Jon Joseph

Do Be Sad, 1 Out of 3 is Bad! Oregon Ducks 2025 Schedule: Top 3 Toughest Opponents WWW.YARDBARKER.COM Ever since the Oregon Ducks 2025 schedule was released, Ducks fans have studied it intently, trying to find key moments in the upcoming season, trap games, and the overall toughness of the... AMEN on the game at Penn State. But at Iowa and USC in the top 3 most difficult games in 2025? How is QB Gronowski transferring from FCS to Iowa going to pan out? I'm not certain that with Mendoza at QB and starters returning on all three levels of the defense, Iowa will be better than Indiana this season. Both Indiana and OBD are idle in Week 6 before the Hoosiers visit Eugene, with OBD coming off its Week 5 road game at Penn State and Indiana off a Week 5 game at Iowa. Both Iowa and OBD are idle before the Week 11 game in Iowa City, with OBD playing Wisconsin in Week 9 and Iowa playing Minnesota. USC should be improved and should finish better than 1-5 in one-score games. However, the penultimate game of the regular season will be played in Autzen Stadium. In 2024, SC was 1-4 on the road. USC will be the second Blue Chip Roster opponent OBD plays in 2025. I think the ultimate game of the regular season at Washington could be more difficult than playing Iowa in Iowa City and SC at home. In 2024, UW went 6-0 in Husky Stadium, defeating USC and Michigan, a Wolverines team with wins against national champ Ohio State and Alabama, in the process. UW QB Demond Williams is the real deal, while looking like a piñata against OBD's defense last season (11 sacks!) Williams still threw for over 200 yards, and he played great in UW's one-point bowl loss to Louisville. He is a better athlete than the Hawkeyes and Trojans will put on the field. Of course, except for the game against the Blue Chip Roster, PSU, this is all a shot in the dark.

I don't know. But I hope they enjoy the effort. 😁

Without the tats. (un)social media drama, and the INTs, I hope. I also hope Dante is a better on-field leader. When Beck was injured in the conference championship game, the UGA offense seemed excited when Stockton entered the game and played hard for Gunnar. Hopefully, in 2025, Stockton will have WRs who can catch the ball. Not a national title last season, but considering the schedule, the roster turnover, and the injuries on the offensive line, running back, and Beck throwing to guys in the wrong jerseys, winning the SEC may have been Kirby Smart's best coaching effort.

'Oklahoma's schedule isn't easy, but it's manageable'. Hmmmm. 😜 How'd you like to manage Michigan, Auburn, Texas in Dallas, at South Carolina, Ole Miss, at Tennessee, at Alabama, Missouri, and LSU? The Sporting News (TSN) ranks the Sooners' schedule the 2nd most difficult in the SEC. TSN has Florida ranked No. 1. (Transfers QB Mateer and RB Ott did not play together last season. Mateer played for Wazzu, and Ott played for Cal. SIGH 😴) 6.5 at -160 aren't bad odds, but I wouldn't bet the Over unless the odds were -125 or better. Illinois's win total is 7.5, one more than Oklahoma's. 18 of the 22 starters who won ten games in 2024, nine in the regular season, return to play for Bret Bielema. TSN ranks the Illinois 2025 schedule as the easiest in the B1G. The Illini miss OBD, Penn State, and Michigan, and get USC and Ohio State at home. Games at Duke, Indiana, UW, and Wisconsin will be tough. The Over for Oklahoma and the Over for Illinois pay the same, -150 at DraftKings. IMO, Illinois is the better bet. But there is better value out there than betting on these two. If Georgia goes Over 9.5, it should surprise no one. Last season's road games vs. Bama, Ole Miss, and Texas are 'Tween the Hedges in 2025. Auburn, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech on the road will be tough. My gut says the Dawgs go Over, but I don't think -170 provides enough value. I think both Nebraska and USC will barely go Over 7.5. Nebraska has the easier schedule and IMO, -115 is favorable. -130 for USC is reasonable, but not worth a B1G bet. 🤑 I can't find the odds, but if I could, I'd take the Under on: "Lincoln Riley has not forgotten how to coach." 😁 Thanks for the post. Send Bob and His Cats Back to Bozeman!

That's like a Midwesterner's opinion, Man. Lovin' 50 shades of grey. 😁

Looks like Mats-Only for Tony P - 😧 Donald Trump to meet with key college sports decision-makers in golf outing where they'll discuss industry's future SPORTS.YAHOO.COM The significance of the meeting cannot be overstated as it comes two days after the approval of a major court settlement that will shift the direction of college athletics.

FWIW, Sark denies this and denies an overall $40 M payroll for Texas. However, give Sark a lie detector test and he could be on the Horns of a dilemma? 🤔

Vice versa, perhaps? However, Feld didn't have the starting QB in good enough shape to play the 2nd half of MIA's bowl game. 😁

"You must unlearn what you have learned." 😁

Here's a detailed look from Yahoo Sports, including a look at roster cuts. NCAA's House settlement approved, ushering in new era where schools can directly pay athletes SPORTS.YAHOO.COM After hanging in limbo for nearly two months, the House settlement is finally approved, which means $2.8 billion in NIL backpay will be distributed to former NCAA athletes.

The plaintiffs' attorneys should be at the top of the Winners list. The defendant's attorneys should go to their rooms.

Give It Up for LB BB! Oregon Ducks' Bryce Boettcher Best Returning Linebacker In College Football? WWW.YARDBARKER.COM The Oregon Ducks had one of the best defenses in the country last season, highlighted by having four of their ten draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft being defensive players.

The Devil is in the Details, Right? 🥵 What comes next after NCAA’s House Settlement? Key dates to follow and more SATURDAYBLITZ.COM On Friday Night, College Sports were changed forever as Judge Claudia Wilken approved the House Settlement bringing about massive changes to the NCAA as we know

An example of why the B1G is concerned over 8 vs. 9 SEC conference games. Alabama has a few extra bye weeks on its 2025 schedule with these 3 cupcakes BAMAHAMMER.COM With just an eight-game conference schedule in the SEC, Alabama and the rest of the league has room for a few more cupcake opponents in the race for the CFP. And will the opener at FSU be a test for The Tide? Last year, it was DTU who bombed at QB. QB Thomas Castellanos was benched by Bill O'Brien at BC and immediately left the team before transferring to FSU. I see SSDD headed FSU's way. Oh, and BTW, Ole Miss's toughest OOC opponent in 2025 is Wazzu 😁. The above is not emblematic of all SEC programs. Florida plays two P4 teams OOC in 2025, and Georgia played two in 2024. Texas does step up against Ohio State, but it and an Oklahoma team that plays Michigan, both have OOC three weenie-roasts. Penn State's OOC slate in 2025 is a LOL joke, but PSU does play 9 B1G games. Based on a small two-season sample size, and notwithstanding the ESPN FPI cheerleading and its own 'It Just Means More breast breast-beating, the B1G was on par with or better than the SEC in 2023 and 2024. Does it matter? One cannot tell how the CFB PO committee values SOS. Yes, 2-loss champ game loser SMU was in the field and not 3-loss Bama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. However, with its by far most difficult game being a loss at an Oregon team finding its footing, how in Hades can Boise State's ranking as the 9th best team in CFB be justified? Nothing to see here, move right along. 😁

Next Duck Up! Quack! What Oregon Ducks' WR depth chart looks like in wake of Evan Stewart injury DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM A look at how the Oregon Ducks' depth chart will shake out in 2025 after Evan Stewart's knee injury.

Game 5, Week 5. PSU is off in Week 4. OBD naps in Week 6. PSU will be 3-0 coming into the game, and OBD 4-0.

Fair point, no doubt. However, without Stewart in 2024, OBD has zero wins against TOSU.

CBS Sports One of Many with Doubts About the Settlement House v. NCAA settlement fundamentally alters college athletics, but don't expect it to bring stability - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Chaos has become the status quo in college athletics over the last decade, and the landmark settlement won't change that

30, don't forget Michigan's 2nd win over Bama in 2024. 4-loss Michigan, with many of its best guys sitting the game out in anticipation of being drafted, backed up the Rose Bowl win, beating an all-hands-on-deck Bama team in the Reliaquest Bowl. But Bama belonged in the PO, right? 😜

Bret Bielema has some B1G beefs. Not highlighted here, but he recently LOL at the SEC beating its 8-game drum. What's behind the beef? Origins of Bret Bielema's social media bluster, and how it shapes culture at Illinois - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM The Illinois coach isn't afraid to speak his mind on social media -- and his players love him for it 'I don't want to get Cocky, but I believe our overlooked 3-loss team beat a 3-loss SEC team that was screwed out of a PO spot?'

All Day with a B1G 10-4. (I'm Shocked! 😁) Ohio State coach Ryan Day supports a College Football Playoff with 'at least' 4 bids guaranteed for Big Ten SPORTS.YAHOO.COM SEC coaches have pushed back against a format that would guarantee four spots for both the Big Ten and SEC and leave just three available at-large berths.

CBS Sports take on the injury. What Evan Stewart injury means for Oregon: Five-star freshman among players in spotlight expected to step up - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM Dan Lanning has depth-chart adjustments to make after the Ducks' top-returning weapon went down with injury

Get On The Bus! Nicolas Cage as John Madden, Christian Bale as Al Davis Seen in New Movie Set Photos BLEACHERREPORT.COM Football fans got a fresh look at Nicolas Cage and Christian Bale in their roles as John Madden and Al Davis, respectively.

FPI ranking of Ducks 2025 opponents, FWIW 🤮 Ranking Oregon Ducks’ 2025 opponents from easiest to toughest, per ESPN FPI DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM A look at where the opponents on the Oregon Ducks' 2025 schedule land on ESPN's updated Football Power Index. You rank 13 SEC teams (81.25% of the conference) in your top 25, and ipso facto, SEC teams have the most difficult preseason schedules. 😴

30, I agree, cut to the chase! I thought what seemed to be a detente between the B1G and the SEC, and between Fox and Disney/ESPN, with the formation of the Venu streaming service, would move things along to the formation of a Super Conference. B1G, you add teams X and Notre Dame. SEC, you add Clemson, UNC, and X, X. Now, the B1G and the SEC do not seem to be on the same page when it comes to a new PO format. Looks like the same old parochial, our 8 conference games are much more difficult than your 9 conference games, intransigence from the SEC. If you can't agree on how many conference games will be played, well, good luck on agreeing to anything else. In one form or another, further consolidation of CFB and likely, Men's CBB is coming. But it looks like there will be more bumps on the road, and in state houses and courtrooms, before we see CFB and CBB super conferences.