 capable butVandy will be as tough as it gets for our Ducks. Go Ducks......

If for some reason, the 4 teams that get a first round bye DON'T get any first round money then the CFP will be pushed to 16 teams. Georgia, Bama, tOSU and that 4th team will want their $20 mil for a first round game. The other 8 teams wont want to share their money with 4 teams with a bye. So economics and greed will get this to 16 teams fairly fast. So much will change very quickly as all this unfolds. Whoever makes the best moves in the next 5-6 years will control the landscape. However this unfolds the Ducks will come out okay as long as their is a clear path to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Go Ducks.........

Once OU and Texas head to the SEC (big mistake) and usc and ucla head to the BIG ( double big mistake for ucla because they will not climb over tOSU, Penn State or Michigan for a CFP invite) OOC scheduling could become very difficult. It will take a few years for a better look at the OOC games landscape. i too would love to see big name schools come to Autzen. Bringing big name schools to Autzen appears to be a challenge for Mullens. The Ducks are extremely difficult at home and too much of a risk for the top teams. But those games may no longer be in the Ducks best interest. As much as the games against Georgia, LSU and Auburn raised the Ducks profile, the losses carried the weight of the Ducks " just don't belong with the big boys" all season long. Those are must win games and not worth the risk of a loss. It's creates a negative narrative in the media. Yes the win against tOSU vaulted the Ducks to #3 and they stayed there until the ASU game. Then it all came apart. One or two P-5 opponents at home is sufficient enough to build a resume. The goal is to be no less than 12-1 after the PAC title game. Then be healthy and win their first CFP game, then the quarterfinal and get to the semis. That is a $50-$60 million dollar payday. An early season, for no reason loss to a power house team could keep the Ducks out of the CFP. There would be no room for error after that. No 10-2 PAC team will make the expanded CFP, unless they win the PAC Title. A 3rd or 4th place, 10-2 SEC team will get an at large invite before a 10-2 PAC team The PAC needs 2 teams in the CFP, every year. OOC scheduling is critical to achieve this goal. Both teams need to enter the PAC Title game 11-1. The 11-2 loser may not get a CFP invite. Why schedule a top 10 school for early games? I hope we never play Georgia, Bama, LSU or tOSU again unless its in the,semis or Natty. I dont like where college football is headed. However, as a fan i cannot change any of it. So it is reaching the point of co along to get along.

As with anything worth while their will be pros and cons. It's always easier to find reasons to not take a risk or make a change. All the concerns posted are very valid and would need to be worked out. However the pros are compelling. IMHO, The travel situation is not like usc or ucla. They are a 2 team traveling show on an island. Traveling away every other week. It may have been a good financial move by Fox to capture the LA market. However, not so good for the athletes and fans. As JJ laid out, there would be a 12 team conference and a 16 team conference. Not much travel would be necessary. In football a schedule could be created for just 1 interconference trip a year. Six schools go east and six go west. The TV ratings would be high. The games would draw east and west coast fans. More eyeballs for TV. (Basketball could have conference challenge matchups one week out of the year. Maybe one year in Vegas the next year Charlotte or Atlanta.) This type of merger would provide at least 5 teams who could make the top 12 annually. Clemson, FSU, Utah, UW and Oregon would challenge for CFP appearances. This would put pressure on the SEC and BIG in their quest to put 3 or 4 teams annually into the CFP. I cannot understate that any school who gets to the semifinals will have earned $50 to $60 million win or lose. The 4th game for the Natty will bring another $30 million plus. This is ridiculous money and the ACC and PAC should consider creating a situation that cannot be ignored by the networks, SEC and big. Create a situation where you can dictate some of the terms. Not be dictated to. 28 teams with coastal viewers and 5 heavy weight members will be a force. Also, fans will watch what they want, when they want and how they want. Just televise your best Tier 1 games and viewers will watch. I watch noon est, 9 pst kickoffs every Saturday. Why wouldn't i watch 2 ACC teams? Especially if it mattered to the Ducks..... It only takes 8 teams to agree to break up the ACC and espn would have to scramble. I would love to see FSU, UNC, Clemson and MIami join in an AP Conference with Oregon, Utah and UW. That is football clout with leverage. Of course if ifs and buts,were candy and nuts, then everday would be Christmas.......

JJ, thanks for that great post. A joint merger between the ACC/PAC would solidify their place at the table This combined conference preserves rivalries, offers 9:00 am pst to 11:00 pm pst Power 5 games to broadcast and would provide some new games of interest. Without out of the box thinking their will be a 2 super conference entity that dominates and dictates the landscape by the mid 20 thirties. Both you and Charles have been warning about this scenario! Looking to the future requires forward thinking. With proper planning and scheduling the AP could provide quality matchups that could rival Fox's Big Noon Kickoff and compete head to head with Fox' Prime Time Saturday evening games. What would be more compelling to watch? Purdue vs ucla or UNC vs WA? USC / Northwestern or Utah vs FSU MIch/USC or Clemson vs Oregon Ucla vs Iowa or SMU vs Wake fricken Or when the SEC plays 4 cupcake OOC games the AP could field at least 1 or 2 quality matchups. Question is...... Are their enough or any out of the box forward thinkers who will lead and shape their collective future? Or will they let the SEC and BIG shape that future for them? It's time the ACC and PAC make some counter moves. As they say, lead, follow or get out of the way. GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!

JJ, as you know business and economics can be like wind and water. The linear business model of broadcasting College Football is solid, dense and deep. Proven, time tested and is the water. Sometimes the economics can be like a powerful storm with diastrous winds. The winds of economics are currently blowing against the PAC. Uncertainty about future conditions can be a gale force wind blowing against you. These negotiations are in a storm Which way the wind is blowing is the prevailing wind that settles this issue. Sometimes we just have to ride out the storm.

I had to reread the article because i was confused. It actually contained common sense comments mixed with business considerations. So unlike the nonsense garbage that media types, bloggers, podcasters and BS Specialists keep throwing out for mere clicks. Fun stuff to read and ponder but totally lacking in facts. Some clown, a few weeks back sent out that CU was leaving to the big 12 immediately. I guess he knows more than the CU president. As a fan, doom and gloom is easy to get worked up about. I have to check myself as more and more articles come out. We all have our own opinions and my view is strictly from a business perspective. Consider this thought.....PAC 10 Tier 1 Media Rights package will be over $1.2 billion for a 5 year total package. That is big business, media types, bloggers and podcasters dont make business decisions. They sell fluff for clicks. Both Canzano & Wilner have simply reported what little info that is available. When they express their opinion they let you know. They also name and quote their sources FWIW: Our little company partnered with a world wide manufacturing firm. In the process we purchased a portion of the manufacturing companies distribution network. We also sold off a portion of our distribution company to another company that fit their business model better than ours. This all took 11 months. It really was a simple business transaction. However, as the lawyers and bean counters dotted the I's and crossed the T's it got complicated and drug out. Time and patience were required. What is happening for the PAC 10 has many more moving parts and its complicated. You have linear media entities losing subscriptions and rethinking the dollars they can spend in a contract. Advertisers will be paying less as we move thru a potential recession. To complicate matters, streaming live college football is an unknown. The groundrules are just now being formatted and written. For every question there are probably 2 more that arise. This is time consuming. Then throw in a conference with 10 Presidents who have over valued their property. In my opinion the PAC lost 40% of its value with the socal sissies bailing out. The PAC should work to improve its brand and value. However facing reality is not easy. This creates a very complicated situation with multiple players looking out for their own special interests. Very complex...... The facts will bring this to its business solution not speculation. You know why no blogger, podcaster or media type reported on our business negotiations? FIrst, they didnt know or care about them. And second, they werent in the room. Many fans, other conferences, bloggers, podcasters and media types certainly care about the PAC's future media rights. However, none of us are in the room Enjoy this wonderful weekend....

Pretty confident that the SEC will continue to schedule in a fashion that allows them to get 4 teams into the expanded CFP. Unlike the PAC, the SEC will go out of its way to not cannibalize itself. When Texas and OU enter the SEC this will allow them to further dilute self destructive match ups. The CFP will probably not penalize the SEC for weakened SOS. The top 25% of the SEC is filled with powerhouse programs. They shouldn't have any problem getting 3 or 4 teams in the CFP. Just need to schedule properly to get those trams to 11 wins.

I had to reread the article because i was confused. It actually contained common sense comments mixed with business considerations. So unlike the nonsense garbage that media types, bloggers, podcasters and BS Specialists keep throwing out for mere clicks. Fun stuff to read and ponder but totally lacking in facts. Some clown, a few weeks back sent out that CU was leaving to the big 12 immediately. I guess he knows more than the CU president. As a fan, doom and gloom is easy to get worked up about. I have to check myself as more and more articles come out. We all have our own opinions and my view is strictly from a business perspective. Consider this thought.....PAC 10 Tier 1 Media Rights package will be over $1.2 billion for a 5 year total package. That is big business, media types, bloggers and podcasters dont make business decisions. They sell fluff for clicks. Both Canzano & Wilner have simply reported what little info that is available. When they express their opinion they let you know. They also name and quote their sources FWIW: Our little company partnered with a world wide manufacturing firm. In the process we purchased a portion of the manufacturing companies distribution network. We also sold off a portion of our distribution company to another company that fit their business model better than ours. This all took 11 months. It really was a simple business transaction. However, as the lawyers and bean counters dotted the I's and crossed the T's it got complicated and drug out. Time and patience were required. What is happening for the PAC 10 has many more moving parts and its complicated. You have linear media entities losing subscriptions and rethinking the dollars they can spend in a contract. Advertisers will be paying less as we move thru a potential recession. To complicate matters, streaming live college football is an unknown. The groundrules are just now being formatted and written. For every question there are probably 2 more that arise. This is time consuming. Then throw in a conference with 10 Presidents who have over valued their property. In my opinion the PAC lost 40% of its value with the socal sissies bailing out. The PAC should work to improve its brand and value. However facing reality is not easy. This creates a very complicated situation with multiple players looking out for their own special interests. Very complex...... The facts will bring this to its business solution not speculation. You know why no blogger, podcaster or media type reported on our business negotiations? FIrst, they didnt know or care about them. And second, they werent in the room. Many fans, other conferences, bloggers, podcasters and media types certainly care about the PAC's future media rights. However, none of us are in the room Enjoy this wonderful weekend....

NJ Duck solid points.... It may be in espn's best interest for the PAC to breakup. That will free up the revenues ear marked for the PAC to pay elsewhere. Still leaves espn completely out of the west coast and late night viewing. Fox will own the west coast, in some fashion. Personally, the PAC is missing out on a potential profit center thru the CW. They just need to think outside the box. ( Not a PAC strong suit) So the CW and LIV golf have a unique media arrangement. LIV is responsible for all the production and promotion work and costs. The CW provides the linear platform to their 140 million potential viewers. ( Got that number from my study of the CW/LIV agreement. The CW pays NO media rights fee. LIV and CW split the advertising money. Its no risk for CW and a platform for LIV. I am confident if within the brief conversation with GK/CW if this was mentioned the PAC ran off in the opposite direction as fast as they could. But consider this thought. The PAC 12 Network has the production facilities, staff, field teams and broadcasters already in place. They did a darn good job and in many cases their broadcasts were better than espn. What they lacked was eyeballs and exposure. 15 million viewers was too small to generate big dollars because most advertisers were regional. However, the CW offers 140 million potential linear viewers. National exposure with bigger numbers means National Advertisers and bigger payouts. The PAC could expand to the east, add teams and cover 3 time zones. Potential Noon CST to 7:00 pm pst kickoffs The PAC Network could control either Tier 1 or Tier 2 or both media rights. The PAC generated a profit with 32 table scrap games, massive rent costs and Larry funnelling millions out the door. If espn wants out then step up and take their spot. Lead or fade away. I think the Top 5 boosters from each school could invest hundreds of millions of dollars to launch this. I would expect Nike to be a big advertiser. Opportunity and preparedness must cross the intersection at the same time in order for something special to happen. Like Bowetman and Knight running into that intersection many years ago.

I thought the PAC broke up like last Wednesday or the Wednesday before when Colorado left for the BIG 12? Remember some clown guaranteed that CU was going to announce it the next day. That sure thing fizzled right out. I suppose any of these things are possible. So time will tell. If CU was in fact headed back to the big 12, there is no way, absolutely no way the big commissioner could keep it a secret. His ego is too big. Once again none of these people are in the room. Ask your self this: Who do you think is in the room and would have first hand factual info? Who is the negotiator? GK, the 3 PAC Presidents on the committee. Bloggers, Podcasters and big 12 know it alls. Well we can just expect the worst possible outcome and be suprised when the outcome is different? More questions than answers, for sure......

As long as the #2 QB spot is an open competition then play whoever has earned rhe playing time. Both TT and AN should have ample playing time in 4 of the first 5 games. The Texas Tech game will be a shoot out and Bo will most likely take all the snaps. The other 4 games should be blowouts with the 2's and 3's dominating playing time. Once we play the huskies and each week after, the 1's and rotation players will be in control. The closer the Ducks get to earning a spot in the PAC Title game the less we will see TT and AN. Whoever plays, give them quality opportunities to grow.

Well i read and reread the article. .. Unless i missed it, i did not see anything that said...... It has been confirmed by (Name within Espn) that ESPN is not in talks with the PAC for its Tier One Media rights. How in hells name does anyone outaide of the negotiating room know anything substanrive on the matter. Without a linear carry the PAC exposure would be DOA. If any PAC team knew this as fact...... The conference would be coming apart at the seams.

JJ, barring injury, the Ducks should make the CFP. Champions handle what is in front of them and conquer their roadblocks. The schedule sets up nicely for a #4 spot. Not sure Penn State handles both Michigan and tOSU. However, the Nittany Lions have the experienced talent to do it. Hopefully, an upstart team or 2 can pull off some upsets along the way. A 2 loss BIG Champ will go along way to sending a 12-1 Duck team to a rematch with the Real Dawgs. In looking at the Ducks first 5 games on the 2023 schedule a 5-0 start is very possible. TT will be a hard fought victory. The other 4 should be over before halftime. TT should get as many first team snaps as possible. Bo should never see the field in the 2nd half. And TT will be better prepared if called upon. The Duck D will have many an opportunity for chaos and to cause turnovers. Give the O some short fields and easy scores.

Back in 70's, my wife at that time and myself attended the Apple Cup games in Seattle. Born and raised in Spokane, we were Cougar fans. Attending a late November game in Seattle was never fun. Usually, very wet, very windy and plain miserable. The Cougar seating block section was in the the lowest level, southeast corner. Even on a sunny day (very rare) the sun never touched that section. We decided to get to the stadium early, grab some food, drink and snacks and head to our seats. This was about 3 hours before kick off. As we came out of the concourse tunnel we were met by attendents asking for tickets. We checked out okay but told we couldnt go to our seats for about an hour . ... Why? Other staff members we watering down the Cougar section concrete seats with water. Creating a sheet of ice to stand or sit on for hours. It was miserable to say the least. So to answer your question, i will never root for the huskies. They are not a bitter rival, they are a hated enemy. They stand for nothing except to lift a leg. I hope SDSU and SMU become fietce competitors and bitter rivals. Much better place to take in an away game. I will root for any team who plays against the huskies. They are despicable.

Thanks for all the great comments and the points you all made. I am all for filling the roster with high 4/5 star players. The depth that Georgia, Bama and tOSU have on their roster helps them sustain key injuries and play for Natty's..... Want all of that we can get. Year in and year out..... OBD's have had the top recruiting classes 4 years running in the PAC. Yet all that talent has not brought us a PAC Ttitle the last 2 years. It still comes down to performance and fitting the system. 5☆ Noah Sewell was all world in MC's system. Not so much in DL's sysyem. 5☆ Justin Flowe looked lost no matter what the system. A good example is the Duck vs Buckeyes game in the shoe....if the announcers were accurate then tOSU played 15 - 5☆ players in that game. The Ducks had a total of 5 - 5 ☆ players and not all of them played in the game. Yet the Ducks dominated that game. The Ducks game plan vs the Buckeyes failure to adjust on defense was pivotal. But the young Ducks out played the over confident Buckeyes. No amount of 5☆ players were going to help the Buckeyes that day. I am excited avout the potential 2024 class and hope it ends up the top Duck class, ever...... GO DUCKS.....

So far 2024 recruting has been very exciting and positive. Many factors will go into whether this class will be the best Oregon recruiting class ever. This will not happen without multiple committments from 5☆ recruits. DL and staff are trending in that direction, so time will tell. Oregon has not reached the point where 5☆ talent will sit behind another 5☆ talent and wait there turn. 5☆ High school recruits want to play right away. A top 5☆QB player decommitted when Bo announced his return. He will most likely start right away at ucla. He was going to carry a clip board and redshirt at Oregon. Portal players will usually start ahead of incoming recruits. That scenario can and will affect where a high school recruit lands... Chasing 5☆ players has not always worked out on the field for the Ducks. In that light, I would rather see DL bring in a hungry talented 3☆ that fits his system. Would we prefer ro win the top spot in the PAC for recruiting classes or win what matters? A PAC 10, 11 , 12 (whatever) TItle, annual trips to the CFP, annual wins in CFP games and that elusive Natty. Of course one process leads to the other.... Utah has won back to back PAC titles without Top 15 recruiting classes. How big of a roll does playet development play in winning titles? Its not how well you recruit but what you can do with that recruit. DL and staff appear to have command on recruiting and portal opportunities. When they get command of the in game opportunities..... well look out! Great results on the horizon for sure. Go Ducks...

Thomallister 1291 what makes this site great is that a so called unpopular idea is always welcome. It was very unpoular between 1750 and 1770 in America to think or speak of rebellion. But my 1776 men and women were willing to fight and even die for that unpolular idea. So keep it up. I still feel if the BIG wanted the Ducks they would have already wanted us. We still do not have an invite. However, if the ACC blows up then their will be only 4-P5 conferences. The door is wide open for the PAC to expand to 16 teams. Pick the best available media markets, offer lifelines to those in need. With the Ducks, Utes and huskies on board the new PAC16 would lap the BIG 12. The PAC missed on offereing a lifeline to the BIG 12. What a mistake thst was. Will lightning strike agsin?

JJ, I agree this stuff is such fun to conjure up, dissect and even be unrealistic about. Afterall dreaming big costs nothing but a little time and exercises the brain. There have been some awesome ideas presented by the Forum, heres my take....... Their are only 2 absolutes in this current realm of realignment: 1. The BIG and SEC will get what they want. When they want it, where they want it and how they want it. 2. If either the BIG or SEC wanted the Ducks or Huskies they would have invited them already. The Ducks have not been invited... So the PAC should be ready to shape its future...... If the ACC blows up, then the SEC and BIG will take what they want. Will the left overs have value? The BIG 12 will take some of the leftovers because they simply have no standards. Everybody is invited.. Consider that the PAC has a chance to survive by going to 16 teams. Pick the best media markets available to the Group of 5 schools who desire to join. Dont worry about that schools research grants or memberships. None of that nonsense matters on the field or hardwood. What matters is media market value......... Whoever shapes the best 4th P-5 Conference with Utah, Oregon & Uw on board will lap the BIG 12 in the #3 spot. I doubt the PAC leadership can lead in this situation but if the ACC splits then the PAC should offer the survivors a life line. Afterall, look at the situation that was created when the arrogant PAC Presidents, including the usc back stabbing viper, refused to offer a lifeline to the BIG 12. What a foolish mistake. Will the PAC repeat that mistake? Have 2 divisions in 4 pods to minimize travel. Then showcase Utah, Oregon and uw's star power. Help the newcomers build market value and for goodness sake.... Some school in the New Pac please bring home a Natty.....

One thing for certain is that the battle for realignment will be a hot topic for years to come. Round and round she goes and where she stops nobody knows. If the PAC is to be taken seriously then the invite to SDSU must come soon, so SDSU can give notice to the MWC to minimize their exit fee. Personally I would rip off the bandaid, expose the wound and invite Fresno State so SDSU has a travel partner. Both schools fanbases will travel to away games against Stanford and Cal. They will help fill the stadiums and bring excitement and much needed energy. It would be a good time to invite SMU and Tulane. Great additions, great media markets. Go big or accept the beating the BIG 12 will give you. Be a player or participant, not a spectator in the movement. We dont know how the Conference of Hesitation or Indecision will end in the game of musical chairs (realignment). But the SEC, BIG and BIG 12 will expand. None of those conferences will care if the PAC is left standing alone when the music stops.