Jon Joseph

I think Troy is definitely off to the League. Especially with Bo out of eligibility. Still hard to fathom that Bo started for Auburn in the first game of his true frosh season and threw the Tigers winning TD.

Coach, you can coach all week but no games for you! I'll be at the UW/Utah game stealing Husky signs. Bark!

Jim Harbaugh was suspended from being on the sidelines for the final 3 regular season games but he is allowed to coach during the week. Wrist, meet slap.

Odds for making the Final 4 and the odds of winning the Final 4. 1. Ohio State - 77% - 26% Versus Michigan State Saturday - Off the charts. 2. FSU - 62% - 13% Versus Miami Saturday - FSU SP+ 13.4 - FPI 15.5 But a tough game a week from Saturday vs. No Alabama, right? 3. Michigan - 44% - 14% Versus Penn State Saturday - MICH SP+ 5.9 - PSU FPI .03 Odds of Khakis on the sideline in Happy Valley - Cue the lawyers. 4. Alabama - 44% - 14% Versus Kentucky Saturday - Bama SP+ 7.7 - FPI 16.1 1-loss Bama has better PO odds than Georgia? Best odds for 1-loss teams. 5. Texas - 39% - 9% Versus TCU Saturday - Texas SP+ 10.9 - FPI 10.9 - Trouble when computers agree? The starting pitcher is back on the mound against TCU. Another 1-loss team with better PO odds than Georgia and Oregon. 6. Georgia - 39% - 9% Versus Ole Miss Saturday - SP+ 13 - FPI 7.4 Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, and Lane Kiffin were on the Bama staff when Bama won the Natty. DL was a grad assistant. 7. OREGON - 38% - 9% Versus USC Saturday - Ducks SP+ 11.8 - FPI 14.3 The computers are not as certain of the W as are OBD predictors. But what do computers know? 8. Washington - 31% - 3% Versus Utah Saturday - UW SP+ 10.2 - FPI 7.3 Best for the Ducks PO chances? UW gets a close win. Texas Tech 4-5 has a chance to help the dogs playing Kansas. Kansas SP+ 1.9 - FPI 1.7 Last season at this point in the schedule, TT was 4-0 in one-possession games. This season TT is 1-3. Go Ducks! Beat SC!

OBD, you are on notice. My cardiologist is sending the bills to OBD. LOL!

Jeopardy?

How about a Safe Space for the Trojan D?

Nappy would disagree with battle results right up to Waterloo. But in WW2 all French tanks could only operate in one direction. Reverse! SC comes in waving a Cardinal-colored flag surrounded by gold. Leave with the flag bleached white before Shout time, and the QB post-game crying into Momma's handkerchief. Sha-Na-Na and Odom will not fix the Troy D. Although I do understand why Riley and the 2 DC newbies do not want to watch a replay of The Mummy x 11. Odin visiting from Valhalla could not fix the Troy D which has a super-sized Achille's Heel. Go Ducks! Beat SC!

Winner - OREGON Losers - Old Right Coasters. Fox is messing with bedtime. Score - 49 - 31 TOs by SC - 2 Sacks - 1 Pass Yards 250 Run Yards - Can Bucky put up 200 on his own?

Great comment and I do not disagree. But the top 25 that matters will be released by the PO Committee on 12/3. Before this release. all top 25 wins are speculative. On 12/3 we will know the depth and strength of the Pac12 at least according to the Committee. What will matter on 12/3 are wins vs. the final top 25 and nothing before then. I do not like it but OREGON to date has defeated 1 team with a winning record and 18. Utah at UW is a win/lose for OR. Utah wins and the win at Utah looks better. But a potential champ game vs. UW, not so much. The best PO opportunity for OREGON is for UW to go 12-0 and be ranked no lower than 5 and the Ducks win in LV. I love that the Ducks are ranked 6, but based on SOR and SOS, Bama and TX have better resumes. Oregon is above both of these teams based on eye test and not on teams that have been defeated to date. Texas has a win at Bama and its one loss came against 17 Oklahoma. Bama has wins vs. 9 Ole Miss, 13 TN, and 19 LSU. I love OBD but I am puzzled by these rankings. Based upon teams defeated to date, TX and Bama should be ranked above the Ducks. Oregon's SOR is 10 and its SOS is 41. Texas SOR is 5 and its SOS is 10. Bama's SOR is 4 and its SOS is 8. And you can bet that Committee members are hearing about this. Again, you play the schedule you play but beating ranked teams not ranked on 12/3 means nothing. The Committee without any consistency, applies the Eye Test when it so desires and uses season analytics to date when it so desires. IMO, instead of spending big money for 13 people and their retainers to trip to Grapevine, Texas every week, use the AP Poll to determine the PO. AP voters release their votes and votes against the mean could be tossed out. I am thankful that a 12-team PO is coming and the Ducks are going B1G.

Here's some B1G time ceiling walking. The B1G adds AAU member and basketball power Kansas, and mega-brand-name Notre Dame to arrive at a 20-team conference. The SEC adds Clemson, FSU, UNC, and NC State. Looking ahead but using the current Committee rankings, these would be the 16 teams in a Power 2 playoff and their rankings as of today. B1G 1. OH St, 3. Michigan, 5. UW, 6. OREGON, 10. Penn State, 16. Kansas, 20. Notre Dame, 22. Iowa. SEC - 2. Georgia, 4. FSU, 7. Texas, 8. Alabama, 9. Ole Miss, 13. Tennessee, 14. Mizzou, 19. Oklahoma LSU and Clemson, would not be left out competing for a PO spot along with UCLA, USC, Wisconsin, and Auburn. Would 11. Louisville, 12. Oregon State, 15. OK St., 21. Arizona be missed or have any impact of a Power 2 media money? I don't think so. G5 and what's left of the P4 hold their PO. The P2 sprinkles sugar on down as necessary to placate the naysayers. The P2 PO games and the $ would be awesome and the G5 commissioners, ACC leftover, and B12 commissioners would have no say regarding a P2 PO. And via NIL or in some other manner the players would share in the P2 PO revenue. BEAT SC!

But at some point, maybe, perhaps, your SOS will be parsed by the PO Committee. I'm certain that the Committee will compare Oregon's game vs. SC to the SC game against Notre Dame. A lot of ranked teams beaten down by the great Ducks D are no longer ranked and this could be problematic on 12/3/23. Nevertheless. Oregon goes 3-0 and 1-0 in the conference champ game and I think that Oregon is in the final Final 4. It's obscure but 4-5 Texas Tech winning 2 of its last 3 games, on the road at Kansas and Texas and at home vs. UCF would help the Ducks cause. To date, Oregon has wins, impressive wins, no doubt, against teams that will not go bowling and we know that ASU will not qualify for a bowl and gave up a bowl appearance earlier in the season. A win vs. USC? I'll be a happy Ducks camper but a style point win will help the PO cause. Spot on comment, thank you.

I watched and listened to Joel Klatt on BTN Today. Joel has no problem with Oregon being the highest-ranked 1-loss team especially, with Quinn Ewers out for Texas. But the scheduling point he made is the following. If Alabama had played Texas State instead of playing and losing to UT, Bama would be no lower than the 4th ranked team. As Joel noted, the Committee's process is to lump the undefeated teams together, then the 1-loss teams, then the 2-loss teams, etc. Thus wins for the initial view by the Committee trumps everything including SOS and SOR. Until the Committee proves that it places more weight on SOS and SOR, it isn't brilliant for teams, especially B1G teams playing 9 conference games, to add a P4 team, at least a top program P4 team to the schedule. I think LSU, USC, and UCLA playing one another in 2024 is a mistake for all involved. You may get an impactful win but a win weeks before the Committee comes with its first ranking. Impressing AP voters? Who cares. Michigan as of now, is #3 in the rankings with 3 OOC home games against G5 teams and no games vs. top 25 teams before Michigan plays Penn State this Saturday. If you finish in the top 3 and likely the top 4 in the B1G come 2024 and thereafter, you will have a great shot at making the PO. And come to the expanded PO, making the field will be important when it comes to recruiting and of course, for the money. I continue to believe that playing Oklahoma State in 2025 and 2026 would be a mistake, especially when the Ducks could buy another home game in 2026. Playing on the road in Boise, Idaho and Logan, Utah speaks for itself. OREGON has nothing to gain and a lot to lose playing OK ST and also Baylor. Being gutsy with OOC scheduling is far less important than getting the win. Want an extra P4 game then play Cal and Stanford OOC.

Great take. But if there is a chance to shorten the game vs. the defending Heisman Trophy winner who put up 42 points vs. UW when OREGON put up 33, IMO it makes sense to keep Caleb off the field and looking for his Mom post-game.

I like these unis. But for a night game in particular, why not go with easier-to-see yellow helmets?

Thank you, Darren. Don't forget the impressive comeback win vs. UNC and QB Drake Maye in the Holiday Bowl. A win when Bo was still playing with an injured leg. A win that allowed OREGON to finish with a double-digit win total. Pretty remarkable under a first-year coach in his first year of being a head coach and after being trounced by Georgia in the opening game. I have seen very few 'experts' call this game for SC. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic predicts OREGON 56 and USC 28. USC has nothing to lose here and comes to Autzen ready to let it all hang out on O and perhaps, a D juiced up from saying so long to Grinch. USC, along with OREGON are the only 2 Pac-12 teams with Blue Chip rosters. With the 1-loss team log jam in the Committee rankings, OREGON 6, Texas 7, and Bama 8, the Committee will evaluate this game compared to the beatdown of USC in South Bend. I think the Ducks go 4-0, win the Pac-12, and make the Final 4. Mari(o) with back-to-back games at FSU and vs. Louisville has a chance to help the Ducks cause. Texas at TCU will likely again be without QB Ewers and this is a huge game for TCU. Bama should win at Kentucky, will defeat Chattanooga (DUH,) and should win the Iron Bowl on the road at Auburn. I would love it if OREGON makes the PO as the #3 seed and plays Michigan or Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Another chance to beat down FSU in the Rose Bowl would also be nice. GO DUCKS! BEAT SC!

A note on Mic's great comment. OREGON vs. USC would be more of a rivalry if the teams played more often. It's not as bad as Ole Miss at Georgia on Saturday for the 1st time since 2012, love those 8 game conference schedules, but the Ducks have not played the Trojans since the Ducks conference champ game win in 2020. This is due not only to Divisions, now gone, but also to the California Scheduling Agreement so SC fans could enjoy a trip to the Bay area every season. Have a blast, attend Charles's soiree if at all possible, and GO DUCKS, BEAT SC! FWIW - The Athletic's Stewart Mandel calls the game OREGON 56 and SC 28.

Love the idea. But the games are not played for nothing. Broadcasts of the champ games are factored into the media deals with each conference. The games are money-makers. Far more so than all but the top bowl games, playoff, and NY6. Getting rid of the champ games with everyone opening in Week 0 would allow for a 16-team PO with revenue sharing for the players. The B1G $ win comes in 2026 once ESPN loses its exclusive playoff broadcast deal. But if you add Kansas and Notre Dame to the B1G and Clemson, FSU, UNC, and NC St to the SEC, do you need more than a Power 2 "Playoff?" If the above teams were added to the Power 2, an 8-team PO with 1-4 from each conference, and using current rankings, the following would be the matchups and the seedings. 4. OREGON at 1. UGA 3. Bama at 2. Michigan 4. Ole Miss at 1. Ohio State 3. UW at 2. FSU Remember, ranked teams Texas, Penn State, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, LSU, Notre Dame, Iowa, and UNC, would all be playing for a top 4 spot in P2 and entry into the PO. Oregon State would be the currently highest-ranked team not in the running. With 20 teams in the B1G and the SEC, you could have the top 8 finishers in each conference playoff. Play the first 2 rounds on the home fields of higher-ranked teams. Look at the remaining teams in the Committee's top 25 and left out of the Power 2. Would any left-out teams significantly add to the media deal bottom line or truly be in contention for a title? The media deal would be significant. Even more so if carried exclusively on the ESPN/SEC Network and the Fox/Big 10 Network. I do think something like an NFL-Lite CFB playoff is coming.

I wish I could make it to the Friday get-together. Have a blast! How about the remains of teams after they go against the Ducks D? UW came close to losing to 2 of the worst teams in the conference. CU post-Oregon is in free fall. WSU was limping before the visit to Autzen but now it appears that the Cougs will not make a bowl game. It is certainly impressive how the D has improved in year 2 under DL and Tosh. But, the problem with mugging the opponents is that once-ranked teams are now off the board. NR Arizona after beating 3 ranked teams in a row (a feat accomplished by Georgia in 2006 when the Dawgs were NR and defeated 3 ranked teams in a row,) is now ranked but the Ducks, thankfully IMO, play at ASU and not at AZ. UW's win at Arizona is looking a lot better today. Both LA teams are now unranked. USC is flaming out, so if Oregon defeats SC, it still would be one win over a ranked team for the Ducks. Oregon State at 12 is nice. Even a loss to UW is not likely to drop the Beavers out of the top 25. Oregon needs UW to win out giving the Ducks a chance for a win against a top 5, at least, opponent in Las Vegas. That is if both teams make it to LV. And Mari(o) how about doing something for Puddles by upsetting FSU on Saturday? Miami is a 14.5-point underdog and is playing more like a heavy thunderstorm than a hurricane. There will be no bowl or likely no bowl for Hawaii, Texas Tech (4-5 and have to play at Kansas and Texas in Austin), CU, Stanford, Cal, WSU, and ASU. And Portland State will not be in the FCS playoff. Texas and Bama are lurking.

How big a win is defeating Clemson this season? Clemson is 5-4. Based on the teams played and beaten, IMO UGA should be #1. Ohio State is getting far too much mileage out of a close as it can get win at Notre Dame. And Notre Dame is still ranked because Clemson was terrific a few years back. I hope that the CFB world figures out how to go to a 16-team playoff in 2026. Of course, 17 and 18 will whine but without justification. At the very least, I am happy to see CFB going to 12 next although giving the 4 highest ranked conference champions the top 4 seeds along with a bye will foul up the seedings. Projected out to 2024, B12 champ Utah would have a bye, and Michigan would not.

The Pac-12 schedule Oregon has played to date is not that impressive. Utah is the only opponent with a winning record the Ducks have defeated. And some of this is because teams nose-dived after being beaten up by the Ducks D. UW was darn lucky to win its next two games after a close win over Oregon. CU, WSU, and USC have flamed out. There is now one PO Committee-ranked team remaining on the schedule, Oregon State. Will the Beavers remain ranked if they lose to UW in Corvallis? So yes, the bottom half of the B1G is weak but Oregon is not playing a 12. ranked Mizzou, #9 ranked Ole Miss, and at #13 Tennessee, as is Georgia. I know that Texas defeated Bama before The Tide settled on a QB but I was frankly surprised last evening to see Oregon remaining as the top-ranked 1-loss team. Oregon is getting more love for a close loss and the win at Utah than Bama is for defeating Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU, all 3 are ranked in the Committee's week 2 rankings. 'Cowardice?' I don't think so. I think it would be a prudent business decision to cancel out against 2 B12 teams, arrange for 2 more home games, and not give the B12 a ratings boost. Ohio State canceled an H+H with UW with little notice and no one accused tOSU of being cowardly.

It was a bit of both. The Committee's love for FSU baffles me. By any metric, UW should be ranked ahead of FSU.

Good thought. Fine, play Rice-a-Roni. I just do not see a game at OK ST and Baylor being the deciding factor in a top-drawer HS player's decision. Come 2024, Oregon will have plenty enough on its plate, and playing in a Power 2 conference will speak for itself. I think in 2024, a game against Ohio State at home and a win will have a far greater impact than playing any B12 team.

1 team to date with a winning record defeated. No rain in Autzen or on your parade but to date, Oregon's impressive win has come at Utah. No other team the Ducks have beaten has a winning record. Not to say Oregon has not played well, it has But to date, the competition on paper has not been all that great. TCB vs. USC, ASU, and vs. Oregon State. But based on the record to date, hopefully, Oregon will play a 12-0 UW in Las Vegas. BEAT no longer ranked SC!

Tua this season has been great against teams with a losing record and zero Ws vs teams with one. CJ Stroud was dissed and to date has been The Man in his rookie season. The Texans are most happy that CJ fell to #2, Year after year when it comes to QBs, these brilliant NFL scouts find a reason not to take the best QB. Bo has started 56 games and counting. Has a very quick release and better than decent downfield arm strength and accuracy. I'm a Pats fan. I went to the first game the Pats played in 1960. This may be over-the-top but I see a lot of Brady in Nix. Brady is bigger at 6'4" but Bo is right there in recognizing D formations and taking advantage of same. Recognition matters more than how deep you can throw the football. There is no substitute for in-game experience. IMO, there is no one better to lead OREGON through the next 3 games, a conference champ win, and into the playoffs. In the champ and playoff games, Stein has to let it all hang out. No more short-side roll-out plays on big plays. Let Bo use his legs as well as his arm and his passing the ball accuracy. Beat SC!